FIRST AND FOREMOST

The answer lies within the fact that the Old Catholic Church did not LEAVE the unified Catholic Church. Therefore there has never been a real issue over the validity of the Old Catholics or their relationship with the Catholic Church.

SECONDLY

There have been repeated affirmations by the Roman Catholic Church though the Papacy and other governing bodies. Click here to learn more.

HOW DOES THE COMMUNION OF INTERNATIONAL CATHOLIC COMMUNITIES DIFFER FROM A ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH?

1. The Catholics of our communities do not accept the teaching of papal infallibility and, therefore, are independent of the pope's jurisdiction. As a result, we are not bound by some of the canons and regulations that are formulated and enforced in the Roman Catholic Church.
2. Priests and bishops are permitted to marry.
3. Women are encouraged to be more fully involved in the ministry of the Church. As Saint Paul writes, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
4. Divorced people who remarry are able to be reconciled to the church through the grace of God and, therefore, are not excluded from the sacraments. Therefore, a divorced person may remarry with the blessing of the Church.
5. Each Catholic is an equal part of the Church. Therefore, lay people are encouraged to play a prominent role in the Church.
6. No Christian is excluded from the sacramental ministry. All baptized Christians are invited to participate in the worship and sacraments of the Church.