INSIDE OLD CATHOLIC

By †Gabriel Obiano, D.D. In the life of the Church, few offices carry such deep spiritual weight and historical continuity as that of the bishop. From the earliest days of Christianity, bishops have stood as successors of the Apostles—those entrusted with teaching the faith, sanctifying the people, and governing the Church of God. To understand who a Catholic bishop is, and what his ministry means, is to glimpse the living structure of the Church that Christ Himself founded. A bishop is not simply a higher rank within the clergy. His office is sacramental, not merely administrative. Through the sacred rite of episcopal consecration, a bishop receives the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders. In this, he becomes a successor to the Apostles, sharing in their mission to shepherd God’s people and to preserve the faith handed down through generations. Every bishop carries within him the living thread that connects the Church today with the Church of the first century. The Role of a Bish...

By †Gabriel Obiano, D.D. Defending the Christian faith is not about winning arguments—it is about witnessing to the truth of the Gospel with both kindness and clarity. Apologetics, at its heart, is the practice of giving a reasoned defense of what we believe (1 Peter 3:15). But how we defend the faith is just as important as what we defend. We can't defend the faith by engaging in arguments. Arguing about the faith will not do us any good. To defend your faith is not the same as engaging in arguments. I had an encounter with someone who is not a believer. He reached out to me through my Facebook account and asked me to show him a place in the Bible where Jesus said, "I am God, worship me." This person wasn't asking the question because he wanted to be saved; his main purpose was to mock Christianity and to engage me in an unholy argument. Today, I will share with you how to defend your faith. 1. Ground Yourself in Scripture and Tradition The first step in apologetics ...

  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. Have you ever noticed a priest at Mass praying with his arms outstretched, palms open? Or perhaps someone praying in similar posture and gazing upwards? In the Catholic tradition, this isn't just a spontaneous expression of devotion; it's a specific, ancient posture known as the Orans posture. Far from being a modern innovation, this gesture of prayer has resonated across the Church for centuries, holding a profound spiritual significance that continues to enrich the sacred liturgy of the Mass today. But what exactly is the Orans posture, where did it come from, and why does it still hold such power for believers? Let's reach out and explore this beautiful and meaningful stance of prayer. What is the Orans Posture? Derived from the Latin word orare, meaning "to pray," the Orans posture is characterized by standing (or sometimes kneeling) with arms extended sideways, bent at the elbows, and palms open and facing upwards. It is a posture tha...

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 MOST REV. DR. JOHN A. ADEYEMO, DD - PRESIDING ARCHBISHOP, ORCC-LR, SUI IURIS & PRESIDENT, INDEPENDENT CATHOLIC BISHOPS' CONFERENCE Disclaimer: This article reflects the author’s views and does not necessarily represent the official stance of INSIDE CATHOLIC Nigeria’s rich Christian landscape hosts a variety of denominations, among which the Old Catholic Churches and the Roman Catholic Church notably coexist. Despite sharing roots in the historic Catholic tradition, these two bodies face tensions and hostilities, primarily from the Roman Catholic side, related to issues of authority, doctrine, and influence. The Old Catholic Apostolic Church in Nigeria was formally established in approximately 2014 through the leadership of Bishop Raphael Fagbohun, as a movement devoted to upholding what it sees as the original Catholic teachings apart from the dogmatic innovations of the Roman Catholic hierarchy. Despite this, both Churches coexist within Nigeria, managing a relationship cha...