St. Willibrord Priory
The Basics of Old-Catholicism
The Basics of Old-Catholicism
So what are some of the most fundamental principles of Old-Catholicism? What is an Old-Catholic?
An Old-Catholic is a baptized Christian who:
1) Adheres to the First Seven Ecumenical Councils of the Church.
2) Professes the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed in its original formula.
3) Assumes theological, liturgical and spiritual continuity with the Ancient Church and its sacred Tradition.
4) Affirms Apostolic Succession and the Episcopal-Synodical Polity of the Church.
5) Understands Liturgical Worship as Ancient, Mystical and Solemn.
6) Needs the Sacraments of the Church.
7) Affirms the Apostolic Primacy of Conscience as the highest moral teaching in matters of individual morality.
8) Respects the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, as the Spiritual Head of the Church and "Primus inter Pares" (First among Equals) concerning all Bishops.
9) Rejects the Papal claim to universal (Episcopal) supremacy over the Church.
10) Rejects the modern Dogma of Papal Infallibility.
Our Faith: A Catechism for Old-Catholics (PDF)
For more information about Old-Catholicism, please see the OCC website at: