Old Catholic Order of Paul the Apostle 

What is the "Old Catholic Church"?

The Old Catholic movement traces its history to the Utrecht Union in the Netherlands. The church began splitting apart from Rome in the 19th century over the appointment of bishops by the Pope, who had been previously elected from within each diocese. The split became final after Vatican I when Pope Pius IX claimed Papal Infallibility. The prior tradition, and that which is still held by Old Catholics, is that of “Infallibility of Bishops in General Council.”

The Old Catholic Church is associated with the Holy See of Antioch, which was founded by St. Peter as its first Bishop, and where the term "Christian " was first applied to believers and followers of Jesus Christ. The Old Catholic Church is part of the “One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. " The Bishops of the Old Catholic Church "hold and keep" Apostolic Succession.

The Old Catholic Church welcomes individual Roman Catholics, and other Christians, to
participate in Communion and other Sacraments. Old Catholics believe in the "Real Presence" in the Eucharist; that the Bread and Wine, truly become the "Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity" of Jesus Christ.

Of particular concern to The Old Catholic Church is the offering of Sacraments to those who have left Catholicism for whatever reason, or those who are considered "displaced Catholics",  and/or other Christians, who seek forms of worship and beliefs, founded in Sacred Scripture and the Traditions of the Catholic Church.

When members of the Roman Catholic Church encounter Old Catholic Churches for the first time, they are often surprised to learn that Catholic denominations exist apart from Rome. Understandably, questions are raised about the validity of Orders and Sacraments administered by Old Catholics.

Catholic Almanac

"The Roman Church recognizes the validity of Old Catholic Orders and other Sacraments."
-Felician A. Roy, OFM,   1974; p. 368

“Dominus Iesus”

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

In this Declaration, the Roman Catholic Church recognizes the validity of Orders and Sacraments of Old Catholic denominations:

"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, these separated Churches and 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. Unicity and Unity of the Church, 17

Separated Brethren

"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, possess a valid priesthood."
-William J. Whalan, pp. 204,248