Who We Are : The UACC

Old Catholic & United American Catholic History

In the U.S., Vilatte worked tirelessly with congregations in rural Wisconsin, providing the only Catholic presence there, and in 1915 founded the American Catholic Church in Chicago. He is considered by many a Father of the Independent Sacramental Movement in America; many jurisdictions—including the UACC—trace their Apostolic Succession through him and the Old Catholic Church of Holland, thus to Rome and the Apostles.

Eventually Archbishop Vilatte was reconciled with the Roman Church. He retired to a French monastery, where he died on July 8, 1929, at the age of 75.

Summary

The history of the Old Catholics, their evolution into what we know today as the Independent Sacramental Movement, and Joseph Rene Vilatte's part in it all is a far more intricate and complex story than what we are able to present here. And although in some respects and according to some accounts, Vilatte had a storied past and a somewhat dubious character, Archbishop Joseph Rene Vilate was nevertheless a man of zeal, founding the ministries, ordaining the priests and consecrating the bishops who have given us the Independent Sacramental Movement of today, and for that we are deeply indebted to him.

The UACC

The history of the UACC is also an intricate and complex story and involves many personalities who played large and small roles. Here is a brief timeline.

1989: The American Catholic Church is reorganized.

1995: Bishop Robert J. Allmen is consecrated Presiding Archbishop. The reorganized church, nationally centered at Good Shepherd Cathedral in Hampton Bays, NY, spreads quickly.

1996: The ACC has diocese / churches in many states.

2000: Presiding Archbishop Robert J. Allmen retires and the Synod of Bishops elects Most Reverend Sharon DiSunno as Presiding Archbishop of the renamed American Catholic Church International.

2002 (July): The American Catholic Church International, Diocese of the South, headed by Bishop Anthony Hash, severs ties with the Church and forms the United American Catholic Church.

2002 (October): The UACC holds its first Synod in Roanoke, VA, elects an Executive Committee, adopts Canons and appoints Most Reverend Anthony Hash as Presiding Bishop. He is subsequently given the title of Archbishop and continues to lead the Church today.