INSIDE OLD CATHOLIC

By †Gabriel Obiano, D.D. Introduction: A Tale of Two Errors In my last teaching, I warned about the claim that “if you don’t pay your tithe, you will go to hell.” I asked a simple but serious question: Can a person doomed for hell move to Heaven simply by paying his tithe, without knowing the message of the Cross and accepting Christ as his Lord and Savior? Preaching about tithing and condemning people to hell because they didn't pay is misleading and dangerous. Let me tell you, this is not a new problem in the life of the Church. A similar scenario has occurred before in history. This mandate to put a price tag on God’s grace happened at the center of one of the most pivotal moments in the Church’s story—the selling of indulgences in the 16th century. Just as then, so today: when money is preached louder than the Cross, the Gospel is obscured. More emphasis is placed on the message of money rather than the message of the Cross. Should we now get rid of the Cross that we all should...

  By Dr. h.c. Miracle Gabriel-Ooc When people hear the word Catholic , their minds always go straight to Roman Catholic . But Catholicity has never been limited to one jurisdiction. For centuries, the Catholic Church has been expressed in many sees—Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria, Constantinople, and yes, Rome. Old Catholicism is one of those expressions. So, what’s the difference between Old Catholicism and Roman Catholicism? Let’s break it down: 1. Shared Foundations Both Old Catholics and Roman Catholics believe in the same essentials of the Christian faith: The Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ. The seven sacraments (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Matrimony, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick). Apostolic Succession refers to the continuous transmission of episcopal authority, passed down through generations of bishops, reaching back to the apostles themselves. They profess the same Creed. 2. Where T...

By †Gabriel Obiano, D.D. The "Filioque" Clause: A Western Addition and Eastern Dispute The Nicene Creed stands as one of Christianity's most foundational declarations of faith, a concise yet profound statement summarizing core beliefs held by billions across denominations. Recited in liturgies and studied in theological schools, it serves as a powerful testament to the early Church's struggle to articulate the mystery of God. However, within its ancient lines lies a subtle yet significant difference that contributed to the schism between the Christian East and West: the addition of a single word in Latin – the "Filioque." To truly understand the Nicene Creed is to journey back to the very roots of Christian doctrine, and to appreciate the rich, complex tapestry of its development. I must admit that the Council of Niecae did a great job. This is the Genesis of it all. The Genesis of the Creed: Councils of Nicaea and Constantinople The original form of the Nic...

By †Gabriel Obiano, D.D. The act of sharing bread and wine in communion, or the Eucharist, is central to Christian worship. Yet, a subtle but significant difference in practice has long distinguished the Western and Eastern traditions. While both believe the bread becomes the Body of Christ, the Roman Catholic Church uses unleavened bread, whereas the Eastern Orthodox Church uses leavened bread. This divergence is not merely a matter of culinary preference; it is rooted in profound theological and historical interpretations of the Last Supper.  The Roman Catholic Tradition: Unleavened Bread (Azymes) In the Roman Catholic Church, the bread used for the Eucharist is a thin, unleavened wafer, often referred to by its Latin name, azymes. This practice is tied directly to the historical context of the Last Supper. Exposition: The Roman Catholic position holds that the Last Supper was a Jewish Passover Seder. The Gospel accounts (Matthew 26:17, Mark 14:12, Luke 22:7) describe Jesus's pre...

  By Dr. h.c. Miracle Gabriel-Ooc When you hear of St. Timothy, what comes to mind? Many remember him as the young companion of the Apostle Paul, but far fewer realize the profound role he played in shaping the life of the early Catholic Church. "Timothy of Ephesus reminds us that God does not measure readiness by age but by faithfulness," said Bishop Obiano.  A Young Bishop in Ephesus St. Timothy was a native of Lystra (Acts 16:1), born to a Greek father and a Jewish mother, Eunice, who along with his grandmother Lois, nurtured him in the Scriptures from childhood (2 Timothy 1:5). When Paul encountered Timothy, he saw a man with deep faith and spiritual promise, though still very young. Paul took him as a companion on his missionary journeys, and Timothy became not just a co-worker but a spiritual son. St. Timothy of Ephesus likely presided over the church where St. John the Apostle later lived with the Virgin Mary. It is recorded that Paul appointed Timothy as the first Bis...

By Dr. h.c. Miracle Gabriel-Ooc The Sacred Heart of Jesus Charismatic Old Catholic Church is part of a global Old Catholic communion—an Independent Catholic Church that is not affiliated with, nor answerable to, the See of Rome. Its mother church is in the United States, rooted in the movement of bishops who, after the First Vatican Council of 1870, separated from Rome in response to new doctrinal definitions, particularly papal infallibility. This Church does not submit to the jurisdiction of the Roman Pontiff, nor is it bound by the Canons or Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church. Its identity and validity do not depend on external validation from Rome or any other jurisdiction. Instead, it stands firmly on the foundation of Christ Himself, who is the head of the Church (Colossians 1:18). While Old Catholics respect Rome as primus inter pares (“first among equals”), they do not subject themselves to Roman authority in matters of theology, faith, or practice. They hold to a unique ex...