Karl Pruter
Karl Hugo Prüter, commonly referred to as Karl Pruter, was an Independent Old Catholic bishop in the United States. He founded the Christ Catholic Church.
In the late 1960s, Pruter became involved in the Free Catholic Movement, an association that lasted until his death. Pruter's introduction to the Free Catholic Movement and Old Catholicism came in 1963, when he traveled to Europe, where he met several leaders of the Old Catholic tradition. When he returned to the United States, he settled in Boston hoping to find an available church or bishop. Not finding any, he arranged with Archbishop Peter A. Zurawetsky to start a new church in the Back Bay area of Boston, which stressed the contemplative life, mysticism, and a faith based on personal experience.
Pruter was consecrated as bishop of the Diocese of Boston by archbishops Peter A. Zurawetsky and Uladyslau Ryzy-Ryski in 1967. The following year, Pruter designated his diocese an independent communion. After a meeting the following year, the new Christ Catholic Church was recognized when its constitution and canons were given to it by Archbishop Zurawetsky.
In the late 1960s, Pruter became involved in the Free Catholic Movement, an association that lasted until his death. Pruter's introduction to the Free Catholic Movement and Old Catholicism came in 1963, when he traveled to Europe, where he met several leaders of the Old Catholic tradition. When he returned to the United States, he settled in Boston hoping to find an available church or bishop. Not finding any, he arranged with Archbishop Peter A. Zurawetsky to start a new church in the Back Bay area of Boston, which stressed the contemplative life, mysticism, and a faith based on personal experience.
Pruter was consecrated as bishop of the Diocese of Boston by archbishops Peter A. Zurawetsky and Uladyslau Ryzy-Ryski in 1967. The following year, Pruter designated his diocese an independent communion. After a meeting the following year, the new Christ Catholic Church was recognized when its constitution and canons were given to it by Archbishop Zurawetsky.
