Utrecht Union

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The Union of Utrecht is a federation of Old Catholic Churches, not in communion with Rome, that seceded from the Roman Catholic Church over the issue of Papal infallibility. The Declaration of Utrecht solidified this movement in 1889. The Union of Utrecht is in full communion with the Anglican Communion, as per the Bonn Agreement of 1931, and with the Philippine Independent Church.

[edit] Theology and practices

The Old Catholic Churches reject the doctrine of papal infallibility. Thus they reject doctrines which have been promulgated in the Roman Catholic Church by such means, including the Immaculate Conception and Assumption of Mary. Regarding the Eucharist, they believe that "we receive the Body and Blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ under the species of bread and wine".

The Old Catholic Churches tend to be more liberal than the Roman Catholic Church. Many churches of the Union ordain women to the priesthood. Dr. Angela Berlis was the first woman priest in the Union, ordained in 1996. In addition, the churches of the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Switzerland offer the blessing of same-sex unions. The individual's conscience in ethical matters is stresed. Private confession is not mandatory and contraception is discretionary.

[edit] History

The mother church, the Old Catholic Church of the Netherlands, was established in the 18th century as a result of tensions between the local Catholic hierarchy and the Roman Curia. The other churches, such as the Catholic Diocese of the Old Catholics in Germany, and the Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland, followed suit after the First Vatican Council, which defined the dogma of papal infallibility.

The Polish National Catholic Church (q.v.) in North America and the Old Catholic Church in Slovakia seceded from the Union in 2004 over the ordination of women and the blessing of same-sex unions.