Validity of the United States Old Catholic Church
Apostolic Succession
It seems that no matter where I go, there are some that will say, well your church isn't valid. That is actually 100% incorrect.
It is often asked of us how do we establish our validity within the Church Community. Quite often, individuals do not see us as valid because we are NOT under the jurisdiction of Rome. However, I invite you to view the documents below and realize that the Old Catholic Church (American Catholic Church) is considered valid if there is Apostolic Succession.
If the Roman Catholic Church is your source of truth in these matters, see what the Roman Catholic Church teaches in its official document "DOMINUS IESUS," issued during the reign of Pope John Paul II, June 16, 2000, and signed by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, August 6, 2000, refer to Section IV: Article 17:
"Therefore, there exists a single Church of Christ*, which subsists in the [Roman] Catholic Church, governed by the Successor of Peter and by the Bishops in communion with him. The Churches which, while not existing in perfect communion with the [Roman] Catholic Church, remain united to her by means of the closest bonds, that is, by apostolic succession and a valid Eucharist, are true particular Churches.
Therefore, the Church of Christ is present and operative also in these Churches*, even though they lack full communion with the [Roman] Catholic Church, since they do not accept the [Roman] Catholic doctrine of the Primacy, which, according to the will of God, the Bishop of Rome objectively has and exercises over the entire Church."
[*emphasized for clarity] The statements presented here are from official authorities, theologians and publications of the Roman Catholic Church in the affirmation of the validity of Old Catholic Holy Orders and Sacraments.
1] "When a Catholic sacred minister is unavailable and there is urgent spiritual necessity, Catholics may receive the Eucharist, penance, or anointing from sacred ministers of non-Catholic denomination whose holy orders are considered valid by the Catholic Church. This includes all Eastern Orthodox priests, as well as priests of the Old Catholic or Polish National Church." Rights and Responsibilities, A Catholics' Guide to the New Code of Canon Law, Thomas P. Doyle, O.P., page 44.
2] "A validly consecrated bishop can validly confer all orders from the minor orders to the episcopate inclusively ... For this reason the ordinations performed by the bishops of the Old Catholics are consider valid." A Practical Commentary on the Code of Canon Law, revised and enlarged edition, by Rev. Stanislaw Woywood, OFM, LLB. Vol. 1, Sec. 881, P. 558.
3] "They [Old Catholics] have received valid orders." Roman Catholic Dictionary, by Addison Arnold.
4] "The Old Catholic Church has received valid episcopal consecration", Christian Denominations, B. Herder Book, London 1946, by Rev. Konrad Algermissen.
⌠The validity of episcopal consecration in the Church of Utrecht cannot be doubted, nor I this regard can that of the Old Catholic Church, which depend upon the former. The Utrecht Union came into existence in 1889, through a consolidation of the Church of Utrecht and the Old Catholic Church.■ P. 349.
⌠Since the episcopal consecration in the Church of Utrecht is valid, the validity of the prescribed consecration performed in the Old Catholic Church cannot be doubted.■ P. 357.
⌠In America, for instance, The American Catholic Church, The Old Catholic Church in America, the North American [Old Roman] Catholic Church, have all received valid episcopal consecration from the Old Catholic Church.■ P. 363. 5] "Their [Old Catholic] Orders and Sacraments are valid." A Catholic Dictionary, by Donald Attwater.
6] "The Far East Magazine of June, 1928, published by the Saint Columban Fathers of St. Columbans, Nebraska, in reply to any inquiry about the Old Catholic Church, published the reply that: "These [Old Catholics] Orders are valid."
7] "The Roman Church recognizes the validity of Old Catholic Orders and other Sacraments." 1974 Catholic Almanac, by Felician A. Roy, OFM, page 368. "Our Sunday Visitor."
8] "We have no reason to doubt that the Old Catholic Orders are valid. The Apostolic Succession does not depend on obedience to the See of Peter but rather on the objective line of succession from Apostolic sources, the proper matter and form, and the proper intention ... likewise Old Catholic bishops are bishops in Apostolic Succession ... The Old Catholics, like the Orthodox, posses a valid priesthood." Separated Brethren, William J. Whalen, pp. 204, 248.
9] (Apostolicae Curae) "...Whenever there is no appearance of simulation on the part of the minister, the validity of the sacrament is sufficiently certain ... "
10] Every validly consecrated bishop, including heretical, schismatic, simonistic or excommunicated bishops, can validly dispense the Sacrament of Order, provided that he has the requisite intention, and follows the essential external rite (set. Certa). Cf. D 855, 860; CIC 2372.■ Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, 1952 by Dr. Ludwig Ott, pp. 456.
MORE MATERIAL TO READ
Apostolic Succession
**An Old Catholic Community in Apostolic Succession**
- We are an Old Catholic community rooted in the ancient faith of the undivided Church.
- We celebrate the sacraments with reverence, dignity, and openness to all God’s people.
- We affirm the full equality and dignity of every person, regardless of gender, marital status, sexual orientation, or background.
- We are Catholic, but not under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic hierarchy.
- We stand in the historic stream of Old Catholic communities that preserved apostolic succession and the Catholic faith outside of Roman control.
WHAT “OLD CATHOLIC” MEANS
- **“Old”** refers to fidelity to the ancient, undivided Church, especially the first millennium of Christian tradition.
- **“Catholic”** expresses our adherence to the universal faith:
- The Holy Trinity
- The full divinity and humanity of Christ
- The centrality of the Eucharist
- The authority of Scripture and Apostolic Tradition
- The creeds of the early ecumenical councils
- We uphold the sacramental life of the Church:
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist
- Reconciliation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Matrimony
- Holy Orders
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OUR APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION
- Our bishops stand in **historic apostolic succession**, consecrated by bishops whose own lines trace back to the apostles.
- This is the same kind of unbroken line of ordination that the Roman Catholic Church itself considers the basis for valid sacraments.
- Our priests are validly ordained by bishops in this apostolic line.
- Because of this, our celebration of the Eucharist is a **true, valid Mass**, and our other sacraments are **truly sacramental** in character.
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HOW THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH VIEWS OLD CATHOLICS
From an Old Catholic perspective, it is important to be honest and clear:
- The Roman Catholic Church and Old Catholics are **not in full communion** with one another.
- However, the Roman Catholic Church has historically **recognized the validity of Old Catholic apostolic succession and sacraments**, especially in reference to Old Catholics of the Union of Utrecht.
- In Roman Catholic theology:
- A bishop validly consecrated with proper form and intent truly becomes a bishop, even if he is not under Rome’s jurisdiction.
- Priests ordained by such a bishop are validly ordained priests.
- Masses and sacraments celebrated by such clergy are considered **valid but illicit** (valid, though not authorized under Roman law).
In practice, this means:
- Roman Catholic theologians, canonists, and official Vatican documents have repeatedly treated Old Catholic orders as **valid**.
- When Roman Catholic authorities discuss **Old Catholic bishops and priests**, they typically:
- Do *not* re‑ordain them absolutely if they reconcile with Rome;
- Instead may use conditional or reconciliatory rites, acknowledging pre‑existing apostolic orders.
From our Old Catholic standpoint:
- We hold that this Roman Catholic recognition confirms that we are:
- Truly Catholic in faith and sacramental life.
- Truly apostolic in our ministry and succession.
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WE ARE CATHOLIC – AND INCLUSIVE
As an inclusive Old Catholic community:
- We share the **core Catholic faith** with the wider Church while living it in a way that is deeply pastoral and welcoming:
- We welcome divorced and remarried persons to the sacraments.
- We affirm the full dignity and ministry of women.
- We welcome LGBTQ+ persons as beloved members of the Body of Christ, fully able to participate in the sacramental and ministerial life of the Church.
- We believe that the Holy Spirit continues to guide the Church into a more complete expression of Christ’s inclusive love.
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WHAT MAKES US “VALIDLY CATHOLIC” FROM AN OLD CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVE
- **Faith**
- We profess the same core creeds as the Roman Catholic Church (Apostles’ Creed, Nicene Creed).
- We celebrate the same central mysteries: Incarnation, Cross, Resurrection, and Pentecost.
- **Sacraments**
- Our sacraments have:
- Valid matter (bread, wine, oil, water, etc.).
- Valid form (the traditional sacramental prayers).
- Valid intention (to do what the Church does).
- Our clergy are ordained in historical apostolic succession.
- **Continuity**
- We remain in continuity with the ancient Church in worship, theology, and spirituality.
- We uphold the episcopal ministry of bishops as successors of the apostles.
From this, we affirm:
We are truly Catholic, truly sacramental, and truly apostolic—
recognized as such in principle by Roman Catholic theology, even while we stand outside Roman jurisdiction.
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AN INVITATION
- If you are Catholic and seeking a spiritual home where:
- Your dignity is honored,
- Your questions are respected,
- Your family is welcomed as it is,
- And the sacraments are celebrated validly and reverently—
we invite you to pray, worship, and journey with us.
We are:
- **Old Catholic in faith**
- **Inclusive in practice**
- **Rooted in apostolic succession**
- **Recognized as validly Catholic in orders and sacraments by Roman Catholic theology, even if not under Roman authority**