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 of him through his “infamous” actions in St. Louis by standing up to Archbishop Burke and pastoring St. Stanislaus Kostka Church.  This event led to his excommunication from the Roman Catholic Church.  Much could be said about those events, but this is not the focus of the blog post. 

Fr. Marek was a dear friend back in seminary.  We had vastly different theologies.  He was the progressive and I was the conservative.  He was years ahead of me in seminary and years ahead of me in maturity and thought.  He came from Poland and experienced the church in far more ways than I ever could. Despite our differences, we loved theology.  While others would speak about sports or other topics, Marek and I debated the finer points of theology.  We both respected each other, and I am grateful for the friendship that we had then.  Over the years, we have connected on occasion, and it was a blessing for him to reach out.  Our conversation reopened a question I’ve wrestled with for years: why the Union of Utrecht continues not to recognize U.S. Old Catholic bodies—and what that means for those of us who minister in the Old Catholic tradition outside Utrecht or Rome.

Fr. Marek was quite surprised to see that I am now in the ISM movement.  In seminary, our traditional professor would always say that one day Old Joe (Joseph Ratzinger was then at the CDF) would give me a call asking me to be on staff.  I was deeply interested in theological precision and clarity.  I still love theology but my method has changed.  I never could have imagined that I would be where I am today.

Fr. Marek and I both have many reservations about the movement itself.  He mentioned an article that he wrote for Extraordinary Catholics and how many in the ISM movement did not appreciate his words.  The article is: Nullus Episcopus…  I read the article when it first came out and agreed with many of his statements.   Fr. Marek simply presents the fact that the Old Catholic Church does not recognize the many jurisdictions in the United States as having valid orders.  As Fr. Marek writes: the Most Rev. Bernd Wallet, the Old Catholic Archbishop of Utrecht did not hesitate to state that European Old Catholics recognize as valid and Catholic only those ordinations (and consequently the sacraments) received in the Episcopal Church, the Filipino Independent Church, the Polish National Catholic Church, and (naturally) the Roman Church. While very respectful and open to a constructive dialogue, he views all American bishops not consecrated by those four ecclesial bodies as “nice Christian ministers, not Catholic bishops.”

Fr. Marek’s words should not have surprised anyone in the ISM movement.  Utrecht knows the manifestations of self-proclaimed Old Catholicism here.  It deliberately decided not to be entangled with the current mess for several reasons.  First, the Polish National Catholic Church (PNCC) had been the Old Catholic presence in North America, but that relationship ended in 2003 after long-running disagreements (notably over women’s ordination). Second, Utrecht notes that the Old Catholic manifestations in the United States lack stable structures, accountability, institutions, and in many cases the laity themselves.  Utrecht does not recognize “wandering bishops” (episcopi vagantes) and consecrations detached from a real local church life. As Fr. Marek points out Arnold Mathew whose later consecrations Utrecht refused to recognize sets this important precedent, since many small U.S. “Old Catholic” lines trace through such irregular successions. If many of the lines of apostolic succession for “Old Catholics” in the United States are deemed invalid or at least suspect by Utrecht, it is no surprise that there will be no forthcoming recognition of jurisdictions here.

There’s a practical ecumenical reason why Utrecht will not recognize Old Catholic jurisdictions in the United States.  The Old Catholic churches of the Union of Utrecht are in full communion with the Anglican Communion via the 1931 Bonn Agreement.  Simply put, the Episcopal Church in the U.S. context, is the manifestation of Old Catholicism.  If you went to Utrecht and said you wanted to be an Old Catholic priest in the United States, you would be told to inquire with the Episcopal Church.  We need to be honest and acknowledge that Utrecht is not going to recognize our jurisdictions.  Does that mean that everything we do is in vain and we all have invalid orders?  I have other blog articles written on the topic of validity to which I will refer readers.  I prefer saying that I function as a presbyter within the Old Catholic tradition but am not tied to a jurisdiction in union with Rome or Utrecht.

If we want to build communion, I think moderate and conservative jurisdictions should look elsewhere.  Would intercommunion with Utrecht accomplish much?  I do not think so.  Would intercommunion with the PNCC accomplish much?  If a jurisdiction wants its validity recognized by Rome, that might be the way to go about it.  There are other considerations arising from that approach but those might be considered another day. Until the deep dysfunction found in the ISM movement is resolved, we need to focus on cleaning house before seeking recognition by others.

Peace,

Ben