Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ
{{Infobox Christian denomination
| name = Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| abbreviation = ECCC
| main_classification = Western Christian
| orientation = Independent Catholic
| polity = Episcopal
| leader_title = Archbishop
| leader_name = Karl Rodig
| language =
| headquarters = Detroit, Michigan
| founder = Karl Rodig
| founded_date = 1998
| founded_place = Florida, United States
| separations =
| website = [http://www.ecumenicalccc.org/ ecumenicalccc.org]
}}
The Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ (ECCC) is an Independent Catholic denomination founded by Archbishop Karl Rodig as The Reformed Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church.{{Cite web |title=Founding Archbishop Dr. Karl Rodig |url=https://www.ecumenicalccc.org/founding-archbishop-dr-karl-rodig.php |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ}} Headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, the ECCC uses a former Roman Catholic parish as its Cathedral of Saint Anthony. The Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ aims to minister to disaffected Roman Catholics and others.{{Cite web |title=Unusual church in no-man's land welcomes everyone |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/columnists/donna-terek/2016/08/06/donnas-detroit-st-anthony-church/88354096/ |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=The Detroit News |language=en-US}}
History
File:Bishop Edik Baroni with Karl Rodig.jpg
The Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ was originally founded in 1998 as The Reformed Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church after Karl Rodig left the Catholic Church, initially disagreeing with clerical celibacy. In 1999, Rodig was consecrated by Archbishop Maurice McCormick of the Old Catholic Church in North America and was therefore excommunicated {{lang|la|latae sententiae}} by the Catholic Church.{{Cite web |title=Statement regarding "Archbishop" Karl Rodig and the Cathedral Abbey of St. Anthony |url=https://www.aod.org/announcements-newsroom/newsroom/2016/august/statement-regarding-archbishop-karl-rodig-and-the-cathedral-abbey-of-st-anthony |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=Archdiocese of Detroit |language=en-US}}
In 2007, the church changed its name to the Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ. The church also merged with Christ Catholic Church International in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.{{Cite news |date=2007-10-27 |title=Church merger brings leaders to city |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/niagara-falls-review-church-merger-bring/141847497/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |work=Niagara Falls Review |pages=17}}
By 2010, Rodig purchased the shuttered Catholic parish of Saint Anthony Cathedral in Detroit, Michigan; the church was closed between 2006 and 2007 by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit.{{Cite web |title=Cathedral of St. Anthony |url=https://historicdetroit.org/buildings/cathedral-of-st-anthony |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=Historic Detroit}} Following this purchase, Rodig and the Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ were considered invalidly ordained by the Archdiocese of Detroit, although clergy in the ECCC validate themselves through the dogma of sacramental character.{{Cite web |title=Church Documents |url=https://www.ecumenicalccc.org/church-documents.php |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ}}
With the death of Bishop Mark Steven Shirilau in the similarly named Ecumenical Catholic Church—and the appointment of David John Kalke in 2014—some churches realigned themselves to the Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ.{{Cite web |last=Marcotullio |first=Giovanni |date=2019-08-05 |title=La "Chiesa Cattolica Ecumenica di Cristo"… e altre storie |url=https://it.aleteia.org/2019/08/05/mark-steven-shirilau-karl-rodig/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=Aleteia.org – Italiano |language=it}}
Between 2020 and 2022, the church's founding archbishop ordained and consecrated clergy in and for Europe, Kenya,{{Cite web |date=2020-06-21 |title=I did not want to live a lie, says former Catholic priest who opted to marry |url=https://nation.africa/kenya/life-and-style/lifestyle/i-did-not-want-to-live-a-lie-says-former-catholic-priest-who-opted-to-marry-638908 |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=Nation |language=en}} and the Middle East. In May 2022 Primate Abp Karl Rodig, with other bishops of Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ in the United States, consecrated Fr. Edik Baroni as a Bishop in charge of the communities in the Middle East for Persian and other communities worldwide.{{Cite web |title=Our Plelate |url=https://www.edikbaroni.com/services |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=edikbaroni |language=en}} In 2021, it has also built a presence in India, to the derision of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bombay.{{Cite web |date=2021-11-26 |title=New Ecumenical church points towards reforms and unity |url=https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/new-ecumenical-church-points-towards-reforms-and-unity-23202420 |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=Mid-day |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-11-30 |title=Archbishop in India warns Catholics against attending breakaway chapel |url=https://cruxnow.com/church-in-asia/2021/11/archbishop-in-india-warns-catholics-against-attending-breakaway-chapel |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=Crux |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-09-02 |title=CLARIFICATION: Fr. Donald Rodrigues |url=https://www.archdioceseofbombay.org/post/clarification-fr-donald-rodrigues |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=Archdiocese of Bombay |language=en}}
Doctrine
The ECCC affirms married clergy and women's ordination. The church also affirms and ordains LGBTQ+ clergy.