term for this is schismatic), but maintaining Valid Sacraments, rather than separated and theologically defective like Protestant denominations (the official theological term for this is heretical).

National Catholic churches originate from one of two historical sources. The older movement began in Europe at the conclusion of the First Vatican Council in 1869.

The chief concern of this Vatican Council was the promulgation of Papal Infallibility, a concept and doctrine which was strongly objected to by some bishops who saw it as over-reaching the traditional concept of the Pope as head of the College of Bishops and separating himself too independently from consultation with them. In reaction, some German theologians left the Roman Catholic Church and established a Catholic Church apart from Rome, with valid orders obtained through the schismatic Catholic Church in Utrecht, Holland. They differentiated themselves by keeping their doctrine to the "old practices" before the Vatican Council, hence they are known as Old Catholics. Today, in the United States, the largest successor to this movement is found in the Polish National Catholic Church, founded in 1898 as a federation of Polish parishes independent of the Roman Catholic Church, obtaining its valid Orders also through the schismatic Old Catholic Church of Utrecht. This church has recently reached an accord with the Roman Catholic Church allowing for an open Communion between the two churches.

The second source for National Catholicism comes from the Roman Catholic Church in Brazil.

At the conclusion of the Second World War, Bishop Carlos Duarte Costa (a Roman Catholic Bishop) came into disagreement with many practices of the Roman Catholic Church in Brazil and this led to his leaving and severing ties with the Roman Catholic Church and to the establishment of the Brazilian National Catholic Church. This church movement has spread to many countries, including the United States, and is the National Catholic authority upon which Christ the King Mission Catholic Church exists.

Today, from coast to coast, the National Catholic movement continues to grow and spread, bringing Christ to many who had given up the hope of Catholic reforms or even their Catholicism altogether.

This mission parish differs from Roman Catholic parishes in matters of discipline only, maintaining all authentic Catholic theology and doctrine as it existed prior to the First Vatican Council.

Differences of discipline are seen in the ability of all ranks of the clergy to marry, if they desire, the practice of General Absolution of Sin, admittance of all the baptized to Holy Communion, and allowance both for remarriage and for the admittance of the remarried to all of the Sacraments of the Church, to name just a few.

 

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