Roman Catholic Church views on the Old Catholic Church

  http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11235b.htm - below, on the OCC-

 “The sect organised in German-speaking countries to combat the dogma of Papal Infallibility.  Filled with ideas of ecclesiastical Liberalism and rejecting the Christian spirit of submission to the teachings of the Church, nearly 1400 Germans issued, in September, 1870, a declaration in which they repudiated the dogma of Infallibility "as an innovation contrary to the traditional faith of the Church". They were encouraged by large numbers of scholars, politicians, and statesmen, and were acclaimed by the Liberal press of the whole world.  The moving spirit in this and all later assemblies for organization was Johann Friedrich von Schulte, the professor of dogma at Prague. Von Schulte summed up the results of the congress as follows:   

  • Adherence to the ancient Catholic faith;      
  • maintenance of the rights      of Catholics      as such; 
  • rejection of the new dogmas,      
  • adherence to the constitutions of the ancient Church      with repudiation of every dogma      of faith      not in harmony with the actual consciousness of the Church;      
  • reform of the Church      with constitutional participation of the laity;      
  • preparation of the way for reunion of the Christian      confessions; 
  • reform of the training and position of the clergy;      
  • adherence to the State against the attacks of Ultramontanism;  (see below)
  • rejection of the Society of Jesus; 
  • solemn assertion of the claims of Catholics      as such to the real property of the Church and to the title to it.

(A view opposed to the RCC) According to the definition given in Leichtenberger, "Encycl. des sciences religieuses" (ed. 1882): "The character of Ultramontanism is manifested chiefly in the ardour with which it combats every movement of independence in the national Churches, the condemnation which it visits upon works written to defend that independence, its denial of the rights of the State in matters of government, of ecclesiastical administration and ecclesiastical control, the tenacity with which it has prosecuted the declaration of the dogma of the pope's infallibility and with which it incessantly advocates the restoration of his temporal power as a necessary guarantee of his spiritual sovereignty."


 In some ways, the relationship between the RCC and the OCC is similar to that of the current understanding between the RCC and the Anglican Church, the Orthodox Church, and even the Lutheran Church. While members and clergy of the OCC are not in full communion with the RCC, even Pope Francis acknowledges the value within the OCC. 

The following is from https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-reaches-out-to-schismatic-old-catholic-church-28251 : 

“Despite continuing theological, ethical and ministerial differences between the Roman Catholic Church and the schismatic Old Catholic Conference, the two communions can continue to work together, Pope Francis counseled on Thursday….. The two Churches can continue to dialogue and cooperate in order to address spiritual crises in the world. ‘In the meantime, in the heart of Europe, which is so confused about its own identity and vocation, there are many areas in which Catholics and Old Catholics can collaborate in meeting the profound spiritual crisis affecting individuals and societies,’ the Pope said.”