Holy Orders & Validity

Catholic Apostolic National Church

Sacraments and Holy Orders

Questions From Other Churches & Communions

On various occasions, members of the Roman Catholic Church coming for the first time into contact with members of the Catholic Apostolic National Church, have inquired of their pastors or other clergy and supposedly "informed" laity as to the position of the Roman Catholic Church on the validity of Sacraments which are administered by the Catholic Apostolic National Church, which has, of course, maintained apostolic succession. Frequently, the inquirers are told that our Sacraments are not valid or recognized by Rome. These excerpts are written to clear up any confusion that there might be on this point, although the Catholic Apostolic National Church is quite aware of its validity in all things and has no interest in gaining "recognition" from any other quarters. This is not in our defense, nor is it written to justify our being. It is to inform the uninformed individual.

Is the Catholic Apostolic National Church really Catholic?

If the Roman Catholic Church is your source of truth in these matters, see what the Roman Catholic Church teaches in it’s 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.⁵⁸ 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.⁵⁹ 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."⁶⁰ [*emphasized for clarity]

The Validity Of Orders Originating From Bishop Carlos Duarte Costa

The Consecration of Rev. Fr. Luis Fernando Castillo Mendez to the Episcopate,

By Bishop Carlos Duarte Costa, in Caracas, Venezuela, on May 6, 1948.

Salomão Barbosa Ferraz

Bishop Salomão Barbosa Ferraz was a former Roman Catholic Priest, was consecrated a bishop by Bishop Carlos Duarte Costa for the Igreja Catolica Apostolica Brasileira (ICAB) in 1945. In 1958, during the late pontificate of Pope Pius XII, he reconciled with the Roman Catholic Church. Bishop Ferraz was named by the Holy See to be Titular Bishop of Eleuterna on May 12, 1963. Although still married, Bishop Ferraz was later appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Rio de Janeiro by Pope John XXIII. Bishop Ferraz was later called by Pope Paul VI to serve on a working commission of the Second Vatican Council and addressed the Council Fathers in session.

It is notable that Bishop Ferraz was never re-consecrated by the Roman Catholic Church, even conditionally (sub conditione), and later was buried with the full honors accorded Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church. The Roman Church by accepting Bishop Ferraz in this manner, without any re-consecration, affirm de jure and de facto the sacramental validity of the Duarte Costa Apostolic Succession of what is commonly known as the "Rebiba Apostolic Succession."

Bishop Orlando Arce-Moya

Bishop Moya was the fourth bishop consecrated by Bishop Carlos Duarte Costa on November 30, 1956, with the title of Bishop of Santiago, Chile, for the Chilean Catholic National Church (Igreja Nacional Chilena). Bishop Moya left the Chilean Catholic National Church many years later, and was received by Pope John XXIII into the Roman Catholic Church. Bishop Moya was not re-consecrated, not even sub-conditione, and he was accepted as having valid Episcopal orders. He was appointed by the Pope as Auxiliary Bishop to the Cardinal Archbishop of Madrid, Spain. Bishop Moya died some years later.

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ESBN: 62546-060126-542595-33