Union of Scranton
| Union of Scranton | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Catholic |
| Theology | Ultrajectine |
| Governance | Episcopal |
| Leader | Prime Bishop Anthony Mikovsky |
| Region | North America, Europe |
| Headquarters | Scranton, Pennsylvania |
| Origin | 2008 |
| Separated from | Union of Utrecht |
| Branched from | Catholic Church |
| Members | c. 26,000 |
| Official website |
unionofscranton |
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 they had been part of began ordaining women and blessing of same-sex unions. 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 NCC includes the Christ-Catholic Church in Germany as a daughter-church, which traces its history through the Union of Utrecht of the Old Catholic Churches (UU) and the PNCC,[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 UU 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:
- reject the dogma of papal infallibility and the universal episcopate of the Bishop of Rome
- reject the dogmatic pronouncement of the Immaculate Conception, although not the dogma itself
- reject the dogmatic pronouncement of the Assumption of Mary, although not the dogma itself
- reject ordination of women to the priesthood, consecration of women to the episcopate, and the blessing of same-sex unions, and
- 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 National Catholic Church in Poland
- Nordic Catholic Church[4][5]
- Nordic Catholic Church mission in Sweden
- Nordic Catholic Church in France
- Nordic Catholic Church mission in Hungary
- Nordic Catholic Church mission in the United Kingdom
- Old Catholic Church in Italy (Nordic Catholic Church vicariate) (NCC-COI),[6] formerly the Orthodox Church in Italy (Association "Metropolita Antonio")[7]
- Christ-Catholic Church in Germany (includes St. Severin's Abbey)
Relationships
The Union of Scranton has been in dialogue with the Free Church of England since February 2013.[8][9]
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). unionofscranton.org. Scranton, PA: Union of Scranton. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-11-09. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ↑ Polish National Catholic Church. General Synod (October 2010). "The Declaration of Scranton: official commentary" (PDF). unionofscranton.org. Union of Scranton. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-01-27.
- 1 2 "The Union of Scranton: a union of churches in communion with the Polish National Catholic Church". unionofscranton.org. Scranton, PA: Union of Scranton. Archived from the original on 2016-03-21. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
- ↑ "Clergy directory". nordiccatholic.com. Nordic Catholic Church. Archived from the original on 2016-03-24.
- ↑ "Un giorno importante per la Chiesa" [An important day for the church]. www.chiesavecchiocattolica.it (in Italian). Rome, IT: Chiesa Vecchio-Cattolica in Italia. 2015-02-28. Archived from the original on 2016-03-10. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
- ↑ Zoccatelli, PierLuigi; Introvigne, Massimo (2016-05-02). "La Chiesa Ortodossa in Italia". cesnur.com (in Italian). Turin, IT: Center for Studies on New Religions. Archived from the original on 2016-05-02. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
- ↑ 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.