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The "'''Old Catholic Church'''" originated with groups which separated from the [[Roman Catholic Church]] over certain doctrines, most notably that of [[Papal Infallibility]]. These churches are not in full communion with the [[Holy See]] of Rome, but their ''Union of Utrecht of Old Catholic Churches'' is in full communion with the [[Anglican Communion]] and a member of the [[World Council of Churches]]. Nevertheless, according to Roman Catholic teaching, the Old Catholic churches of the Utrecht Union have maintained [[apostolic succession]] and valid [[sacrament]]s according to the Augustinian theory of valid sacramentality. [[Saint Augustine]] distinguished between ''validity'' and ''irregularity'': a [[sacrament]] performed by [[Heresy|heretics]] and [[Schism|schismatics]], while ''irregular and illegitimate'', is nonetheless ''technically and [[Ontology|ontologically]] valid'', provided certain specified conditions are fulfilled.  

==Validity and Irregularity==

[[Saint Augustine]] distinguished between ''validity'' and ''irregularity'': a [[sacrament]] performed by [[Heresy|heretics]] and [[Schism|schismatics]], while ''irregular and illegitimate'', is nonetheless ''technically and [[Ontology|ontologically]] valid'', provided certain specified conditions are fulfilled.  

Valid [[ordination]] according to the Augustinian theory requires only that a man be ordained a [[priest]] by a [[Bishop]] in the line of apostolic succession originating from one who has been licitly and validly ordained to [[Holy Orders]] and who was licitly and validly consecrated a Bishop in the unbroken line of apostolic succession descended from the original Apostles. A licitly consecrated Bishop who later becomes a schismatic, even a heretic, does not lose the authoritative ''potestas'' (power) of the fullness of Holy Orders, even without the ''ius'' lawful authority to licitly exercise it. And those he ordains according to the ''proper form''<ref>[https://augustinianvocations.org/blog-archive/s0q6/12/27/the-postures-and-gestures-of-ordination The Postures and Gestures of Ordination (aughustinianvocations.org)]</ref> of the sacrament of Holy Orders are held to be validly ordained priests in the line of apostolic succession, even if not licitly ordained. Valid consecration of a Bishop requires the consensual participation of agreement by three validly consecrated Bishops in the line of apostolic succession descending from, and originating in, the originally licit and valid consecration of Bishops at some time in the past before them: his consecration is held to be valid, even if irregular, according to Augustinian theory. Augustine allowed the lapsing and absence of the ''ius'' but not that of the ''potestas''. Although the Augustinian theory predominates in the West, it is not accepted universally.

Valid [[ordination]] according to the Augustinian theory requires only that a man be ordained a [[priest]] by a [[Bishop]] in the line of apostolic succession originating from one who has been licitly and validly ordained to [[Holy Orders]] and who was licitly and validly consecrated a Bishop in the unbroken line of apostolic succession descended from the original Apostles. A licitly consecrated Bishop who later becomes a schismatic, even a heretic, does not lose the authoritative ''potestas'' (power) of the fullness of Holy Orders, even without the ''ius'' lawful authority to licitly exercise it. And those he ordains according to the ''proper form''<ref>[https://augustinianvocations.org/blog-archive/s0q6/12/27/the-postures-and-gestures-of-ordination The Postures and Gestures of Ordination (aughustinianvocations.org)]</ref> of the sacrament of Holy Orders are held to be validly ordained priests in the line of apostolic succession, even if not licitly ordained. Valid consecration of a Bishop requires the consensual participation of agreement by three validly consecrated Bishops in the line of apostolic succession descending from, and originating in, the originally licit and valid consecration of Bishops at some time in the past before them: his consecration is held to be valid, even if irregular, according to Augustinian theory. Augustine allowed the lapsing and absence of the ''ius'' but not that of the ''potestas''. Although the Augustinian theory predominates in the West, it is not accepted universally.

The formation of the Old Catholic communion of Germans, Austrians and Swiss began in 1870 at a public meeting held in Nuremberg under the leadership of Ignaz von Döllinger, following the [[First Vatican Council]]. Four years later episcopal succession was established with the consecration of an Old Catholic German bishop by a [[prelate]] of the Church of Utrecht. In line with the "Declaration of Utrecht" of 1889, they accept the first seven [[ecumenical council]]s and doctrine formulated before 1054, but reject communion with the pope and a number of other Roman Catholic doctrines and practices. ''The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church'' notes that since 1925 they have recognized Anglican ordinations as valid, that they have had full communion with the [[Church of England]] since 1932 and have taken part in the ordination of Anglican bishops.

The formation of the Old Catholic communion of Germans, Austrians and Swiss began in 1870 at a public meeting held in Nuremberg under the leadership of Ignaz von Döllinger, following the [[First Vatican Council]]. In September, 1870, according to the Catholic Encyclopedia article "Old Catholics"<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11235b.htm</ref>, nearly 1400 Germans issued a declaration, '''Roman Catholic Opposition to [[Papal Infallibility]]''', in which they repudiated the dogma of Infallibility "''as an innovation contrary to the traditional faith of the Church''".<ref>[http://www.archive.org/stream/oppositioninfall00sparuoft/oppositioninfall00sparuoft_djvu.txt Full text of '''Roman Catholic Opposition to Papal Infallibility''' (archive.org)] ''The page display format is a typewritten text''.</ref> Four years later episcopal succession was established with the consecration of an Old Catholic German bishop by a [[prelate]] of the Church of Utrecht. In line with the "Declaration of Utrecht" of 1889, they accept the first seven [[ecumenical council]]s and doctrine formulated before 1054, but reject communion with the pope and a number of other Roman Catholic doctrines and practices. ''The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church'' notes that since 1925 they have recognized Anglican ordinations as valid, that they have had full communion with the [[Church of England]] since 1932 and have taken part in the ordination of Anglican bishops.

==See also==

==See also==

==External links==

==External links==

[http://classicalchristianity.com/2014/07/06/on-cyprianic-and-augustinian-theories-and-heterodox-sacraments "On Cyprianic and Augustinian Theories and Heterodox Sacraments" - Metropolitan Kallistos Ware (classicalchristianity.com)]

*[http://classicalchristianity.com/2014/07/06/on-cyprianic-and-augustinian-theories-and-heterodox-sacraments "On Cyprianic and Augustinian Theories and Heterodox Sacraments" - Metropolitan Kallistos Ware (classicalchristianity.com)]

*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11235b.htm Old Catholics (newadvent.org)]

[[category:Christianity]]

[[category:Christianity]]

[[category:Catholic Church]]

[[category:Catholic Church]]