Catholic titles tend to be very confusing for non-Catholics, and the Independent Catholic movement adds to that confusion with a few new titles. Below is a list of some common titles for clergy, as well as the usual form of address. Common abbreviations are listed in parantheses. Note that not all churches use these titles — some independent communities are quite anti-hierarchical, while others are much more hierarchal than Roman Catholicism. As with other things, it all depends.
Also, you will frequently find people writing plusses (crosses) before and after names when talking about clergy. The simple rule for this is that priests are denoted by one plus after their name (Jane+), while bishops are denoted by one plus before their name (+Ruth). Some communities add a plus after for archpriests or monsignors (Dale++), and additional plusses for archbishops and patriarchs/matriarchs are not uncommon (++Rowan or +++Mary).
Independent Catholic Titles
Abbot / Abbess – The leader of a monastery, usually possessing episcopal character (i.e., character of a bishop). Some Independent Catholic churches have expanded monasticism to include types of communities not normally denoted as monastic, and these communities are sometimes presided over by an abbot or abbess. In the Roman Catholic tradition, an abbot or abbess need not be ordained (obvious in the case of abbesses) — in the independent movement, they typically are.
Archbishop (Abp) – title of bishops with jurisdiction over a particularly important diocese, sometimes the presiding bishop of a denomination. See also metropolitan.
Archdeacon – a confusing title, it usually refers to a senior member of the clergy, but in some jurisdictions it is a senior priest, and in others it is a senior deacon. It is an uncommon title in Independent Catholic communities, but not unheard of.
Bishop (Bp) – title used before the first name of a bishop.
Dom – Benedictine monastic title adopted by some independent clergy; “Don” is also used, both within the Roman Catholic tradition and outside it.
Father (Fr) – title used before the first name of a male priest or archpriest.
Mar – Syriac word for “Father,” used by some Eastern-influenced prelates as a title for bishop. Especially common in Gnostic communities.
Matriarch – Matriarch and patriarch are terms that have been adopted by heads of some Independent Catholic jurisdictions to denote their role as leading or presiding bishop. In Roman Catholicism, patriarchs are ordinaries of very significant sees in historical Christianity, with no new patriarchates being created. Independent churches who use the title have expanded its scope (some would say almost beyond usefulness, as it is now nearly identical to metropolitan or presiding bishop).
Metropolitan – title of bishops who supervise an entire province. They are typically archbishops (and thus called “metropolitan archbishops”) and supervise the bishops of other dioceses connected with their archdiocese. For small churches, this may be the same as the presiding bishop.
Monsignor (Msgr, Mons) – honorary title given to a priest conferring special respect or privileges, also sometimes used as a title for bishops. Used infrequently within the Independent Catholic movement as this is a title which conveys one as a personal chaplain to the Roman pontiff.
Most Reverend (Most Rev) – written title for most bishops in the Catholic tradition.
Mother (Mtr, Mo) – title used before the first name of a female priest or archpriest.
Ordinary – The bishop who exercises ordinary authority over a diocese or episcopate, distinguished from assistant, auxilliary, or suffragan bishops who merely assist.
Patriarch – see matriarch.
Presiding Bishop – title giving to the bishop who leads an entire jurisdiction. Such a bishop may or may not have ordinary jurisdiction over a specific diocese as well.
Reverend (Rev) – written title for deacons, sometimes also used by priests.
Reverend Father / Mother (Rev Fr / Rev Mtr) – “official title” of ordained priests, used before their first and last names in print.
Reverend Mr / Mrs / Ms / Miss (Rev Mr / Mrs / Ms / Miss) – An adaptation of the usual Roman Catholic title for deacons (Rev Mr); however, a large number of communities prefer simply “Rev” or “Rev Deacon” for deacons.
Right Reverend (Rt Rev) – written title for bishops in the Anglican tradition and used by some monsignors, archpriests, and abbots / abbesses in the Independent Catholic tradition. Monsignors are usually styled Right Reverend Monsignor.
Venerable (Ven) – written title for archdeacons, regardless of whether they are a priest or a deacon.
Very Reverend (Very Rev) – written title commonly used for archpriests, also used for deans and vicars forane in the Catholic and Anglican traditions, seminary rectors and major superiors of religious communities.
