Welcoming St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Lucca, Italy
Welcome to the PNCC. I wish you every blessing in your mission, ministry, and witness.
The parish was formed by former members of the Convocation of American Churches in Europe (TEC) who had worshiped at St. James Parish in Florence and who subsequently left TEC to become members of the Episcopal Orthodox Mission in Italy under the Diocese of Ruvuma, Anglican Church of Tanzania.
On January 25, 2009 the Rt. Rev. Thaddeus Peplowski of the Buffalo-Pittsburgh Diocese of the PNCC, who has oversight of the churches in Europe, conditionally ordained Fr. Claudio Bocca
The parish serves Americans, Poles, and Italians amongst the beauty of Tuscany. Fr. Bocca’s wife Alicia is originally from Poland.
Please believe me when I state that I join you in wishing St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Lucca, Italy “every blessing in your mission, ministry, and witness”. However, knowing the history and experience of the PNCC
with new parishes (now no longer in the PNCC) in South Carolina, Brazil,
and elsewhere over the years, I am not optimistic that this local
congregation will survive or stay affiliated with the PNCC. Also,
witness the history and present theological condition of the Old
Catholic Churches of Europe and the so-called Old Catholic Churches
in America. Independent Catholic Churches have a sad history of temporary
existence.
Thomas,
You’re welcome. All we can say is that we accept all who wish to join us, who accept the faith and the practice of the PNCC. We cannot know what will happen tomorrow.
It is my understanding that this parish came to us for exactly the reasons you mention. They obviously didn’t fit with TEC or the “Old Catholics” who are on the same page regarding ‘innovations.’ In regard to their affiliation with the Southern Cone and GAFCON, those Churches are primarily Evangelical and are not a good fit for Catholic practice. The parish was looking for the Church — one which isn’t a mess of vagantes of questionable orders, as you note ‘Independent Churches’ — and was not seeking to go on its own, thus the PNCC.
Conditionally ordained? Why?
Does this mean that the PNCC does not recognise the ordinations of the The Episcopal Church as being valid any more? Generally? Or was there any reason in this particular case why Fr Bocca was re-ordained (albeit conditionally)?
Tomek, Hungarus,
Not being privy to the decision or the facts of the case I cannot really say. It is in the Bishop’s discretion. The key with Orders is to use caution where warranted.
Personally, my view is that Anglican/Episcopalian Orders are dodgy at best. It comes down to the “Dutch Touch” argument often discussed in Anglican/Episcopalian circles which is an argument onto itself – proving nothing. The best part of those conversations is that they frequently mention the PNCC (free air time). I say the arguments prove nothing because you can have all the lineages in the world and still not know one thing about what you are supposed to do. Knowing that takes seminary and regular Catholic practice. I think that is why we don’t get a lot of Episcopalian clergy coming over to the PNCC. There was a flood at one time and there’s still quite a procession, but their demand is that they be Episcopalians under a valid, conservative, traditional bishop while maintaining all their particular rites, rituals, practices, and beliefs. Sorry, but a no go. If one wants to be PNCC whether born, a former R.C. or from anywhere else, one has to become PNCC. Believe me, it doesn’t work if you still want to drone on about the BCP, the Assumption and Immaculate Conception, have a particular view of Original Sin, think the couple performs the sacrament of marriage, or any other issue. Your focus has to change to make the fit.
Back to the sacramental issue, overall there’s been a great loss of respect for sacraments over the past few decades. I often wonder if a person baptized in a Protestant parish or in a trendier R.C. parish has been validly baptized using the Trinitarian formula. At one time we could rely on solid teaching and solid performance based on that teaching no matter the Christian denomination. Not so much any more, and that is unfortunate.
Deacon Jim,
many thanks for your response.
God bless,
Tomek