Question for Old Catholics

[VincitOmniaVeritas]

I've seen before that some of the churches that used to be Roman Catholic Church (i.e. the American Catholic Church, "True" Catholics, and others in Europe) are in full-communion with the Anglican Communion. Do these churches have theology that is closer to the Anglican Church, or to the Roman Catholic Church. Do they have any theological beliefs that are similar to Anglican beliefs, but not Roman Catholic beliefs? Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about Catholics, I'm happy that these groups have a good relationship with Anglicans. I'm just curious.

Also, can Anglicans take communion in those churches?

[Fish and Bread]

We have several actual Old Catholics who post in this forum, so I'll let them answer most of your questions, but I did know the answer to a couple of them:

Yes, Anglicans are permitted to take communion at Old Catholic parishes. In fact, most Old Catholics juristictions (Though possibly not all) allow all baptised Christians to receive.

One definite point of doctrinal agreement between Anglicans and Old Catholics which is contrary to the Vatican is opposition to the concept of Papal Infallibility. Beyond that, we'll have to let the Old Catholics answer. :) I don't want to categorize their beliefs on issues where I'm not absolutely certain of where they stand. :)

John

[Wigglesworth]

I've seen before that some of the churches that used to be Roman Catholic Church (i.e. the American Catholic Church, "True" Catholics, and others in Europe) are in full-communion with the Anglican Communion. Do these churches have theology that is closer to the Anglican Church, or to the Roman Catholic Church. Do they have any theological beliefs that are similar to Anglican beliefs, but not Roman Catholic beliefs? Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about Catholics, I'm happy that these groups have a good relationship with Anglicans. I'm just curious.

Also, can Anglicans take communion in those churches?

The Polish National Catholic Church (PNCC) is my communion and the largest Old Catholic communion in the USA. There are other Old Catholic communions in the USA and around the world, so there are some differences in the details. The PNCC was in full communion with the ECUSA until the 1970's, when the issue of female ordination caused a separation. The PNCC holds that the only dogmatic pronouncements of the church are from the ecumenical councils held before the schism of the East and the West. However, we are more conservative on the social and moral issues in hot dispute today.

Generally, the PNCC is more like the Roman Catholic Church than the broad Anglicans, I believe. However, Old Catholic rejection of papal supremacy, as well as the million pages of rules in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, puts it more in line with Anglicans in a way.

The parish I spend the most time in uses the Tridentine mass (the one Rome used before Vatican II), but in English. Other parishes use a contemporary mass.

Any baptised Christian who believes in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist is welcome to receive communion in the PNCC. This was the most important distinction to me. I wanted to receive the sacrament, and the Pope wouldn't let me. The Anglicans and the PNCC did. :crossrc:

See my blog for more details.

:wave: