(Cf. Plene in Communione/ In Plena Communione)
Schismatic yet in full communion. This is the absurdity and contradiction that some religious groups that denominate themselves as “Roman Catholic” (or its variations) fall into when they claim that they are in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church, even though they have historically been separated from the Roman Catholic Church. Upon historical scrutiny, the link they claim to have with the Roman Catholic Church is characterized by a line of succession that is marred by outright excommunications.
De facto, these groups belong to churches that have no visible juridical connection with the Holy See. They are, therefore, in no way under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church, nor that of the Roman Pontiff, despite their (unilateral) expression of allegiance to him.
To claim that they are Churches sui iuris does not make them a part or member that is in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church either. Churches sui iuris that are in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church are officially recognized as such by the Holy See. Without such official recognition, any unilateral assertion or profession of being a Church sui iuris is inconsequential and meaningless as far as the Roman Catholic Church is concerned. The entire Catholic Church is not only a spiritual reality, but it is also a juridical entity, and this is evident in a visible way. Outside this juridical body, there is no full communion.
Below is a list of Churches officially recognized by the Holy See as sui iuris. These Churches are in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church, even though they enjoy a certain autonomy in their governance, because they continue to belong to the juridical body that is subject to the Roman Pontiff. A more detailed listing is found in Vartan Waldir Boghossian, ed., Annuario Orientale Cattolico 2023, pp. 16ff. Any church or religious group not listed here is not in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church.
