Old Catholic vs. old Catholic
Years ago I remember having a discussion about the early "Old Catholics" and the desire of some to return to the Church of the first thousand years. As is well known "two roads diverged in a yellow wood" and most Old Catholics took the one well traveled. A few, however, took the one less so and pursued union with Orthodoxy while striving to preserve their Western Rite heritage. For these sincere souls the phrase "Old Catholic" meant "old Catholic" - not a new denomination but rather the (attempted) reclaimation of their Catholic (Orthodox) Faith. In that sense Western Rite Old Catholics were attempting to be "old Catholics", pre-Vatican II, pre-Vatican I, pre-Trent, pre-Schism. Rejecting the novelties of schismatical Rome, they sought to return to the Church of their fathers.
...to be continued.
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