Independent Catholic

Independent Catholic denominations, Catholics not in communion with Rome, or Breakaway Catholics, is a term for minor schismatic Christian denominations self-identifying as Catholic despite not affiliated with or recognised by the Catholic Church. Split in multiple groupings with estimated some 28 million members in total, the Independent Catholic denominations, their magistry, and sacraments are not recognised by the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church or the Oriental Orthodox Church.

Independent Catholic groups, while typically employing episcopal hierarchy claiming apostolic succession, differ from Protestantism in that they identify with and practice liturgy more closely inspired by the Catholic Church.

Bishops of Independent Catholic churches who were originally clergy of the Catholic Church but left are sometimes referred to as episcopi vagantes ("wandering bishops") because of their lack of communion. Their decisions to partake in schisms tend to stem from various perceived failures of the institution of the Catholic Church.

The term "independent Catholic" is not usually applied to Anglo-Catholics, the Church of England or to the other denominations within the Anglican Communion. However, "Independent Catholic" is sometimes applied to denominations which consider themselves to be "Old Catholic", including the Union of Utrecht, even though it is in communion with the Anglican Communion, although not an actual member of the group. In the case of Continuing Anglicanism outside the Anglican Communion, denominations self-identifying with Catholic tradition may sometimes be considered as Independent Catholic.

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