Expert: Fr. Michael - 6/19/2004

Question
Like the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox and Anglican Churches also claim apostolic succession and trace their holy orders all the way back to the apostles and early bishops. So, from the Catholic perspective, are the holy orders of the Orthodox and Anglican Churches valid? Can they rightfully claim apostolic succession too?

Since most Protestant denominations do not maintain apostolic succession, does that mean the sacraments (e.g. baptism and holy communion) performed by their ministers and pastors are not valid?

Answer
The Roman, Eastern Orthodox, and Old Catholic churches retain a valid Apostolic Succession, and their Sacraments are valid.  The Protestants, including the Anglicans, do not retain the Apostolic Succession, and their sacraments are not valid.

However, the question of Baptism is different, since that Sacrament does not require a priest for administration.  Most of the mainline Protestant churches do perform a valid, though heretical, Baptism.