Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church - Apostolic Succession

Apostolic Succession

The ICAB holds that apostolic succession is maintained through the consecration of its bishops in unbroken personal succession back to the apostles. All ICAB bishops trace their line of succession back to Bishop Carlos Duarte Costa, who was consecrated by the Roman Catholic Church. Every consecration strictly follows the Tridentine rite in the vernacular Pontifical.

The ICAB cites the case of Salomão Barbosa Ferraz as evidence that its apostolic succession is valid, even by Roman Catholic standards. Just over a month after the church's foundation, on August 15, 1945, Bishop Duarte Costa presided as the principal celebrant at the episcopal consecration of Salomão Barbosa Ferraz. Thirteen years later (in 1958 under Pope John XXIII) Ferraz reconciled with the Roman Catholic Church and was fully recognized as a bishop, even though he was married at the time. Ferraz was not ordained or consecrated again, even conditionally; however he was not appointed to a diocese immediately. He did pastoral work in the Archdiocese of São Paulo until May 12, 1963, when he was appointed titular bishop of Eleutherna by Pope John XXIII. He attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council, and Pope Paul VI appointed him to serve on one of Vatican II's working commissions. Upon his death in 1969, Bishop Ferraz was buried with full honors accorded a bishop of the Roman Catholic Church. Not forgetting also that after Bishop Carlos Duarte Costa's resignation to Pope Pius XI was accepted in 1937 and he was appointed as Titular Bishop of Maurensi. His Principal Consecrator and friend Roman Catholic Cardinal. His Eminence Cardinal Silveria Leme do Cintra did issue a letter and permission to then Titular Bishop of Maurensi to assist in a consecration of a Roman Catholic Bishop Eliseo Coreoli in 1940. Some 3 years after he resigned to the Roman See which then relinguished control over then Bishop Carlos Duarte Costa.