An Independent Catholic, Nationalist People’s Movement: The Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Philippine Independent Church)

This chapter focuses on the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Philippine Independent Church; abbrev.: IFI) as a particularly significant, yet under-researched, instance of Filipino Catholicism. In particular, it will be considered here what the term “independence” means in the name of this church. Having emerged in the context of the Philippine struggle for ecclesial and political independence and as part of what may be called a “catholic nationalist people’s movement” for independence, its understanding of “independent Catholicism” can only be understood, if it is approached from both a political/social and an ecclesial/theological angle. This combination makes up the particular meaning of “independence” in relation to the IFI.