Our movement was born from the division that came from the first Vatican council of Rome in 1870. Our Church affirms the declaration of Utrecht, which was formulated in 1874 and 1875 by Von Dollinger, as he aimed to maintain the traditions of the Old Catholic Church movement, in response to the decrees of the first Vatican Council of Rome in 1870. The Old Catholic theologians whose Churches rejected this change parted ways(Schisms). These Schisms dedicated themselves to a new mission and so began the movement to maintain the traditions of the original Catholic Church Communion, pre-papal primacy.

Von Dollinger invited representatives from the Anglican, Orthodox, and Lutheran Churches to the Union of Bonn, to discuss their denominational differences in view of a theological consensus as the grounds for restoring the Church Communion. Thus, the seeds of the Union of Utrecht were planted.

We acknowledge the historic precedence of Bishops of Rome, but reject the papal dogmas of their council, and numerous papal pronouncements which vary from the doctrine of the Ancient Church. We affirm our faith in the profound mystery and vital essence of the Eucharist.

The birth of this movement, though small in its inception, set the stages affirming the foundation for what would be called the Old Catholic Church, its involvement in ecumenical affairs, and ultimately leading us to where we are today.

There were several Unions born of this movement. The Union of Utrecht and the Union of Scranton. Saint Michaels American Old Catholic Church has views that firmly support and stand in solidarity with the Union of Utrecht and the Union of Scranton on the three basic principles: to maintain and pass on the Catholic Faith, worship, and essential structure of the undivided Church of the first ten centuries.

We stand in unison with the Union of Utrecht in our acceptance of the Nicaea and Chalcedon creeds; Christs foundation of the Church; the Holy Bible, the doctrine of the Undivided Church and the Fathers of the Church as our genuine source of beliefs.

Saint Michaels America Old Catholic Church harmoniously supports the practice of the Union of Utrecht in their decision to ordain women to priesthood positions in line with Holy Scripture.

We stand in solidarity of both the Union of Utrecht and the Union of Scranton who hold firm in the belief that the unity which the ecumenical movement seeks for the churches, is one that must exist as a reconciled diverse compilation of all that are rooted in the common faith and order of the early church of the first centuries, and the necessary continuation of this work.

We also support the Union of Scranton in overcoming division, as we are determined to maintain and pass on the Catholic faith, worship, and the structure of the Undivided Church.