PositionStatements - SACRED DIVISION - ECUMENICAL CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF TEXAS

X VATICAN DECLARATION X

For Roman Inquirers Participating in Old Catholic Masses

"In America for instance, the Old Catholic Church in North America (U.S.), the Old Catholic Church in America, the North American [Old Roman] Catholic Church, have all received valid episcopal consecration from the Old Catholic Church."
A Catholic Dictionary by Donald Attwater - "Their (Old Catholic) orders and sacraments 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 iniation. Likewise, Old Catholic bishops like other bishops in Apostolics succession, the Old Catholic Bishops, like the Orthodox, possess a valid priesthood." SEPARATED BRETHREN, William J. Whalen. pp. 204-248.
"Whenever there is no appearance of simulation on the past of the minister, the validity of the sacrament is sufficently certain." Apostolic Curae - Roman Catholic Church

And most recently Vatican Declaration "Dominus Iesus"

At the Vatican on June 16, 2000, Pope John Paul II ratified and ordered the publication of Dominus Iesus. This declaration from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was signed and published by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) in August of that same year.

In the declaration, the Roman Catholic Church recognizes the validity of orders and sacraments of Catholic Church not in communion with Rome:

"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 Apostolic Succession and a valid Eucharist, are true particular Churches."

"Therefore, these seperated Churches are communities as such... have by no means been deprived of significance and importance in the mystery of salvation. For the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as means of salvation which derive their efficacy from the very fullness of grace and truth entrusted to the Catholic Church." -- IV. Nicety and Unity of the Church, 17 Dominus Iesus.