Synod Ratifies PNCC Decision
Episcopal News Service. November 9, 1978 [78316]
CHICAGO, Ill. - The 15th General Synod of the Polish National Catholic Church, meeting here in early October voted to "terminate the Sacramental Intercommunion relationship with the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America and the Anglican Church of Canada." The vote was 312 to 106.
After the vote, Prime Bishop Thaddeus F. Zielinski said that "as far as cordial relations are concerned, friendly relations, as Christians, this all remains as it always was, because we wanted to be on friendly terms, Christian terms, with every other Christian body."
The Episcopal Church and the Polish National Catholic Church established full communion in 1946. After the 1976 General Convention of the Episcopal Church removed canonical obstacles to the ordination of women to the priesthood, the Prime Bishop announced that sacramental intercommunion between the two churches was terminated until a determination could be made by the Synod. Intercommunion with the Old Catholic Churches of Europe continues, and a theological conference between Anglicans and Old Catholics is scheduled for 1980 to discuss the issue.
The PNCC General Synod also elected Bishop Francis Carl Rowinski of the Western Diocese to be the new Prime Bishop. Prime Bishop Rowinski, who has had many ties with the Episcopal Church, said after the Synod that he felt the sentiment of the Synod was expressed in a resolution (not acted on) proposed by Madeline Stalewski of West Allis, Wis. that "The Polish National Catholic Church regretfully acknowledges and confirms the fact that by their unilateral action, PECUSA and the Anglican Church of Canada have effectively terminated Sacramental Intercommunion with the Polish National Catholic Church."