‘Declaration of Scranton’ casts shadow over dialogue with Polish National Catholics

November 25, 2008

The ‘Declaration of Scranton,’ issued by the bishops of Polish National Catholic Church (PNCC) in April, cast a shadow over the PNCC-Roman Catholic Dialogue that met in Baltimore earlier this month. In the Declaration, the PNCC solemnly rejected as ‘innovations’ the teaching of the First Vatican Council on papal infallibility, the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, and the dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven. The PNCC also rejected ‘the contemporary innovations promulgated by the Anglican Communion and the Old Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht … namely: the ordination of women to the Holy Priesthood, the consecration of women to the Episcopate and the blessing of same-sex unions.’

The PNCC was founded in 1897 by Father Francis Hodur, a 31-year-old Polish-born priest of the Diocese of Scranton. Excommunicated the following year, he received episcopal ordination from Old Catholic bishops who rejected the teaching of the First Vatican Council.

 

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Further information:

• Polish National Catholic-Roman Catholic Dialogue Explores Transfer of Clergy, Doctrinal Statement (USCCB)
• Declaration of Scranton (PNCC)
• Polish National Catholic Church: History (PNCC)