Union of Utrecht of the old Catholic churches

Union of Utrecht of the Old Catholic Churches are national and independent churches founded in the 18th and 19th centuries by separating from the Roman Catholic Church. The Dutch Catholic Church, which split from the Roman Catholic Church in the 18th century, and the Old Catholic Churches of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, which were founded by those who objected to the decisions of the First Vatican Council in the 19th century, united and created the Union of Utrecht in 1889. In addition to these founding churches, the Union of Utrecht of the Old Catholic Churches includes several other churches that were founded or separated from the Roman Catholic Church later. Old Catholic Churches are not in communion with the Roman Catholic Church, but they stick to the Catholic name. Old Catholic Churches were established in different countries, on different dates and through different processes. There are some common issues in terms of the establishment processes of these churches and the reasons for their separation from the Roman Catholic Church. The supremacy of the Roman Church and of Peter, Consiliarism, Reformation, Gallicanism, Jansenism, and the Jesuits are subjects closely related to the separation and founding of the Old Catholic Churches. The Old Catholic Churches, which came into being through different processes, united under the umbrella of the Utrecht Union while preserving their national independence and some differences. The Old Catholic Churches realized an ecumenical vision with this union and started ecumenical dialogues with other churches as well. Inter-communion agreements were signed with the Anglican Church and some other churches. This study aims to reveal the founding processes of the Old Catholic Churches, their ecumenical activities with other churches and their current situation in general. Keywords: Old Catholic Church, Union of Utrecht, Infallibility of the Pope, Bonn Agreement, Inter-Communion.