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INDEPENDENT SACRAMENTAL
Independent Sacramental Blog

Celebrating the Hidden Saints of the Independent Sacramental Movement
Why It’s Time to Share Our Stories — and a New Way We’re Doing It Across the Independent Sacramental Movement (ISM), God is quietly at work. Not in massive cathedrals. Not in institutions with vast resources. But in tiny chapels, home altars, prisons, homeless encampments, shelters, nursing homes, and streets where life is hardest . Everywhere in our movement, clergy and laity are serving with extraordinary faithfulness — yet most of their stories are almost completely unkn
Ben
Nov 304 min read


Building Bridges and Sharing Grace: New Projects in the Independent Sacramental Movement
I am genuinely excited about several new projects that have been coming together over the past few months—each one part of a larger vision to support and strengthen the Independent Sacramental Movement (ISM) . My goal is simple but ambitious: to create and share free and affordable resources that help our movement grow in depth, credibility, and unity. At its best, the ISM is a movement of grace and creativity. We bring the goodness, truth, and beauty of the Gospel to peopl
Ben
Nov 83 min read


Independent Sacramental Movement: Exciting Developments & Projects Update
My sisters and brothers in Jesus Christ, I have a number of exciting updates to share about ongoing and upcoming projects. Many of you already know that my heart is deeply invested in strengthening theological formation within the Independent Sacramental Movement (ISM) and beyond. My goal, through these projects, is to foster deeper understanding, faith, and connection among clergy and laity alike. 1. The YouTube Channel: For those who may not be aware, I have a small YouTube
Ben
Oct 194 min read
The Challenge of Continuity in the Independent Sacramental Movement
One of the most persistent challenges within the Independent Sacramental Movement (ISM) is the question of continuity —how ministries,...
Ben
Oct 113 min read
Navigating Validity & Apostolic Succession in the ISM
Dear friends, I recently had a conversation with a dear Roman Catholic friend who expressed bewilderment about the Independent...
Ben
Sep 153 min read
Recognition by Utrecht?
Dear friends, I had the opportunity to reconnect with a dear friend from seminary -Fr. Marek Bozek. Many in the ISM movement are aware...
Ben
Aug 254 min read
How Independent is Too Independent?
While I am a presbyter in the Independent Catholic/Old Catholic tradition, I often worry that our mentality is too independent and too...
Ben
Aug 93 min read
Exclusivity and the ISM Movement
This past week, I visited a former parish I served as a Roman Catholic priest. The former parish secretary buried her husband, so I...
Ben
Jul 213 min read
Independent Sacramental Education – At What Price?
Initially I was excited tonight as I was looking at the Extraordinary Catholics website. For those of you who do not know, Extraordinary...
Ben
Jul 83 min read
A New Jurisdiction, Old Catholicism, and Returning to the Basics
This blog post covers several different topics including a new jurisdiction, my affiliation, and certain aspects of Old Catholicism. I...
Ben
Jun 215 min read
Independent Sacramental Movement Gatherings
I just returned from the American Catholic Communities annual gathering. It was called a convocation when I was a Roman Catholic...
Ben
Jun 133 min read
ISM Reform
The papal conclave of May 2025 concluded with the election of Pope Leo XIV. I found myself thinking of several things this week that I...
Ben
May 103 min read
Ministry at the Margin
I spent time reading updates within the world of the Independent Sacramental Movement. First, I was pleased to see my former bishop...
Ben
May 32 min read
Religious Formation
I was recently having a conversation with a Roman Catholic educator about Christian formation. She asked me what texts I use when...
Ben
Apr 133 min read
ISM Movement Interviews
Hello, First, I want to thank you for coming and visiting this site. Recently, a couple of people (Emmanuel Williams and deebigsby)...
Ben
Mar 304 min read
ISM Clergy Professional Theologians?
I apologize that it has been a while since I posted my last blog entry. I am not sure if this is beneficial for anyone. This site...
Ben
Mar 43 min read
Independent Sacramental a Year Later
A year ago, I launched this website as a labor of prayer and research. For approximately 9 months prior to its launch, I started...
Ben
Dec 21, 20244 min read
Is Old Catholicism Worth It?
This seems like a strange question for me to address. I must admit that I am in utter despair upon reading and thinking through the...
Ben
Dec 8, 20243 min read
The ISM Focus and Maybe a New Focus
I love reading theology books. My wife will point out that I promised to stop ordering books once I made my Logos purchase. But… I have...
Ben
Dec 3, 20244 min read
More Untimely Thoughts on the ISM Movement While Remaining Naively Optimistic
Over the past several days, I had numerous conversations with an ISM priest and bishop from a moderate jurisdiction living out the Old...
Ben
Nov 18, 20246 min read
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