The Confession of Faith: “future life beyond the grave….is dependent on our present life, but above all on the state of our soul in the final hour before death” Bishop Hodur, 1913. Also cf. The Origin and Growth of the Polish National Catholic Church, Wlodarski, ppg. 182-184.

Various sermons, for example: Physical death is irrevocable, certain, although the day is not certain, but is spiritual death also foreordained by God? No! Spiritual death is our own doing. God ordained a person to happiness and salvation but gave him free will, and the person, thanks to this factor of the spirit, of this freedom, chooses sin, crime and what goes with them, spiritual death. For All Saints Day 1920 from Hodur: Sermons Outlines and Occasional Speeches.

There is a passage written by ks. Józef Pękała in the publication “33″ (Straz Printery, 1930) entitled Wiara w Djabła (Faith in the Devil). It explores the history of the devil, teachings about the devil, Christ’s teaching on the subject, and the PNCC’s understanding (ppg. 187-192). When I get time I will transcribe the essentials and I will try to get a good translation.

Bishop Grochowski pointed out in the Forward to Bishop Hodur’s “Our Way of Life” (United Maria Konopnicka Societies) that “Bishop Hodur resisted dogmatization of Christian doctrine as one of the greatest evils…”

From my study I see in him a reliance of the strong draw to God present in all of humanity, the fact that that draw can be acknowledged and realized most fully in the Catholic faith, that man is on a path to increasing knowledge of God, but that that path is dependent on his choice, i.e., his rebirth - a decision for Christ. That decision changes everything about a man. Man’s destiny is God and the promises of this destiny is great. The love of God that draws us there is greater still. But we must cooperate and are free to reject our natural ends.

Bishop Hodur wrote: “But how can we reconcile the unalterable goal which has been assigned to all of humanity with man’s own free will and the concept of justice which demand a reward for good and moral behavior, and punishment for wickedness and vice? Actually, it is simple and easy. Man’s ultimate destiny is fixed, and we must all reach it because it is God’s will. But man has complete freedom in the choice of the ways and means through which he will achieve his goal. He may select any way of life he wishes, and he may reject as he pleases. He may accelerate or slow down his salvation. And he may, to a greater or lesser degree, refuse God’s assistance.”

In the end we cannot know the extent of the punishment we ourselves will encounter, and more particularly, can we judge the punishment that may be meted out to others. What we can know is that God demands justice and acts with mercy.

As for your ‘regret that [I] fall into the trap of so many out there who comment on the PNCC. It is the trap of “common knowledge” which is in effect unstudied’.
Believe me, I do NOT have “unstudied”, “common
knowledge”. Ever since Ph.D. graduate school in 1969,
I have been studying the PNCC. In 1972, Prime Bishop
Zielinski recognized my expertise by inviting me to
give a guest lecture at Savonarola Seminary. I met
regularly with Bishop Misiaszek in Cleveland before
he died and Father Thaddeus Kraus in Cleveland. From
both, I received copies of numerous PNCC publications
in Polish and English. I have since donated what I
had to the Cleveland Roman Catholic Diocesan Seminary
Library. Before then, my PNCC collection was listed
in THE OLD CATHOLIC SOURCEBOOK by Karl Pruter and
J. Gordon Melton as “one of the largest collections
of materials on the Polish National Catholic Church”.
I read all of those books and pamphlets and remember
much of what I read. I just need access to them to
be certain that I am quoting correctly.

In the book A CATECHISM OF THE POLISH NATIONAL
CATHOLIC CHURCH published by the Mission Fund of the
PNCC in the 1950’s, there is the question: “What of
eternal punishment?” To this the answer is given:
“Eternal punishment would be contrary to the wisdom,
love and justice of God.” (N. 169) So, to say that the
PNCC or its founder did NOT believe or teach
universalism is inaccurate. Also, Hodur denied Hell in
his debates with Roman Catholic apologists because the
RC priests attempted to “frighten” PNCC converts
with eternal hell fire for leaving the Roman Catholic
Church.

I also know that since then, the PNCC has disavowed
that teaching. [See JOURNEYING TOGETHER IN CHRIST -
The Report of the Polish National Catholic-Roman
Catholic Dialogue (1984-1989), pp. 30-31.] The PNCC
had to because it does not conform with orthodox
Christian belief and teaching.

Again, we must agree to disagree. If you still insist
that the PNCC or Bishop Hodur did not believe in or
teach Universalism, please direct us to authoritative
writings of the founder or the Church accepting the
eternal nature of God’s punishment for sinners.

The Roman Church can only be judged against the standard which it sets for itself, which is not easy, nor even wise to do in a blog. But a blog is also a matter of personal opinion.

The Roman Church, in its understanding of papal authority claims that the “[t]he Pope enjoys, by divine institution, ’supreme, full, immediate, and universal power in the care of souls.’” (Para. 937 Catechism of the Catholic Church).

Is it any wonder that when people look at the local deacon, priest, bishop, nun, or monk they expect a disciplined adherence to doctrine, and an immediate correction upon error.

I am not saying that things work that way, nor that they should, would, or could, but the “common knowledge” aspect of that teaching does set a marker.

In fact, in Orthodoxy or the PNCC, it would be much easier to deal with a clergy member like the Rev. Rydzyk . The local bishop would institute discipline. If he did not, (at least in the PNCC) the Prime Bishop and/or the Supreme Council would.

Factually, I was not criticizing Radio Maryja - but rather the episcopal waffling in regard to the Rev. Rydzyk.

I’ve previously commented on the Rev. Rydzyk, and his work. Radio Maryja has a capability, but it is poorly executed, and executed for the wrong purposes (in my opinion).

This attitude of leaving him as an untouchable, difficult subject, is a huge embarrassment, not just to the Church, but to all Poles and Polonia. It is doubly embarrassing when that attitude comes from those we look to as spiritual leaders.

As you may recall, something similar happened to the Rev. Jankowski (chaplain to Solidarity) when he stepped far out-of-line. At first he was left untouchable. Later, he was disciplined and denied the faculty to preach. A worthy measure.

I can only speak of vocation from my personal experience of it.

Vocation to the clergy has nothing to do with personal glorification, agenda, or theology (and I do question why I blog, and talk about things beyond homilies, and sometimes make uncharitable statements). I also know that I owe my allegiance and loyalty to my bishop. I swore that before God, my bishop, and the people. If he were to tell me to make this all disappear - I would struggle with having to do it, but would also have to do it. I no longer have a choice or a say.

But to the case at hand, vocation has to do with service . That’s why I see a disconnect between works and vocation in cases like the Rev. Rydzyk’s or in the case of liberal pastors doing as they please, the problem with the whole ‘non serviam attitude.’

I regret that you fall into the trap of so many out there who comment on the PNCC. It is the trap of “common knowledge” which is in effect unstudied.

The 11th and 12th article of the Confession of Faith of the PNCC state:

I BELIEVE in the ultimate justice of God, in a future life beyond the grave, which will be a continuation of this temporal life and which, as to its condition and degree of perfection and happiness is dependent on our present life, but above all on the state of our soul in the final hour before death.

I BELIEVE in immortality and everlasting happiness in eternity in union with God of all people, races and ages, because I` believe in the Divine power of love, mercy and justice and for nothing else do I yearn, but that it may be to me according to my faith.

…which is far from universalism (apokatastasis).

We yearn for it, we hope in it, but we cannot know it. Further, we cannot, nor can God, force a person, even in the face of God’s total love, to say Yes Lord, Amen.

I have commented several times on the issue. What is key in everyone’s life is the course of their life and the habits they form. The habit of evil becomes the reality of evil eventually. A life spent training in evil does not dispose one well toward ‘easy salvation.’. The door is narrow. At the same time, it does not preclude ultimate repentance and reconciliation.

Bishop Timothy Ware (of the Greek Orthodox Church) states it well in saying:

Hell exists as a final possibility, but several of the Fathers have none the less believed that in the end all will be reconciled to God….we must not despair of anyone’s salvation, but must long and pray for the reconciliation of all without exception. No one must be excluded from our loving intercession. “What is a merciful heart?” asked Isaac the Syrian. “It is a heart that burns with love for the whole of creation, for humans, for birds, for the beasts, for the demons, for all creatures.” Gregory of Nyssa said that Christians may legitimately hope even for the redemption of the devil.” (The Orthodox Church, 1997 ed., p. 262)

In conclusion, point taken - criticism doesn’t make the case.

Then, you state:

“Now if they had only focused their energies on bring [sic] people to God through Jesus Christ, rather than
focusing on the ascent of man absent God.”

I ask you: Which Church (the RCC or the PNCC) is
still GROWING in membership and which Church sends out
missionaries to ALL parts of the world to “bring
people to God through Jesus Christ”. The Roman Catholic
Church, NOT the Polish National Catholic Church. And which Church “focuses on the ascent of man” by
teaching that it does not matter what you do in this
life - there is no eternal Hell - everyone will be
saved no matter what you do in this world. The Polish
National Catholic Church, NOT the Roman Catholic
Church. See Article 12 of the CONFESSION OF FAITH OF
THE PNCC - “I believe in immortality and in HAPPINESS
IN ETERNITY, in union with God of ALL people, of
ALL generations and time…” This is the heresy of
Universalism which was and still is rejected by
Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

I really do not want to “rain on your parade”, but
also I cannot let these blatant distortions and
untruths go unanswered. You may have your reasons
for being Polish National Catholic, but they should
not just be reasons why you are NOT Polish Roman
Catholic. Let us see and hear you make POSITIVE
statements on the PNCC Church and teachings! I want
to read why I SHOULD be Polish National Catholic.
So far, you have not convinced me.