Insight with Bishop Osei-Bonsu : “Catholic Priest, not Roman Catholic?” – What it means

Question by Godfred Nukunu Abotsi:

My Lord Bishop, I received the post below from one of our Catholic Youth platforms.  Could you please help us to know and understand what is meant in the caption: “Catholic Priest, not Roman Catholic?”

Answer by Most Rev. Joseph Osei-Bonsu:

It is clear that the person speaking in the post above is not a priest of the Roman Catholic Church that is under the authority of the Pope, the Bishop of Rome.  From what he says, it is evident that he is a member of what is called “the Old Catholic Church”.

The Old Catholic Church is a group of Christian denominations that originated from a break with the Roman Catholic Church in the 19th century, primarily in opposition to the First Vatican Council’s (1869-1870) declarations on papal infallibility and universal jurisdiction.

While the movement formally emerged after Vatican I, its roots trace back to earlier dissent, such as the 18th-century Jansenist movement, a Catholic reform movement rooted in a strict interpretation of St. Augustine’s teachings on grace and predestination.

Although condemned by the Church, Jansenism played a significant role in shaping theological and political debates in early modern Catholicism. It left a lasting impact on Catholic spirituality, particularly in its emphasis on interior piety, rigorous moral standards, and distrust of institutional complacency.

In 1889, several Old Catholic churches united under the Union of Utrecht, forming a communion of autonomous national churches that preserved traditional Catholic liturgy, sacraments, and apostolic succession while rejecting centralized papal control.  A more conservative branch, the Union of Scranton, also exists.  It is a federation of traditionalist Old Catholic churches formed in 2008.

Led by the Polish National Catholic Church, it split from the Union of Utrecht over doctrinal issues. Key disagreements include women’s ordination and same-sex union blessings. It maintains apostolic succession, male-only clergy, and traditional Catholic teachings.

The union seeks continuity with the early undivided Church, rejecting papal infallibility. It engages in ecumenical dialogue with Orthodox, conservative Anglicans, and Roman Catholics.  It exists Bottom of Form

alongside independent Old Catholic groups worldwide, some connected to larger networks and others operating independently.

Old Catholics uphold core Catholic doctrines, including the Seven Sacraments, apostolic succession, and the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist (though not necessarily transubstantiation). They also affirm the authority of Scripture, Tradition, and the first seven Ecumenical Councils.

However, they differ from Roman Catholicism in key ways: they reject papal supremacy in favour of a synodal (episcopal-lay) governance structure, permit married priests (since the early 20th century), and in some branches, ordain women – though this remains debated. Their worship practices include the use of vernacular liturgy, communion under both kinds (bread and wine), and optional private confession.

The Old Catholic Church is known for its ecumenical engagement, most notably through the Bonn Agreement (1931), which established full communion with the Anglican Communion, allowing mutual recognition of sacraments and clergy.

It has also participated in dialogues with Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches. While strongest in Europe, Old Catholicism has spread globally, including such places as Ghana, where small communities – such as the Old Catholic Apostolic Church, the Independent Catholic Church of Ghana, and the Old Roman Catholic Church – operate with varying liturgical and theological emphases.

Though Old Catholics identify as part of the broader Catholic tradition, they do not accept papal authority or Roman canonical regulations. Instead, they offer an alternative expression of Catholicism – one that blends ancient sacramental and apostolic traditions with progressive reforms in governance and ministry. Despite their relatively small size, they remain a significant voice within independent Catholicism, emphasizing both tradition and inclusivity.

In summary, the Old Catholic Church represents a branch of Western Christianity that, while rooted in Catholic tradition, separated from Rome primarily over issues of papal authority and infallibility, and has developed its own distinct practices and ecumenical relationships.