Old Catholic

noun

1. a member of any of several European churches professing to be truly Catholic but rejecting certain modern Roman Catholic doctrines, dogmas, and practices, especially the dogma of papal infallibility.
2. a member of any of several minor churches, especially in the U.S., differing from the Roman Catholic Church chiefly in their rejection of the ecclesiastical authority of the Roman Catholic hierarchy.

Old Catholic

adjective

1. of or relating to several small national Churches which have broken away from the Roman Catholic Church on matters of doctrine

noun

1. a member of one of these Churches

Word History and Origins

Origin of Old Catholic¹

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

Bilgri left the church last year and joined the Old Catholic Church, which emerged in the Netherlands in the 19th century and lets priests marry and allows same-sex relationships.

From Reuters

Rabbi Monty Eliasov officiated, with the Rev. Rob Hall, an auxiliary bishop of the Old Catholic Diocese of Uniformed Services, taking part.

From New York Times

The message spread through social media, and according to organizers, 150 religious figures —  representing Lutheran, Presbyterian and Old Catholic churches, among others — expressed interest.

From Los Angeles Times

In 1872 he took part in the congress summoned by the Ultramontanes at Fulda, and by his judicious use of minimizing tactics he kept his diocese free from any participation in the Old Catholic schism.

From Project Gutenberg

Finally in 1871 he attacked the dogmas of the Immaculate Conception and papal infallibility, and fell into line with the Old Catholics.

From Project Gutenberg