PNCC – Roman Catholic Dialog
From the USCCB website: Vatican Documents Focus Of Recent Roman Catholic, Polish National Church Dialogue
The fall Roman Catholic —“ Polish National Catholic Dialogue in Buffalo, September 25-26, focused on recent Vatican documents on the Mass in Latin and the way the Catholic Church views other church groups.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo hosted the meeting, which was presided over by Bishop Edward U. Kmiec of Buffalo and Bishop Anthony Mikovsky of the Polish National Catholic Church (PNCC) Central Diocese.
Part of the session centered on old business, including a discussion of the relations between Catholic and PNCC military chaplains, the possibility of further incremental steps towards unity, and a proposal regarding Canadian participation in the dialogue. The bulk of the meeting was devoted to two recent Vatican documents.
Bishop Kmiec offered a summary of Summorum Pontificum, the —motu proprio— Pope Benedict XVI issued in July regarding the use of the Roman liturgy prior to the 1970 reform, and reflected on its implications for the life of the Church.
Msgr. John Strynkowski presented —Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine of the Church,— the document of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith that was released in August. The second document in particular provided an occasion for an in-depth discussion of the way our churches view one another.
The meeting concluded with a presentation by Father Robert Nemkovich Jr. on the new PNCC Missal. There was also a discussion of the status of former Roman Catholic laity and clergy who belong to the PNCC, a question to be revisited at the next meeting. Sessions of the dialogue in 2008 are slated for May 19-20 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and November 6-7 in Baltimore…
The USCCB now features a webpage with links to PNCC-RC dialog documents as well as citations.
One little mistake, Bishop Mikovsky is the Rt. Rev. Dr. Anthony Mikovsky not the Most Rev. Anthony Mikovsky. Most Reverend is the title proper to the Prime Bishop of the Polish National Catholic Church.
Thanks for bringing up some nice memories! I assisted Msgr. John Strynowski at Mass when he was pastor at Holy Cross church in Maspeth, Queens, NY. I always felt funny next to him as I’m a tall man and he is a little short. Nevertheless I managed to stay out of his way as he celebrated Mass. This all happened at Transfiguration Parish when he was helping out because of priest shortage (no pun intended)!
I pray that the PNCC & RC do unite soon, along with the ORCC & OCC too! By the way, is inter-Communion allowed?
Small world isn’t it… 😉
The RC Church does not classify the reception of the Eucharist by members of other Churches as Inter-Communion. The details are outlined in Canon Law (§844). Details at the USCCB site.
Members of the PNCC may avail themselves of the Eucharist at a RC parish if they cannot reach a PNCC parish. PNCC members must maintain PNCC discipline (2 hour fast, no reception of the Eucharist in the hands, reception from a priest or deacon, not a lay person if at all possible).
The PNCC will commune those who have a proper faith and belief in the Holy Eucharist and who are properly disposed to receive.
Of course, RC Church members should adhere to RC Church discipline which, in most cases, would preclude them from reception of the Eucharist in a PNCC parish.
Those rules are different from Bishop’s Conference to Bishop’s Conference. Canada is a bit more open, the US, not so much (in my slightly studied opinion).