But in the same article the C.E. also states:
 
“If we consider necessity alone — the Eucharist being left out as our daily bread, and God's greatest gift — three are simply and strictly necessary, Baptism for all, Penance for those who fall into mortal sin after receiving Baptism, Orders for the Church.”

This is a different section of the article, so it wouldn't apply; however, I have my concerns/issues regarding the quoted piece from the Catholic Encyclopedia:

(1) The Catholic Encyclopedia as a source of orthodoxy:  I am always suspect of the CE as a source for orthodoxy.  Sometimes it's true, other times not.  Therefore, when I ask for Church teaching (or try to provide it), I prefer seeing/using an actual Church docuмent dealing specifically with the issue at hand.

(2) "Cases of Necessity":  the piece does not describe what this phrase means/constitutes in the context given.  When I tried to search the referenced materials for an answer or at least a comment about it, I could not find anything regarding cases of necessity. 

(3)  Probable Opinion vs Safer Opinion:  If we were to apply this concept to the issue at hand: the validity of Novus Ordo priests, neither works.  It is neither safer nor probable that any given NO priest is a true priest. This seems different to me since the section of the CE was dealing specifically with knowing the intention of the minister (the assumption being that the minister is valid).

Bottom line:  I need more.