Validity of the United States Old Catholic Church

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.