On the Road to Emmaus Blog

Who are we?

We are an autocephalus (“self governing”) diocese in the Old Catholic tradition serving the Atlanta, GA and Chicagoland areas.  We are a member diocese of the Ecumenical Free Catholic Communion.  Our mission is to bring the sacraments, faith, and ministry of the Catholic tradition to those who are unserved, excluded, or brushed aside by the large, law-driven, institutional churches.  Our faith is rooted in Scripture and Tradition; we worship and celebrate life through the Seven Sacraments (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Orders, and Marriage).  The sacraments and our ministry are open to all who express a thoughtful desire to participate regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, economic status, or age.  With a life rooted in prayer, sacrament, and service to others, we look to the example of Jesus Christ who sought out the lost and walked on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35) to bring faith to the discouraged and comfort to the disheartened.

Who are Old Catholics?

Old Catholics are part of the larger faith tradition known as Catholic.  Most people think of Catholics only as Roman Catholics, but the Catholic tradition is much larger than the Roman Catholic Church.  The Catholic tradition includes other specific faith communities such as the Byzantine or Eastern Rite peoples (with many church traditions in this group), the Orthodox, the Anglican Communion, certain national churches, and the Old Catholic Church.

We all share a common faith and belief in Sacred Scripture, the role of Tradition, the traditional Early Church Creeds, the Seven Sacraments, the pronouncements of the First Seven Ecumenical Church Councils, and Apostolic Succession.  Where Old Catholics differ from Roman Catholics is that we do not recognize the Pope as infallible, nor as the only or highest teaching authority in the Church.

As all Catholics, we revere, respect, and pray for the Pope (as we do for all church leaders).  However, we see the truth of the Gospels and the Tradition of the Church as much wider and more encompassing than Roman Canon Law and the restictive pronouncements from Rome.  We are shepherded by our duly consecrated bishops who encourage us to form responsible consciences and to follow the ever freeing inspirations of the Holy Spirit.

We are called, “Old Catholics,” because when the First Vatican Council (1869-1870), at the behest of the Pope, declared the Pope to be infallible,  Old Catholics disagreed and declared themselves to be of an older belief – a belief that only the bishops together in ecumenical council can teach infallibly in matters of faith and morals.  They took as their motto the saying of the Church Father St. Vincent of Lerin: “We must hold fast to that faith which has been believed everywhere, always, and by all the Faithful.”

Because the term “Old Catholic” can conjer up ideas of people who are narrow-minded and judgmental, some Old Catholics prefer the term “Independent Catholics”, others use terms such as Reformed, Free, New, or the like.  Whatever the name, the idea is that we are a group of open-minded, nonjudgemental Catholics who want to be as inclusive, merciful, and just as the Christ we encounter in the Gospels, in the Sacraments, and in the people we meet on the road to Emmaus.

What is the Ecumenical Free Catholic Communion?

Less of an Institution ~ More of a Family

A Christian People by the Grace of God
An Emergent Church from Catholic Tradition
A Contemporary Expression of Mindful Faith

Lead with Love ~ Celebrate the Spirit ~ Engage the Mind ~ Cherish the Soul

We are an ecumenical free catholic communion of individual Christians and various ministries who support catholic unity. We have come together with at least one unifying motive: a love for Christ, His Church, and the Sacraments.

We are open to traditional, conservative, moderate, progressive, and liberal thought, doctrine, and liturgical expression. Members of this communion walk many paths and come from diverse Christian traditions, but a common thread that binds us is a deep abiding love of Christ, His Church, and the Sacraments. That is our centering point. That is our unity.

While we are well aware of the differences among us and the variety of beliefs this communion will encompass, we will attempt to be the kind of community that we believe Jesus called us to: one of faith, hope, and love. Hanging on to that calling let us focus on our unity and show charity in those areas where there is no unity.

For more information on the Ecumenical Free Catholic Communion, please click on this link.