While we have been seperated from Rome since the Vatican I, we have never abondoned the catholic faith. Our priests and bishops hold the same apostolic succesive lines as that of Anglicans, Eastern Orthodox and of course Roman Catholics.
Read what Rome says about us...
On June 16, 2000, Pope John Paul II issued and Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) signed the following;
"Therefore, there exists a single Church of Christ, which subsits in the Catholic Church. governed by the Succesor of Peter and by the Bishopsin communion with him. The Churches which, while not existing in perfect communion with the {Roman} Catholic Church, remain united to her by means of the closest bonds, that is, by apostolic succession and a valid Eucharist, are true particular Churches..." Dominus Iesus (bracketed text added)