The Symbol of the National Catholic Church
The motto of the Church is "With truth, work, and struggle, we will succeed."
The National Catholic Church welcomes people of all ethnic, racial and social backgrounds. We are a catholic church, and our beliefs are based on Holy Scripture, Christian Tradition, and Church Ecumenical Synods.
Imagine:
What is the central act of worship in the PNCC?
The Holy Mass or Divine Liturgy is the central act of worship in all churches of the Catholic Community,
including the National Catholic Church. The Mass is the Sacrifice of the New Testament and is celebrated
completely in the language of the people.
How is Holy Communion administered?
Holy Communion is given under two forms, Bread and Wine, which are the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.
The principal method used is Intinction, which simply means that the Sacred Host is dipped into the
Consecrated Wine and administered to the faithful at the altar. Only Priests and Deacons administer
the Eucharist and it is always placed on the tongue, not in the hand.
What does the church teach concerning confession?
A humble confession of our faults to Almighty God, followed by the assignment of penance and absolution
given by the priest, is the way the congregation obtains forgiveness of its sins. The sacrament may be
administered in one of two ways: public or private. Private confession is required for all members
under the age of sixteen. Public confession is a part of every Mass. In this form, the faithful
confess their sins directly and privately to God. The entire congregation then recites the Prayer of Confession together
What is the teaching concerning birth control?
The utilization of birth control is a matter of personal judgment for husband and wife. It is not the
responsibility of the church to tell its communicants how many children they must or must not have.
Marriage serves other major purposes besides the procreation of children.
Is abortion permitted?
No. Abortion is morally wrong, for it is the ending of a life that has already begun. The church
does not sanction it.
Can a divorced person participate fully in parish life?
Yes. There are no discriminatory regulations against those who have suffered from a divorce;
divorced people may participate in Mass and receive Holy Communion. The Church has an obligation
to lend its support and ministry to those who have divorced, as it would to casualties of other social ills.
Can a divorced person re-marry?
Yes. Each Diocese has a matrimonial Commission that studies each request for marriage by persons
who have been divorced. This commission presents its finding to the Diocesan Bishop with its recommendation.
The Bishop makes the final decision.
Why do we permit priests to marry?
Because it is the perfectly natural thing for a man to do. The church sees no moral reason in the world
to forbid a man to receive the Holy Sacrament of Matrimony simply because he happens to be a priest.
Tradition tells us that all but one of the twelve apostles were married. Popes, bishops and priests of
the early church were all married men. Many believe that a married priest is more likely to understand
the problems of marriage and child rearing because he has gone through them.
How is the National Catholic Church governed?
It is governed in accordance with its Constitution. In matters of faith, morals and discipline, bishops
and priests possess the authority to explain and teach the doctrinal position of Christ's Church.
The legislative authority of the Church is vested in the General Synod, the Special Synod, the Diocesan
Synod and the Parish Meeting. In financial and administrative matters, the Parishioners possess
administrative authority. Representatives elected at the Annual Parish Meeting, and confirmed by the
Diocesan Bishop, exercise their constitutional authority in cooperation with the priest.
For more information on the National Catholic Church, visit www.pncc.org.