By Rev. Fr. Jerome Salvador, SSW

Introduction

The North American Old Roman Catholic Church, Utrecht Succession, Archdiocese of California (NAORCC, US, AoC) affirms that there is only one Church established by Christ: the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. We do not see ourselves as a separate church but as a self-governing (sui iuris) particular apostolic church that fully shares in the apostolic faith, valid sacraments, and the mission of Christ’s Church.
Communion with the Catholic Church
We affirm that baptism incorporates all Christians into the Church of Christ, as consistently taught in Sacred Scripture and the Magisterium:
“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).
“Having been buried with Him in baptism, you were also raised with Him through faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12).
“Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1213).
By virtue of valid baptism, all the baptized are part of the Catholic Church, the Mystical Body of Christ. The 1983 Code of Canon Law (CIC) states:
“Those baptized are fully in the communion of the Catholic Church on this earth who are joined with Christ in its visible structure by the bonds of the profession of faith, the sacraments, and ecclesiastical governance.”
While we acknowledge that the Church of Christ fully subsists in the Roman Catholic Church under the Successor of Peter, we also recognize that Churches maintaining apostolic succession and a valid Eucharist remain united to the Catholic Church, even if not in perfect communion.
Recognition as a True Particular Church
Following the teaching of Pope John Paul II and the Second Vatican Council, we recognize that:
\n1.The Catholic Church recognizes as “true particular Churches” those communities that have retained apostolic succession and a valid Eucharist, despite not being in full communion with the Roman Pontiff.
\n2.The North American Old Roman Catholic Church, Utrecht Succession, Archdiocese of California (NAORCC, US, AoC) possesses both apostolic succession and a valid Eucharist, ensuring that the Church of Christ is present and operative within it.
The NAORCC, US, AoC upholds the sacraments as instituted by Christ, maintaining valid Holy Orders and a valid Eucharist, which are essential marks of a true particular schurch.
The NAORCC, US, AoC Is Not Schismatic: Adhering to the Leonine Privilege
The NAORCC, US, AoC does not consider itself schismatic, as it neither rejects the Catholic faith nor denies the unity of the Church. According to Canon Law:
“Schism is the refusal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him.”
Schism involves a deliberate rejection of communion with the Roman Pontiff. However, the NAORCC, US, AoC does not reject the primacy of the Pope nor the Catholic faith. Rather, it functions as a self-governing (sui iuris) church, in line with the historical precedent of the Leonine Privilege.
The Leonine Privilege and Self-Governance
The Leonine Privilege, granted by Pope Leo X, provided the Old Roman Catholic Church with a level of sub-autonomy, recognizing that Catholic jurisdictions need not all be directly governed by Rome while still maintaining Catholic doctrine and sacramental validity.
This historical precedent allows the NAORCC, US, AoC to maintain self-governance while remaining in sacramental communion with the broader Catholic tradition. Unlike the Union of Utrecht, which rejected papal primacy and certain Catholic dogmas, the NAORCC, US, AoC upholds all traditional Catholic beliefs, including:
Papal Primacy and Infallibility (Pastor Aeternus, Vatican I)
The Immaculate Conception (Ineffabilis Deus, 1854)
The Assumption of Mary (Munificentissimus Deus, 1950)
Since the NAORCC <US> AoC upholds Catholic faith and doctrine and does not exist in opposition to Rome, it cannot be classified as schismatic.
The Key Difference: Optional Celibacy
The primary difference between the North American Old Roman Catholic Church, Utrecht Succession, Archdiocese of California NAORCC, US, AoC and the Roman Catholic Church is the discipline of clerical celibacy, which is optional in the NAORCC, US, AoC.
It is crucial to emphasize that priestly celibacy is not inherent to priesthood but a discipline, not a dogma, imposed by the church in the year 1074. A discipline is a changeable practice, whereas a dogma is a divinely revealed truth that cannot be changed. The requirement for priestly celibacy in the Latin Rite is a later development and has nothing to do with the validity of the Holy Orders.
Even St. Peter, the first Pope, was married, as recorded in Sacred Scripture:
“Jesus entered Peter’s house and saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever.” (Matthew 8:14)
Saint Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, explicitly states that Cephas (Peter) and other apostles had wives, affirming that marriage among apostles was common.
”Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?” (1 Corinthians 9:5)
This demonstrates that priestly celibacy was not required by Christ Himself. The Eastern Catholic Churches and the Orthodox Churches, which have valid Holy Orders, also allow married priests.
By allowing optional celibacy, the NAORCC, US, AoC follows the ancient Catholic tradition while remaining fully Catholic, through the apostolic succession, in tradition, faith, sacraments, and doctrine.
The History and the Latin Rite
The “Old” in the North American Old Roman Catholic Church, Utrecht Succession, Archdiocese of California (NAORCC, US, AoC) signifies historical continuity with the autonomous See of Utrecht, which was granted independence by Pope Eugene III in 1145. It does not imply exclusive use of older liturgical rites but rather serves as a distinction from the current See of Utrecht, which is now under the Vatican.
Archbishop Arnold Harris Mathew, who played a key role in the development of the Old Roman Catholic Church (ORCC) in 1910, upheld traditional Catholic doctrine and sacramental theology while adopting the contemporary Latin Rite of his time. Unlike the Old Catholic Church, which increasingly embraced Protestant theological influences, Old Roman Catholics maintained a strong commitment to Catholic orthodoxy, apostolic succession, and valid sacraments.
It is important to note that the Old Catholic Church (Union of Utrecht) and the Old Roman Catholic Church (Utrecht Succession) are distinct entities. Archbishop Mathew and other bishops separated from the Union of Utrecht because they rejected certain Roman Catholic dogmas, including Papal Infallibility, the Immaculate Conception, and the Assumption of Mary. However, not all bishops agreed with this new direction. Those who wished to remain faithful to the Pope and uphold the entirety of Catholic teaching established the Old Roman Catholic Church (Utrecht Succession) to differentiate themselves from the Old Catholics.
Unlike the Old Catholic Church, the Old Roman Catholic Church (Utrecht Succession) fully accepts and recognizes the dogmas of Papal Infallibility, the Immaculate Conception, and the Assumption of Mary. It also acknowledges the primacy of the Pope as the Supreme Pontiff.
However, the Old Roman Catholic Church (Utrecht Succession) remains self-governing, following the historical precedent of autonomy granted to Utrecht by Pope Eugene III in 1145 and reaffirmed by Pope Leo X. This independence was granted to protect the church from undue interference while maintaining full Catholic doctrine and fidelity to the Pope. The Old Roman Catholic Church continues to uphold this autonomous yet loyal structure, governing its own affairs while recognizing the Pope as its spiritual leader.
The Old Roman Catholic Church was introduced to North America in the early 20th century when clergy from Europe, following the Utrecht Succession, sought to preserve their traditions and minister to Catholics outside of the Roman jurisdiction. In 1914, Prince-Bishop Rudolph de Landas Berghes, a Belgian nobleman and Old Roman Catholic bishop, arrived in the United States to establish the church’s presence. He was instrumental in organizing the first Old Roman Catholic jurisdictions in America.
Following his efforts, Bishop Carmel Henry Carfora, an Italian-born priest who had left the Roman Catholic Church, emerged as a significant leader of the Old Roman Catholic movement in the United States. In 1916, he was consecrated a bishop and led the church’s expansion across various ethnic communities, particularly among Italian, Polish, and other immigrant populations. Under his leadership, multiple Old Roman Catholic parishes and dioceses were established, ensuring the church’s stability and growth.
Archbishop Carmel Henry Carfora entrusted Bishop Albert Dustan Bell in 1936 with the task of organizing and uniting the various parishes and missions of the North American Old Roman Catholic Church along the West Coast. To formalize this mission, Archbishop Carfora had previously reconsecrated (sub conditione) Bishop Bell on August 25, 1935. This effort led to the establishment of what is now known as the North American Old Roman Catholic Church, Utrecht Succession, Metropolitan Archdiocese of California.
Under Carfora’s directive, Bishop Bell consecrated Edgar Ramon Verostek on January 7, 1940, ensuring the continuation of the apostolic lineage within the jurisdiction. In 1939, Archbishop Verostek formally incorporated the North American Old Roman Catholic Church, Utrecht Succession, Archdiocese of California in the State of California, operating under Carfora’s mandate as one of the original Old Roman Catholic jurisdictions in North America.
On August 10, 1985, Archbishop Verostek consecrated Joseph Andrew Vellone as his Coadjutor. Upon Verostek’s passing on July 5, 1994, Archbishop Vellone succeeded him as Primate of the West and Metropolitan Archbishop, leading the jurisdiction until his death on January 5, 2022.
Prior to this, on October 4, 2017, Vellone had consecrated Ivan Alberto Castañeda as Bishop of Jesus, El Buen Pastor Church in San Francisco, California. Bp. Castañeda was appointed Coadjutor on March 17, 2021, with the right of succession. Upon Archbishop Vellone’s passing on January 5, 2022, Archbishop Castañeda officially assumed the role of Primate of the West and Metropolitan Archbishop, a position he holds to this day.
Today, NAORCC, US, AoC continues this heritage, balancing tradition with adaptability. It remains distinct from Old Catholicism while upholding its Utrecht roots, allowing for both the Extraordinary Form (TLM) and the Ordinary Form (NOM) of the Mass.
The NAORCC, US, AoC and Synodality
As workers in Christ’s vineyard, we remain committed to the spirit of synodality, as encouraged by Pope Francis—walking together in tradition, faith, mission, and dialogue. We affirm our affective solidarity with the Roman Catholic Church and seek to foster greater understanding and cooperation within the broader Catholic tradition.
The Church is called to unity in diversity, as seen in the various Eastern Catholic Churches, which are fully Catholic yet maintain their own liturgical and administrative traditions. We believe that our Old Roman Catholic identity is part of this diversity within the universal Church.
Conclusion
The North American Old Roman Catholic Church, Utrecht Succession, Archdiocese of California affirms its Catholic identity as a true particular apostolic church within the universal Church of Christ. While not under the direct jurisdiction of the Roman Pontiff, we share in the Catholic tradition, faith, sacraments, and apostolic succession, making us part of the larger Catholic communion, though in an imperfect way.
We do not see ourselves as schismatic, but as a Catholic church preserving its traditions while remaining faithful to Catholic doctrine. By adhering to the Leonine Privilege, we maintain sub-autonomy while remaining in sacramental communion with the Catholic faith.
With deep respect for the Petrine ministry, we seek to live out our mission in fidelity to Christ and His Church, embracing the call to unity, faith, and service.
“With unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, we are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
References:
\n1.Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium (1964), §8.
\n2.Second Vatican Council, Unitatis Redintegratio (1964), §§3, 15.
\n3.Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Dominus Iesus (2000), §17.
\n4.Catechism of the Catholic Church (1992), §§815, 1213.
\n5.Code of Canon Law (1983), Canons 205, 751.
\n6.Pope Pius XII, Mystici Corporis Christi (1943), §13.
\n7.Pope Leo X, Debitum Pastoralis(1520).
\n8.First Vatican Council, Pastor Aeternus (1870).
\n9.Pope Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus (1854).
\n10.Pope Pius XII, Munificentissimus Deus (1950).
\n11.Second Vatican Council, Orientalium Ecclesiarum (1964), §2.