Laying All the Cards on the Table: A History of Independent/Old/Old Roman Catholic Pastoral Accomodation

One of the hallmarks of so-called Independent Catholicism is its emphasis on pastoral practice. It offers a place where people who could not be ordained or receive the sacraments in other traditions are able to do so in the context of Catholic tradition. This venerable history began, in my estimation, under Bishop Dominique Marie Varlet. Varlet confirmed candidates for the Church of Utrecht when it was under interdict from Rome because he understood that it was the right thing to do. 

This tradition continued with Archbishop Arnold Harris Mathew. Mathew was baptized both an Anglican and a Roman Catholic, and flirted with both traditions throughout his life. He even at one point was involved with Unitarianism. When he was elected to the episcopacy, he was married and the Church of Utrecht had not approved married bishops. Ultimately, they proceeded with the consecration. Mathew also separated from his wife, which was a novel thing in the 1900s. He continued to ordain and consecrate married men, and this became part of the Old Roman Catholic tradition. Carmel Henry Carfora, the progenitor of Old Roman Catholicism in America, was married to a former nun (Stella) and he also continued calling married men to orders. Bishop Hodur for the Polish National Catholic Church also opened up his church to married men, as did Bishop Carlos Duarte Costa.

In addition to married men, Carfora was innovative in how he treated women. He appointed Sister Elizabeth Theresa, OSF as his chancellor--something unheard of at the time. Two of Carfora's bishops in the NAORCC, Archbishops Verostek and Pyman, recognized and utilized deaconesses in California. This was taken a step further in some traditions, with the Mariavites consecrating and ordaining women. Bishop Dorian Herbert of the Orthodox-Keltic Church of the British Commonwealth of Nations (say that 5 times fast) began the same in 1943 and other Independent Catholic churches followed suit. However, the practice of admitting women to orders is not universal and depends on the jurisdiction.  

 

Of note is that Independent Catholicism is one of the first traditions to promote and accept people of color. Vilatte consecrated Archbishop George Alexander McGuire (pictured below) after he was stymied in the Episcopal Church due to the color of his skin. Archbishop Carmel Henry Carfora no doubt also understood racism and prejudice due to his being an Italian during a time of anti-immigration. Carfora conditionally consecrated Rogers and consecrated Marchenna, both black men, as well as set up a hierarchy for the Mexican National Catholic Church. 

 

The Independent Catholic tradition was also innovative on the acceptance of LGBT individuals. This began with George Augustine Hyde (pictured at top), who began the first LGBT focused church in 1946 with Bishop John Augustine Kazantks, a former Greek Orthodox bishop who left Greece because he was gay. Hyde was consecrated in 1957 for the American Holy Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Eastern Church and continued his ministry to the LGBT community until his death in 2010. Archbishop Marchenna of the Old Roman Catholic Church ordained the first openly gay and partnered man, Archbishop Robert Mary Clement, who also championed the term holy unions and began the first gay-focused Catholic church. It was said that Marchenna acted unilaterally without the permission of his superior, but Clement was nominated by Archbishop George Gerard Shelley in 1958 as bishop. Doubtless he had to react when the press became too much. Again, the practice of admitting LGBT people to ministry is not universal among Independent Catholic traditions.

 

Mathew's progeny included members of the Liberal Catholic Church and all branches of independent apostolic succession (Vilatte in particular) include people who adhere to esotericism. Bishops descending from Carfora (using the name Old Roman Catholic) have included a drag queen, a former female impersonator, partnered clergy, married bishops, divorced and remarried bishops, divorced bishops, etc. Bishops descending from Archbishop Vilatte and Bishop Duarte Costa also have clergy with personal backgrounds which would limit them from ministry in a mainstream church, including being gay and partnered, remarried, divorced, etc. This highlights the differences of Independent Catholicism--that different branches have different views on sensitive topics.

 

Besides the personal lives of the clergy, Independent Catholic clergy have ministered in places or ways which were outside the norm. One of Mathew's original bishops served a congregational church while a bishop in the ORCC (and several later functioned in Anglican churches), as did several of Carfora's bishops. Archbishop H. A. Rogers functioned in a Methodist church when he died. Vilatte functioned in the Episcopal Church and Archbishop Thuc called on greater ecumenism--despite being the source of orders for traditionalists. Clergy have buried suicide victims when it was not acceptable, performed holy unions and blessings for same-sex couples, remarried couples after divorce, accepted children called illegitimate, and acted when the other members of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church couldn’t or wouldn’t. Previously, these situations could be hidden and not discussed but with the advent of the internet there is more access to information and people are in better connection with each other.

My reason for this post is not to scandalize people, although I have no doubt that it will scandalize some. But these escapades are easily read in Anson, Brandreth, Jarvis, and a number of other sources. It is also no more scandalous than the coverup of child abuse and large-scale financial theft which happens in other traditions (and to my estimation it is far less scandalous than those things). In fact, all of the things mentioned here happen in all traditions. The purpose of writing this article is to emphasize that there is no perfect church which matches all your requirements, because churches are made of people. Extreme traditionalists also have cases of same-sex scandals, esoteric beliefs, and other issues mentioned here--so no one is immune even among the most guarded. The purpose of this article is also not to emphasize that you must accept women's ordination, gay marriage, etc. if it is against your conscience. 

My point is to emphasize that Independent Catholicism (even among the churches which profess to be the most traditional) has always been divergent and tolerant--a tradition which is built on primacy of conscience and second chances. It is a venerable tradition, and one which I love deeply. But we cannot ignore the fact that we have had people of all backgrounds in this tradition and we will continue to attract people who have no other home. Traditionalists have a plethora of options inside and outside of Rome, and progressives have significant options in Christianity as a whole now. Yet, those who attempt to hold some sort of via media are often limited to taking the path less trodden. No church is homogeneous and every one is full of people from all walks of life. And because people have foibles or peccadilloes, it does not mean that they are bad people. They are people, like us all, in need of God’s grace and second chances. And that’s what I believe is our future, too.