For the church founded by Karl Pruter, see Christ Catholic Church (Pruter) Christ Catholic Church is a church of the Old Catholic tradition. The church was founded in 1937 when several independent Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches merged, thereby establishing the Polish Old Catholic Church. Most of these churches were within the state of New Jersey, such as New Brunswick, South River, Dover, and Dunellen, although individual churches as far away as Tampa, Florida were included as well. They elected to be their first bishop. In 1959, the church changed its name to Christ Catholic Church of the Americas and Europe to more clearly indicate that individuals and churches of all nationalities would be welcome in the church. The following year, 1960, the church consisted of 22 parishes with