Union of Scranton
The Union of Scranton is a communion of Old Catholic churches established in 2008 by the Polish National Catholic Church (PNCC) of the United States, after the Union of Utrecht began ordaining women and blessing same-sex unions.
| Union of Scranton | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Old Catholic |
| Governance | Episcopal |
| Leader | Anthony Mikovsky |
| Region | North America, Europe |
| Origin | 2008 |
| Separated from | Union of Utrecht |
| Official website | theunionofscranton |
Since then, it has expanded to include the Nordic Catholic Church (NCC), begun by people who had separated from the Church of Norway, a Lutheran state church, in opposition to similar practices and has developed a more Catholic theology.
The Nordic Catholic Church includes the Christ-Catholic Church in Germany as a daughter-church, which traces its history through the Union of Utrecht and the Polish National Catholic Church,[1] as well as St. Severin's Abbey which is the German Province of the Order of Port Royal.
Beliefs
The beliefs shared by Union of Scranton-member churches, distinguished from Roman Catholic and Union of Utrecht churches, are described in the Declaration of Scranton.[2] The Declaration of Scranton expands Declaration of Utrecht principles by adding theologically conservative expressions of faith in the sacraments of marriage and holy orders.[3]
In the Declaration of Scranton, the signatories:[3]
- reject the dogma of papal infallibility and the universal episcopate of the Bishop of Rome
- reject the dogmatic pronouncements of the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption of Mary, although not the dogmas themselves
- reject ordination of women to the priesthood, consecration of women to the episcopate and the blessing of same-sex unions
- affirm a sacrificial understanding of the Eucharist, not as a continual repetition nor a renewal of Jesus' sacrifice, but as a perpetual commemoration of the sacrifice.
Members
- Polish National Catholic Church[4]
- Polish National Catholic Church Deanery in Italy
- Polish Catholic Church in Republic of Poland
- Nordic Catholic Church[4][5]
- Nordic Catholic Church in Scandinavia
- Nordic Catholic Church in Germany, Hungary and Switzerland
- Nordic Catholic Church in France
- Nordic Catholic Church in United Kingdom
- Old Catholic Church in Italy
- Order of Port Royal (OPR) in Germany and Sweden
- Spanish Old Catholic Church
Relationships
The Union of Scranton has been in dialogue with the Free Church of England since February 2013.[6][7]
References
- "Geschichte der Christ-Katholischen Kirche in Deutschland". christ-katholisch.de (in German). Einsbach, DE: Christ-Katholische Kirche. Archived from the original on 2016-03-15. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
- Bishops of the Polish National Catholic Church (2008-04-28). Written at Lancaster, NY. "The Declaration of Scranton: a profession of faith and declaration" (PDF). theunionofscranton.org. Scranton, PA: Union of Scranton. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
- Polish National Catholic Church. General Synod (October 2010). "The Declaration of Scranton: official commentary" (PDF). theunionofscranton.org. Union of Scranton. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
- "Union of Scranton: Churches in communion with the Polish National Catholic Church". theunionofscranton.org. Scranton, PA: Union of Scranton. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
- "Clergy directory". nordiccatholic.com. Nordic Catholic Church. November 2012. Archived from the original on 2016-03-24.
- Chadwick, Anthony (2013-03-16). "Free Church of England and the Union of Scranton". sarumuse.wordpress.com (blog). Anthony Chadwick. Archived from the original on 2013-03-20. Retrieved 2016-06-26.
- "Free Church of England hosts Union of Scranton delegation". fcofe.org.uk. Free Church of England. 2015-12-07. Archived from the original on 2016-02-16. Retrieved 2016-06-26.