Our Communion WCCAC recognizes in San Carlos of Brazil the mean, chosen by God, through which we are connected sacramentally and historicaly with the same Apostles, for through him we have received the "APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION".

And in the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church, organized by San Carlos, to answer to the Lord’s call, so that in his Church, the Apostolic Tradition was fully restored, we recognize our Mother Church.

Therefore, although at WCCAC all churches are recognized as equals (see Art. 11); and in line with the Apostolic Tradition we respect the autonomy of each local church, ecclesiastical province and higher body of communion in their organizational, financial, liturgical, spiritual and testimonial aspects (see Art. 18), to the ICAB it is recognized an honorary precedence.

San Carlos of Brazil is known as the saint of the poor in South America.

Bishop Carlos Duarte Costa was born on July 21, 1888 in Santo Antonio, Rio de Janeiro. At age 9, his uncle, Bishop of Goias, took him to Rome to study at the Latin American Pontifical College. Ordained a priest on April 1, 1911, he was consecrated as Bishop of the Diocese of Botucatu, December 8, 1924. He remained in office until, for expressing certain opinions about the abuses committed against the poor in Brazil on the part of both, the civilian government as well as the Roman Catholic Church, he was forced to resign. After his resignation, he received the title of Bishop of Maura.

From the 1930's, Bishop Duarte Costa was a strong advocate of reforming the Roman Church; in fact, he faced many key issues, 35 years before the Second Vatican Council acted thereon.
His commitment to the poor and his criticism of the Vatican policy, led Pius XII to separate him from the Roman Church, on July 6, 1945.

As a result, he felt the call to start the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church (ICAB), in order to rediscover the real meaning of the Catholic and Apostolic Church. He remained as Bishop of Río do Janeiro and Primate of the ICAB, until his death in 1961.

In the WCCAC we chose to adopt the concept and prospective of Apostolic Succession that comes from the Apostolic Tradition and the practice of the undivided Church (cf. Art. 7)
For the Apostolic Tradition, the local church is the visible reality where the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church becomes sacramentally present; finding his sacramental summit in the Eucharistic celebration. The local church has to be structured in a synodical and participatory form, with diversity of charismas and ministries. Among these, there is the ordained ministry and the bishop is recognized as the visible sign of the unity of the local Church and the bond of communion with the Universal Church.

Without the People of God consistently organized and chaired by a Bishop, actually it does not exist a local Church and as a result, there is not sacramental presence of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

The roll recognized to the bishop, is due to the fact that he is considered as successor of the Apostles.

The first criteria that gives legitimacy and apostolic validity to the episcopate, is the fact that the same local Church, formed by the People of God, together with his presbytery, in an atmosphere of prayer and discernment, proceeds to the election of the man who, according to their “sensus fidei”, has received the charisma to exercise the ministry of bishop.

After the election is made by the local Church, the same has to be recognized and endorsed by the bishops of other local churches that are nearby. Through this process, the link with the historic episcopate is established. This is known as the transmission of the "APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION". That implies that the elected bishop is ordained by other bishops who, in turn, have been ordained by other bishops and whose origins date back to the same apostles. Through the recognition and ratification of the election and the subsequent consecration, the elected bishop becomes part of the college of bishops, and by that, the local church enters in communion with the universal Church.

If any of these steps is not observed, the historical bond of apostolic succession loses its original and genuine meaning and it’s seriously questionable if actually, the historical bond with the Apostolic Tradition is established.

Through San Carlos Duarte Costa, we have received the "Apostolic Succession" transmitted by the Roman Catholic Church.