CHRISTIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

christian catholic church, the name assumed by a religious organization founded at zion city near chicago, illinois, u.s.a., in 1896, by john alexander dowie (q.v.). its members added to the usual tenets of christianity a special belief in faith-healing, and laid much stress on united consecration services and the threefold immersion of believers. to assist dowie, assistant overseers were appointed, and the operations of the community included religious, educational and commercial departments. small branches sprang up in other parts of the united states, mexico, canada, europe and australasia. at the end of 1901 there were nearly 12,000 baptized believers. after 1903 considerable dissension arose among dowie's followers: he was deposed in 1906; and after his death (1907) the city gradually became a community of normal type.