"Altkatholische Identität - altkirchliche Identität"? Ein Workshopbericht

Abstract

Reference to the Ancient Church is an important aspect of Old Catholic identity. This includes reference to particular doctrinal decisions of Ecumenical Councils as well as to the conciliar ecclesiology that made these decisions possible. Four different functions of the reference to the Ancient Church are presented: self legitimation in a controversial context, common ground in an ecumenical context, a source of reforms and ascertaining one’s identity. Legitimating the Ancient Church as a normative source for today’s theology is far from trivial. The ecumenical character of the Ancient Church, its conciliar principle, the paradigmatic and fundamental character of its decisions may serve as such legitimations.