Schismatic Old Catholic Churches

[track2004]

There is a chruch in my home town which lists itself as Catholic in the local paper when the paper lists places visitors can go for church services. I know that this church is not a part of the diocese and that is in fact not in communion with Rome. My stepfather told me a little about an Old Catholic Church and a man named LeFebvre. I was wondering if anyone out there could tell me a little about this group of people because although LeFebvre (who had been excommunicated) returned to the church some of his followers did not. I had never heard of them and would just like to know something.

[cappie]

As far as I was aware Archbishop LeFebvre the founder of the Society of St Pius X was excommunicated by the Pope when he ordained Bishops without permission. He died unreconciled and his society is still a schismatic group unlike the society of St Peter which celebrates the "old" liturgy but is recognised by Rome as part of the Church. They accept the decrees of the Second Vatican Council and the present Holy Father and his authority.

The Old Catholic Church split from the Catholic Church after the First Vatican Council over the decree on infalibility. They were concentrated in Holland and Austria I think.