Official Record of Apostolic Succession of

The growing ranks of rebel native priests, now led by Fr. Aglipay, petitioned the Papal Nuncio for a native
episcopacy. He promptly told them that "the Pope would never agree because . . . Filipinos were not capable
of episcopacy."
The same day the Filipino native clergy received the insulting dictum of the Papal Nuncio in 1901, they
announced their withdrawal from The Church of Rome under the slogan "An Independent Church in an
Independent Philippines."
The fiery Don Isabelo de los Reyes, a journalist, folklorist and labor organizer who led the lay delegates of
the native clergy (and whose son some fifty years later was to become the Obispo Maximo of the
Independent Church) urged an independent Church be founded immediately.
After some days of deliberation, the native clergy proceeded to elect seventeen native clergy as bishops and
Fr. Gregorio Aglipay as The Supreme Bishop (Obispo Maximo). Thus was born the Iglesia Catolica
Filipina Independiente, which is also termed the Iglesia Filipina Independiente. At the time of its
formation the language of the realm was Spanish. In the English language the Church is known as The
Philippine Independent Catholic Church or The Independent Catholic Church of The Philippines.
Father Aglipay, who was now called Monsignor Aglipay by his followers, was not only a loyal patriot but also
a priest in Holy Orders of The Church of Rome. Although he realized that, in Rome's view, he could transmit
to new priests valid presbyterial orders and thus establish a valid priesthood, he sought for a "regular"
consecration to the episcopacy that would bring in line the Apostolic Succession of the ancient and truly
Catholic Church.
He corresponded with the Old Catholics of Europe, the Episcopalians of the United States, and The
Apostolic Episcopal Church of Bishop Wolfert Brooks of New York without success.
The native Church, however, grew rapidly, and was encouraged by the American presence in The
Philippines. Governor-General William H. Taft was appointed and accepted the position of Honorary
President of the Independent Church before he left for the United States in 1903.
The two million Filipinos who had joined Msgr. Aglipay in his revolt against The Church of Rome took
possession of the buildings in which they had been worshipping for generations. Challenged by The Church
of Rome in U.S. courts, all properties were taken away from the people and handed back to The Church of
Rome.
Starting all over again, the Independientes nevertheless built Chapels and Churches throughout the country.
Yet compared to The Church of Rome, they were a Church in poverty and could provide no Churchoperated
colleges or seminaries for their people.
Nationalism was the vitality that held the Philippine Independent Church together through many trials and
setbacks. Religiously the average Aglipayan lost nothing and gained little, for although he gave up worship
in the beautiful buildings of his forefathers, he continued to hear a generally unreformed Mass and enjoyed
the close fellowship of a minority Church.
In addition, the clergy seemed more able to understand the problems of living because almost all of them
were married. Except for the fact of a married clergy, not subject to the discipline of Roman obedience, the
Church had changed little. It was still The One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church of Christ Jesus for the
Filipino faithful.
Although controversialists said this independent Church would fail, some fifty years later it still had in excess
of two million members, and the Government Census taken each decade (which also polls religious
preference) consistently shows that one seventh of the Filipinos prefer membership in the Independent
Church.
While no men of good will, Protestant or Catholic, would question the validity of the apostolate of The
Independent Church, the question of the lack of a traceable Apostolic Succession (which was raised by