C
CutlerB
Guest
I didn’t know where to post it, so I deemed it best suited to this forum, as some discussion could arise.
As mentioned in earlier posts, I work at an Anglican parish but am planning to convert to Catholicism once I am free to do so. As part of my work, I recently designed some brochure that explains what Anglicanism and the CofE are, so we could hand it out to people who didn’t know. We get that question quite often, in fact. The brochure comprised a section on basic data (founding and structure), history, beliefs and our parish. Obviously, I found myself in the situation of having to bring these things together: Historical accuracy and truth, as well as proper wording, but also not endorsing something that I would disagree with in light of Catholic teaching. I was quite happy with the result, as was our priest, so it went into printing.
In the brochure, I listed a few excerpts from the Ten and Thrity-nine Articles, also detailing doctrinal change within Anglicanism over time. (Purgatory, Saints, etc.)
Then, not too long after, it was brought to my attention that the document had sparked controversy and quite heated criticism from both parishioners as well as senior clergy visiting. Though I only know of one confirmed passage that they took issue with, there may have been others, all of which I shall quote briefly below.
Confirmed:
Now for the comments these things sparked, leaving the people involved anonymous:
“These are wrong! Like WRONG!” (from someone who had signed off on it!)
“False”
“Potentially misleading”
“Probably problematic in ecumenical relations”
Do you see anything wrong or badly worded in them? What are your thoughts on the reactions and the points delivered above?
I’d be interested to hear what you have to say.
As mentioned in earlier posts, I work at an Anglican parish but am planning to convert to Catholicism once I am free to do so. As part of my work, I recently designed some brochure that explains what Anglicanism and the CofE are, so we could hand it out to people who didn’t know. We get that question quite often, in fact. The brochure comprised a section on basic data (founding and structure), history, beliefs and our parish. Obviously, I found myself in the situation of having to bring these things together: Historical accuracy and truth, as well as proper wording, but also not endorsing something that I would disagree with in light of Catholic teaching. I was quite happy with the result, as was our priest, so it went into printing.
In the brochure, I listed a few excerpts from the Ten and Thrity-nine Articles, also detailing doctrinal change within Anglicanism over time. (Purgatory, Saints, etc.)
Then, not too long after, it was brought to my attention that the document had sparked controversy and quite heated criticism from both parishioners as well as senior clergy visiting. Though I only know of one confirmed passage that they took issue with, there may have been others, all of which I shall quote briefly below.
Confirmed:
Possible others:The Church of England …] was founded in 1534 by declaring King Henry VIII the “Supreme Head of the English Church”, thereby separating from the Catholic Church under Pope Clement VII.
Anglicans believe themselves to be “part of the Catholic Church”, so in order to distinguish this belief from the historical Catholic Church, they tend to call the latter “the Roman Catholic Church”.
As it was really only a very brief summary of what Anglicanism is and most of the brochure was made up of information on our parish, there wouldn’t be much room for points to disagree with. The whole thing was meant to fit onto a double-sided A4 page.From the summarised excerpt of the 39 Articles that I produced
- The “Church of Rome” has erred in matters of Faith.
- Purgatory, Veneration of Saints and other “romish” doctrines are false.
Now for the comments these things sparked, leaving the people involved anonymous:
“These are wrong! Like WRONG!” (from someone who had signed off on it!)
“False”
“Potentially misleading”
“Probably problematic in ecumenical relations”
Do you see anything wrong or badly worded in them? What are your thoughts on the reactions and the points delivered above?
I’d be interested to hear what you have to say.