Polish National Catholic Church
The Polish National Catholic Church (PNCC; Polish: Polski Narodowy Kościół Katolicki, PNKK) is an independent Old Catholic church based in the United States and founded by Polish-Americans.
Polish National Catholic Church
The PNCC is not in communion with the Roman Catholic Church.[1] Since 2004, the PNCC is no longer in communion with the Union of Utrecht.[2] The organisation is now part of the Union of Scranton.
The church has around 30,000 members in five dioceses in the United States and Canada.[3] The church is part of Polish Old Catholicism.[4]
Beliefs[edit]
Marriage and divorce[edit]
The church believes that "Marriage is the sacrament which makes a Christian man and woman husband and wife, gives them grace to be faithful to each other and to bring up their children in love and devotion to God."[9] Unlike in the Roman Catholic Church, PNCC deacons are not permitted to officiate at weddings. The PNCC permits divorced people to participate fully in the Mass and to receive the Eucharist. The church does not recognize civil divorce and requires an annulment before parishioners can remarry.[10]
Governance[edit]
The PNCC is governed in accordance with its Constitution and Laws.[11]
The chief legislative body is a general synod, which normally convenes every four years. The composition of the PNCC General Synod includes clergy and laity. Each parish is entitled to send one lay delegate for each 50 active members.[12] While its constitution and canon laws provide that the PNCC General Synod holds the authority to remove bishops,[13] the Prime Bishop purported to remove the bishop of the Polish National Catholic Church of Canada in January 2013.[14][15]