「舊天主教」這項名稱最早出現於1853年,用以描述烏特勒支總主教(英语:Old Catholic Archdiocese of Utrecht)轄下的教會,他們是不與教宗「共融」、即不處在教宗權威之下的公教會,而烏特勒支的舊天主教會總主教也一直具有首席地位。大多數的舊天主教會加入1889年成立的烏特勒支協進會(英语:Union of Utrecht (Old Catholic))(德語:Utrechter Union der Altkatholischen Kirchen),這是舊天主教會最主要的合作組織;但有部分加入烏特勒支協進會的舊天主教會同時與聖公宗完全共融[1],部分則同時為普世教會協會成員[2]。現今在英國以及北美有使用英語的舊天主教會,他們與烏得勒支協進會並沒有「完全共融」。斯洛伐克的舊天主教會是歐洲大陸的舊天主教會的一項示範,他們主動加入烏得勒支協進會。
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Episcopi vagantes in church history. A.J. Macdonald. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1945.
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Old Catholic: History, Ministry, Faith & Mission. Andre J. Queen. iUniverse title, 2003.
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