Saturday, May 08, 2010

Polish National Catholic Orders


Does any theologian or historian know precisely in what year the See of Rome formally and officially recognised the validity of Holy Orders conferred in the Polish National Catholic Church? Where may such documentation be found?


Over the past year, leading up to and after the promulgation of Anglicanorum Coetibus by the Roman Communion, there has been much internet discussion about the role Old Catholic Infusion may or may not play in the absolute or conditional ordination of former Anglican clergy who convert to the Latin Church. Recently I heard an anecdotal story given in a lecture in which it was claimed that Rome only recognised the validity of PNCC Orders after Anglicans who petitioned Rome for corporate reunion were initially told to have their Orders regularised by the PNCC, and yet at the time PNCC Orders were not yet officially recognised by Rome: it was asserted that three months after the dialogue between Vatican officials and Anglicans, the Roman Church declared PNCC Orders valid, ostensibly to achieve, in part, the facilitation of the regularisation of Anglican Orders and reunion with Rome. I cannot verify the accuracy of this story, and thus far I have been unable to locate more precise details or information.

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