The Union of Scranton is a communion of Old Catholic churches established in 2008 by the

Polish National Catholic Church The Polish National Catholic Church (PNCC) is an independent Old Catholic church based in the United States and founded by Polish-Americans. The PNCC is not in communion with the Roman Catholic Church.http://www.saplv.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/ ...

(PNCC) of the United States, after the Union of Utrecht began ordaining women and blessing 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 The Church of Norway ( nb, Den norske kirke, nn, Den norske kyrkja, se, Norgga girku, sma, Nöörjen gærhkoe) is an evangelical Lutheran denomination of Protestant Christianity and by far the largest Christian church in Norway. The church b ...

, 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, 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''. The Declaration of Scranton expands

Declaration of Utrecht The terms Old Catholic Church, Old Catholics, Old-Catholic churches or Old Catholic movement designate "any of the groups of Western Christians who believe themselves to maintain in complete loyalty the doctrine and traditions of the undivide ...

principles by adding theologically conservative expressions of faith in the

sacraments A sacrament is a Christian rite that is recognized as being particularly important and significant. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites. Many Christians consider the sacraments to be a visible symbol of the real ...

of marriage and holy orders. 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 pronouncements of the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption of Mary, although not the dogmas themselves * reject

ordination of women The ordination of women to ministerial or priestly office is an increasingly common practice among some contemporary major religious groups. It remains a controversial issue in certain Christian traditions and most denominations in which "ordina ...

to the priesthood, consecration of women to the episcopate and the blessing of same-sex unions * affirm a sacrificial understanding of the

Eucharist The Eucharist (; from Greek , , ), also known as Holy Communion and the Lord's Supper, is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. According to the New Testament, the rite was instit ...

, not as a continual repetition nor a renewal of Jesus' sacrifice, but as a perpetual commemoration of the sacrifice.

Members

**Polish National Catholic Church Deanery in Italy **Polish Catholic Church in Republic of Poland * Nordic Catholic Church **Nordic Catholic Church in Scandinavia **Nordic Catholic Church in Germany, Hungary and Switzerland **Nordic Catholic Church in France **Nordic Catholic Church in United Kingdom **Nordic Catholic Church in Italy **Order of Port Royal (OPR) in Germany and Sweden

Relationships

The Union of Scranton has been in dialogue with the Free Church of England .

References

External links

* Polish National Catholic Church History of Christianity in the United States Christian denominations established in the 21st century History of Christianity in Norway Old Catholicism in Germany Christian organizations established in 2008 Old Catholic denominations {{Christian-denomination-stub