I can’t speak for Rome itself, but I think most RCs regard “orders” as potentially valid:
- in the sacramental sense;
and…
- as being “in communion”
From a practical POV, a bishop may be validly ordained, in a technical sense of matter and form, but not necessarily in descent “from the apostles” (plural); in other words, there are no free lance bishops, but the issue is whether Bishop X is, or is not, in communion with the (single)
college of bishops. In other words, it is not just relevant as to whether a bishop was ordained with matter and form, but is he
currently ministering in the Body of Christ as descending from the (united) Apostle
s?
Maybe the better question is, Does the RCC regard the Bench of bishops in union with the Anglican Communion as a subset of the overall College of bishops? I suspect, as time goes on, more and more Catholics would say it is not, due to theological reasons.
Are the bishops in the Anglican Continuum - essentially several tiny mini-Benches, with some
possible relation among each other - part of the overall College? I am not sure. Theologically orthodox; but I am not sure if they are independent, or if they function as part of a larger body of bishops in unity. If they are only part of an independent “bench” of 3 or so other bishops, it is hard for me to see them as reflecting the apostolic College. But there could be more about their role I don’t know.