Polish National Catholic Church

[Wigglesworth]

I discovered the Polish National Catholic Church (http://www.pncc.org/)recently, and I was wondering if any of our Old Catholic brothers have any relationships with them. The PNCC bishops trace their succession to Utrecht, so I also wondered if anybody knows whether they are in communion with the Church of England.

If anybody knows, is communion in the PNCC as open as it is in the Episcopal Church?

[PaladinValer]

The Polish National Catholic Church is, I believe, in "semi-Communion" with the Vatican Catholic Church.

AFAIK, the Anglican Communion doesn't have any Communal relationship with them. I also have no clue about their doctrine of who may receive Holy Communion in their Church.

Sorry I cannot be any more helpful :(

[AveMaria]

Per the website for the Anglican Communion, the PNCC does not seem to be in communion with Canterbury.


Hopefully, someone knowledgeable about the PNCC will come along!

[AveMaria]

Here's a bit of history: http://justus.anglican.org/resources/pc/oc/platt1992.pdf (a 22 pg PDF document, I found it to be an interesting read).

[Polycarp1]

The PNCC was in communion with the Episcopal Church, and was considered the American national representative of the Old Catholic communion. They chose to break communion with ECUSA over women's ordination, and from something Father Rick said here, I understand that they've withdrawn from communion with Utrecht as well.

[benedictine]

I believe the Polish National Church is in communion with Rome, like Paladin Valer said, but I think they are in full communion, becouose Roman Catholics can fulfill their Mass obligation in a Polish National Catholic Church.

[Father Rick]

Good Morning all...

The PNCC is not in communion with Rome. Rome does, however, recognize their succession, and therefore their sacraments, as 'valid but illicit', the same as all Old Catholics. Therefore, as far as Rome as concerned, while it is always best for a Roman Catholic to receive sacraments from a Roman Church, if one is not able to due to distance, moral impediment (such as divorce/remarriage), etc. then one can receive from an Old Catholic church.

Poly is correct that the PNCC was the official branch of the Utrecht Union in the United States. (One official branch in each country--same as the Anglican Communion.) The Utrecht Union and its members are in full communion with the Anglican Communion. Therefore the PNCC was in full communion with ECUSA.

The PNCC, however, chose to remove themselves from the Utrecht Union about 2 1/2 years ago over the issue of the ordination of women, therefore they are no longer in communion with Utrecht, Canterbury, or ECUSA.

[benedictine]

Thanks, Fr. Rick!

Happy B-day Polycarp. :)

[ps139]

Anyone know how the PNCC is run? Like do they have a hierarchy of bishops or anything like that?

[Father Rick]

They have bishops,etc. The heirarchy is very similar to the Anglican communion. You can get more details on their website at http://www.pncc.org/who_structure.htm