10/12/2023
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Bishop Ugorji has presented the Old Catholics as though they are a new Church founded yesterday and exists out of selfishness, disobedience and stubbornness, but the truth will injure him and the entirety of Roman Catholicism if he dares utters it, he is not unaware of the History and validity of Old Catholicism.
The Bishops and Priests of the Old Catholic Church are equal in power and office with the Roman Catholic Bishops and Priests, why? Because of something we call Apostolic succession, Yes that’s the tracing of a Bishop’s ordination to the Apostles of Jesus Christ, Just as Bishop Ugorji would be rejected by the elders of his family if he is unable to trace his root to the ancestors that family.
Let’s take a look on this Apostolic succession:
Apostolic succession, in Christianity, the teaching that bishops represent a direct, uninterrupted line of continuity from the Apostles of Jesus Christ. According to this teaching, bishops possess certain special powers handed down to them from the Apostles; these consist primarily of the right to confirm church members, to ordain priests, to consecrate other bishops, and to rule over the clergy and church members in their diocese (an area made up of several congregations).
A number of Christian churches believe that the apostolic succession and church government based on bishops are unnecessary for a valid ministry. They argue that the New Testament gives no clear direction concerning the ministry, that various types of ministers existed in the early church, that the apostolic succession cannot be established historically, and that true succession is spiritual and doctrinal rather than ritualistic.
The Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Old Catholic, Swedish Lutheran, and Anglican churches accept the doctrine of apostolic succession and believe that the only valid ministry is based on bishops whose office has descended from the Apostles. This does not mean, however, that each of these groups necessarily accepts the ministries of the other groups as valid. Roman Catholics, for example, generally regard the ministry of the Eastern Orthodox churches as valid but do not accept the Anglican ministry. Some Anglicans, on the other hand, consider episcopacy necessary to the “well-being” but not to the “being” of the church; therefore, they not only accept the ministries of the other groups as valid but also have entered into close associations with Protestant groups that do not accept apostolic succession.
The Apostolic succession Old Catholics posses is something the Roman Catholic Church in Nigeria alone has bluntly refused to accept, even though it has nothing to do with acceptance, it doesn’t need acceptance to function, that is why it is a thing of Grace.
While some of the Roman Catholic Bishops in Nigeria stand against the validity of the Old Catholics, the Anglicans and Old Catholics have been in strong ties of communion since 1931 in a common agreement signed by the prelates of both Churches. Similarly the Ecumenical patriarchate and the Eastern Orthodox are all in full communion with the Old Catholic Churches, this communion means that the Clergy of both Churches can administer all the sacraments to the faithful of the other.
Finally to abolish ignorance and administer “the sacrament of historical discipline on His Most Excellency Ugorji” the Roman Catholic Church has made their so called infallible decrees to approve and accept the sacraments of the Old Catholic Churches worldwide, though administered by male clergy alone, these decrees and testimonies are given as:
Catholic Almanac – 1974:
“The Roman Church recognizes the validity of Old Catholic Orders and other Sacraments.” (Felician A. Roy, OFM, p. 368)
The Pastoral Companion #8211; A Canon Law Handbook for Catholic Ministry Third Edition
“The principal condition is that these sacraments can be received only from validly ordained ministers. These are ministers who belong to that have preserved the substance of the Eucharistic teaching, the sacraments of orders, and apostolic succession; This would include all Eastern non – Roman Catholic churches, the Polish National Church, Old Catholic, and Old Roman Catholic. (John M. Huels, J.C.D. page 335)
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)
Rights and Responsibilities: A Catholic’s Guide to the New Code of Canon Law
“When a Roman 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 denominations 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.” (Thomas P. Doyle, O.P., p. 44)
*REV FR JULIUS ABIODUN ADEYEYE*
Communication Director OCAC Nigeria
