Independent Catholic churches

Independent Catholic denominations, or Catholics not in communion with Rome, or Breakaway Catholics, is a term for schismatic Christian denominations that self-identify as Catholic despite not being affiliated with or recognised by the Roman Catholic Church. Split into multiple groupings with an estimated 28 million members, Independent Catholic denominations, their magistry, and their sacraments are not recognised by the Roman 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 aligned with the Catholic Church.

Independent Catholic bishops who were originally Roman Catholic but left the Church are sometimes referred to as episcopi vagantes ("wandering bishops") because of their lack of communion with the Roman Catholic Church. Their decisions to enter into Independent Catholic Churches tend to stem from various disagreements with and perceived failures of the institution of the Roman 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 that 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 that self-identify as Catholic may sometimes be considered as Independent Catholic.

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