The stated in 1997 that the Polish National Catholic Church (PNCC) was not full communion with other member churches because the did not accept the ordination of women. Since 1998, the did not permit bishops to participate in episcopal consecrations. The stated in 2003 that full communion "could not be restored" and "effectively expelled" the . The "refused to repudiate" a 1976 statement opposing the ordination of women and the "indicated that any attempt to admit women to the ministerial priesthood would lead to a break in full communion with churches that adopted the practice."