Anglicans: Why don't you come home to Rome?

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Great story, SIA. My wife and I were raised Catholic, went through the usual urbane, useless, and weak catechism of CCD as children, and knew little about real Catholic theology.

I became and Anglican during college being fed-up with what i considered extra-biblical trappings like holy water, excessive devotion to Mary, infallibility, indulgences, etc. etc. I loved the Anglican Church my wife and I attended. The liturgy is far more dignified with beautiful wording, care, and old-school hymns. there was coffee hour after the service, fellowship, and nice people.

When my family was in the hospital, unlike the Roman Catholic priests in our diocese, the Anglican priests would come constantly to pray with you, bring communion, and chat. Anglican priests are far more pastoral.

My wife and I did get tired of hearing some** liberal folks at the church (who’ve since left and broken-off), a silence about abortion, and a bit too much openness about many issues. Divorce was condoned far too much.

My wife and I went back in 2004 and have missed good old St. Paul’s Anglican pretty much every week since we left. It was a neat church. The church we’re in now is dull, very little fellowship, catechism for children’s first communion is a two-year torture program and confirmation is three years, the education program stinks, the priests are out of touch, and I’m growing weary of some Catholic theology again, most especially disagreeing with NFP. We might go back. We go up and down about it all the time.

I totally understand how you felt about going to an Anglican church. Many people in CAF are going to trash the AC for homosexuality and women priests but they don’t realize that that is only in some areas of the communion. Most parts of the AC are against women clergy and the gay lifestyle. My diocese is part of the southern cone of argentina, very conservative.

Right now we’re Roman Catholic and going through the usual motions but I have not found the RCC to be as exciting, fullfilling, and life-changing as many of the members of the “Tiber Swim Team” I keep reading in here.
 
Right now we’re Roman Catholic and going through the usual motions but I have not found the RCC to be as exciting, fullfilling, and life-changing as many of the members of the “Tiber Swim Team” I keep reading in here.
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Many of the things you like about Anglicanism can be had in the Catholic Church. Maybe you should try a few other Parishes, and see if you can find a Church that is more welcoming and community orientated.

Out of interest, what is it about Catholicism that you find troubling? What makes you consider conversion?
 
Quote:
Right now we’re Roman Catholic and going through the usual motions but I have not found the RCC to be as exciting, fullfilling, and life-changing as many of the members of the “Tiber Swim Team” I keep reading in here.

I’d rather be among “muddy” sheeps than among lovely “dollies”.🙂
 
gurneyhalleck1 said:
Right now we’re Roman Catholic and going through the usual motions but I have not found the RCC to be as exciting, fullfilling, and life-changing as many of the members of the “Tiber Swim Team” I keep reading in here.
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I agree. I was *much *more emotionally fulfilled in my Episcopal church than I have been so far in *any *of the Catholic parishes I’ve attended.

But that’s beyond irrelevant to me. Warm fuzzies don’t trump the truth in my book.

I’m not saying it’s easy… Trust me, if I went by feelings, I’d go back to my old church. Catholics are by and large TERRIBLE at making new members feel like part of the parish family. I’ve attended a dozen parishes and not ONCE has anyone ever greeted me, or talked to me or asked my name. Nothing.

Catholic Priests are so overloaded that it’s nigh impossible for them to show the amount of pastoral care an Episcopal Priest can. Hell, I called a Catholic parish FIVE TIMES trying to get ahold of someone to let them know I wanted to join the Church. Never got a response or a call back. That’s inexcusable, IMO, and a terrible witness to the Faith.

Anyway, I’m Catholic despite the Church and all her failings, because I believe she is what she says she is. Any other reason wouldn’t cut the mustard.
 
chris_molter said:
I agree. I was *much *more emotionally fulfilled in my Episcopal church than I have been so far in *any *of the Catholic parishes I’ve attended.

But that’s beyond irrelevant to me. Warm fuzzies don’t trump the truth in my book.

I’m not saying it’s easy… Trust me, if I went by feelings, I’d go back to my old church. Catholics are by and large TERRIBLE at making new members feel like part of the parish family. I’ve attended a dozen parishes and not ONCE has anyone ever greeted me, or talked to me or asked my name. Nothing.

Catholic Priests are so overloaded that it’s nigh impossible for them to show the amount of pastoral care an Episcopal Priest can. Hell, I called a Catholic parish FIVE TIMES trying to get ahold of someone to let them know I wanted to join the Church. Never got a response or a call back. That’s inexcusable, IMO, and a terrible witness to the Faith.

Anyway, I’m Catholic despite the Church and all her failings, because I believe she is what she says she is. Any other reason wouldn’t cut the mustard.
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Hi Chris,

Thanks so much. You’re one of the ONLY people ever on CAF who has admitted that. It’s exactly how I feel. You’re right about warm fuzzies and I’m still discerning if Roman Catholicism is infallible truth. But it’s refreshing to hear a new Catholic admit that pastorally they suck! Go to an Anglican church and you hear EVERYBODY singing at the top of their lungs. Catholic churches are fully of these anemic-looking zombies who depend on a few folks to do all the singing. So many don’t even know the Nicene Creed by heart?? They look miserable to be at Mass sometimes.

My wife and I were going through a lot of turmoil spiritually with our disagreement with NFP (it made our marriage miserable and was unreliable as heck despite our following it to a tee!) and having three children in three years, we called our parish seven times and left message after message for our priest and finally just had to be jerks on the phone and harrass them to get a call back.

We actually called our old Anglican diocese and a retired Anglican priest from Clovis, about one hour north of here, drove down to counsel us. He stayed for three hours praying with us and helping us to discern about NFP. Then we tried calling our catholic church again, they didn’t return the calls. We called our old Anglican church and Father James, the Anglican priest, came over to our house also and prayed with us, counseled us for about an hour and a half.

Finally after a couple of months our catholic priest returned our phone calls after we threw a fit! He had us come down to his office. Come out to our home? Yeah, right!!

It is Catholic theology, at least most of it, the determination to be outspoken with pro-life issues, the BVM, and history that keeps me Catholic. My wife and I just drag each other to Mass. We went to Mass today, just dragging our feet.

If it weren’t for theology, like you said, I’d be OUT of here!!

The Church needs to quit believing that they can have good theology but absolutely horrendous pastoral care, lousy Masses, no enthusiasm, no childcare, no fellowship and everyone is just going to have to like it.
 
gurneyhalleck1 said:
Hi Chris,

Thanks so much. You’re one of the ONLY people ever on CAF who has admitted that. It’s exactly how I feel. You’re right about warm fuzzies and I’m still discerning if Roman Catholicism is infallible truth. But it’s refreshing to hear a new Catholic admit that pastorally they suck! Go to an Anglican church and you hear EVERYBODY singing at the top of their lungs. Catholic churches are fully of these anemic-looking zombies who depend on a few folks to do all the singing. So many don’t even know the Nicene Creed by heart?? They look miserable to be at Mass sometimes.

My wife and I were going through a lot of turmoil spiritually with our disagreement with NFP (it made our marriage miserable and was unreliable as heck despite our following it to a tee!) and having three children in three years, we called our parish seven times and left message after message for our priest and finally just had to be jerks on the phone and harrass them to get a call back.

We actually called our old Anglican diocese and a retired Anglican priest from Clovis, about one hour north of here, drove down to counsel us. He stayed for three hours praying with us and helping us to discern about NFP. Then we tried calling our catholic church again, they didn’t return the calls. We called our old Anglican church and Father James, the Anglican priest, came over to our house also and prayed with us, counseled us for about an hour and a half.

Finally after a couple of months our catholic priest returned our phone calls after we threw a fit! He had us come down to his office. Come out to our home? Yeah, right!!

It is Catholic theology, at least most of it, the determination to be outspoken with pro-life issues, the BVM, and history that keeps me Catholic. My wife and I just drag each other to Mass. We went to Mass today, just dragging our feet.

If it weren’t for theology, like you said, I’d be OUT of here!!

The Church needs to quit believing that they can have good theology but absolutely horrendous pastoral care, lousy Masses, no enthusiasm, no childcare, no fellowship and everyone is just going to have to like it.
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Now that I’ve said these things, prepare for the massive flood of RRRRRRGH I’m going to get from the Tiber Swim Team!! LOL…Get ready to drown Gurney in the Tiber! lol
 
gurneyhalleck1 said:
Hi Chris,

Thanks so much. You’re one of the ONLY people ever on CAF who has admitted that. It’s exactly how I feel. You’re right about warm fuzzies and I’m still discerning if Roman Catholicism is infallible truth. But it’s refreshing to hear a new Catholic admit that pastorally they suck! Go to an Anglican church and you hear EVERYBODY singing at the top of their lungs. Catholic churches are fully of these anemic-looking zombies who depend on a few folks to do all the singing. So many don’t even know the Nicene Creed by heart?? They look miserable to be at Mass sometimes.

My wife and I were going through a lot of turmoil spiritually with our disagreement with NFP (it made our marriage miserable and was unreliable as heck despite our following it to a tee!) and having three children in three years, we called our parish seven times and left message after message for our priest and finally just had to be jerks on the phone and harrass them to get a call back.

We actually called our old Anglican diocese and a retired Anglican priest from Clovis, about one hour north of here, drove down to counsel us. He stayed for three hours praying with us and helping us to discern about NFP. Then we tried calling our catholic church again, they didn’t return the calls. We called our old Anglican church and Father James, the Anglican priest, came over to our house also and prayed with us, counseled us for about an hour and a half.

Finally after a couple of months our catholic priest returned our phone calls after we threw a fit! He had us come down to his office. Come out to our home? Yeah, right!!

It is Catholic theology, at least most of it, the determination to be outspoken with pro-life issues, the BVM, and history that keeps me Catholic. My wife and I just drag each other to Mass. We went to Mass today, just dragging our feet.

If it weren’t for theology, like you said, I’d be OUT of here!!

The Church needs to quit believing that they can have good theology but absolutely horrendous pastoral care, lousy Masses, no enthusiasm, no childcare, no fellowship and everyone is just going to have to like it.
Click to expand...
I used to be Roman Catholic, but have been Anglican for 20 years now. I certainly wouldn’t try to persuade you to change. That must come from your discernment. But you may not know, I have no idea of course, that Episcopals are not tied to doctrine from on high. Each diocese pretty much decides this for themselves and parishes choose rectors who are in tune with the congregation. There are dioceses, albeit few in number who do not have women priests nor bless same sex unions. So there are more “conservative” ones sometimes available. But of course, you must decide whether you agree that Roman dogma is correct or not. I find your statements about NFP to be interesting. I have heard people say the same thing, that it was hard, impinged on the intimacy of their marriage and didn’t work very well medically speaking either.

I guess I would spend some time in conference with a local Anglican priest and talk to them about your doctrinal concerns. Then you can compare them to what your local Roman priest tells you about the same issues. You might be surprised that Anglicans feel just as doctrinally right as Romans do! LOL.

Best of luck to you. I know, having been Roman for 30 years that it is not easy to let go of dogma I considered accurate. Also the “we are the first, and the ONLY church” is hard to release. But remember there are fine minds in many faiths and the answers you have lived with for years may not be the only ones. Only by true discernment and reading, studying and praying will you be able to answer this for yourself. I will pray for all of those in discernment this week. Blessings.
 
Right now we’re Roman Catholic and going through the usual motions but I have not found the RCC to be as exciting, fullfilling, and life-changing as many of the members of the “Tiber Swim Team” I keep reading in here.
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I’m afraid I don’t see the problem. You seem to be equating feelings with truth. Yes, it’s wonderful to be welcomed with all that fellowshipping but when I joined the Catholic church I didn’t even think about that. I received my 1st Holy Communion with no hoopla at all and that was fine with me. It was between me and Jesus. I got to know some people and got involved in things, from cleaned the church to teaching. We are a faith that is based on worship of God, not greeting everyone tho we do have greeters now. Having been at this parish since my conversion I still find it hard to spot newcomers. I do not like the practice of overwhelming welcoming or having newcomers stand up as another parish we visited did. WE didn’t. We go to the Sat., eve Mass where our daughter is the lead singer, and we help with her 2 boys. Our other daughter usually goes to 11:30 on Sun. which used to be our regular Mass and there’s a coffee hour after all 3 Sun. masses. We lived in Idaho for over a year when we helped our oldest daughter’s family before and after her death from cancer, and finally came home in Jan. There are some people who have just realized that we’re back.🤷 Did they care…of course they did…they just go to different masses and are involved in different things and I haven’t been going to the social things. I’m a Carmelite so my group knew I was back. I also take 2 Holy Hours of Adoration so they knew too.I had received cards and e-mails during our absence. My daughter is secretary and is very friendly to people. We went to a huge parish in Idaho and did not expect anything from anybody. We had plenty of smiles and a few little conversations. I got to know a couple of ladies who were at Adoration at the time I usually went. We were all named Mary. 👍 I took one’s place for a month. Once, outside the Adoration chapel I greeted the priest and told him where I was from, he knows our priest, and he said “and you come all that way for adoration!!” 300 miles. Then I explain why we were here and he was saddened to hear it. We did get a lot of help and fellowship from our daughter’s mormon Ward…they were wonderful but that isn’t going to make me to convert to mormonism as my daughter did 22 years ago. My advice…go to Mass to worship the Lord…that’s it. Seek first the kingdom of God and all else will come to you. Truth isn’t warm fuzzies, tho I totally decry the way the one priest treated someone who posted on this thread. To not call back when a person has a concern is just plain rude. 😦 No excuse. :mad: He needs to be brought to task about it. Write to his Bishop.
M.A.
 
I was an Episcopalian all my life. I finally became Catholic and I am very happy as one. Yes many parishes are not friendly, but I belonged to three Episcopal parishes and not one of them were friendly. They had clicks and if your spouse was not going with you, you were also excluded.

The second parish priest had a mistress and everyone knew about it. His wife died and he married her.

I don’t recall any pastoral concern from him. These parishes were not large so there was no excuse for the lack of pastoral care.

I find you must reach out in the Church and get involved.

The most important thing is that the Catholic Church is the fullness of the faith. The rest can be attained in other organizations if you need friends. I never felt anyone cared in the Episcopal church I went to. Even when I was a young girl.

There are many Catholic Churches where people are friendly, but most of them are so large it is difficult to meet people. The ones I have attended have one priest and several thousand members.

I go to a wonderful parish. The music is the same as in the Episcopal church. The priest is older but very caring.

I think you will find good and bad in either church. But as I said before the Eucharist and thruth is more important than anything else. Our souls are at stake and I would rather follow Christ in His Church. We go to church to worship our Lord not to always have emotional feelings fulfilled.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette
 
gurneyhalleck1 said:
I loved the Anglican Church my wife and I attended. The liturgy is far more dignified with beautiful wording, care, and old-school hymns. there was coffee hour after the service, fellowship, and nice people.

When my family was in the hospital, unlike the Roman Catholic priests in our diocese, the Anglican priests would come constantly to pray with you, bring communion, and chat. Anglican priests are far more pastoral.
.
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My experience was the opposite of yours! Our Anglican Vicar never had time to speak to me. I contacted him once because I was having serious problems and he told me to ring back and make an appointment in a couple of months as he was busy!
I was never visited in hospital by the Anglicans and experienced the services in our local Anglical church as little more than show and tell and a bit of a sing song. No reverence, no contemplation, no real prayer - it was meaningless for me. The communion was ‘fitted in’ between the vicar’s in jokes, notices about money and the youth group and the WI and requests to fill in questionnaires (during the service!) about what we thought the ‘aims’ should be for the next year. I had more opportunity to worship God in my own back garden! Rather than become pagan 😉 I came home to the Catholic Church.
I think it comes down many times to the minister and there are good, bad and indifferent.
I’m much happier and at peace in the Catholic Church, for reasons too lengthy to write about right now.
Karen
 
GKC said:
That’s a kind thought.

Papal issues. I do not believe the Pope possesses the charism of personal infallibility, for example. Yes, you can assume I know what that means.

GKC
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It seems to me that you do not fully understand the meaning of infallibility

🤷
 
GKC said:
Extremely unlikely. Anglicanism doesn’t work that way.

GKC
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I am very sypathetic towards the Anglican Church and would like to see it reunite with the Catholic Church. However there are lots of problems. You either have the Bishop of Canterbury, the Queen and ALL Anglicans join or you will have all the Anglo Catholics join and leave the Church in the hands of the nutty liberals. You simply can’t do that.

🤷
 
Mandy31 said:
Hello,

I have five grown children, four sons and our daughter. My husband and I are Cradle Catholics. We have taken them to Mass and catechism every Sunday. My daughter married an Episcopal. I’ve asked her many times why she will not attend Mass with us.

She tells me the Episcopal Mass and Faith is just as good, I know it is not because the Catholic Church is the one true church started by Christ Himself along with his twelve apostles as written in the New
Testament of the Bible.

The Anglican/ Episcopal Church was started by King Henry V111
when he wanted an annulment from Catherine of Aragon to marry the more attractive Anne Boleyn. King Henry made himsel “The Head of The Church of England” ( Information taken from Catholic History through Biography’) written in October 1940.Would anyone have any ideas of what I could do to get her to Come Home?

Mandy31
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Hi Mandy!

I was educated in Convents but was not properly Catechised otherwise I would not have drifted (for 27 years). Now that I am back and have studied my Faith I KNOW I would never have left had I known what I know today.

🙂
 
thirdn6 said:
Quote:
Right now we’re Roman Catholic and going through the usual motions but I have not found the RCC to be as exciting, fullfilling, and life-changing as many of the members of the “Tiber Swim Team” I keep reading in here.

I’d rather be among “muddy” sheeps than among lovely “dollies”.🙂
Click to expand...
Just the study of the scriptures, apologetics, attending Mass and fellowship is enough. We do not belong to a Church to be entertained.

Just knowing your faith and practicing it is exciting in my view. Knowing God is exciting. A personal relationship with God is exciting.

🙂
 
Mandy31 said:
Hello,

I have five grown children, four sons and our daughter. My husband and I are Cradle Catholics. We have taken them to Mass and catechism every Sunday. My daughter married an Episcopal. I’ve asked her many times why she will not attend Mass with us.

She tells me the Episcopal Mass and Faith is just as good, I know it is not because the Catholic Church is the one true church started by Christ Himself along with his twelve apostles as written in the New
Testament of the Bible.

The Anglican/ Episcopal Church was started by King Henry V111
when he wanted an annulment from Catherine of Aragon to marry the more attractive Anne Boleyn. King Henry made himsel “The Head of The Church of England” ( Information taken from Catholic History through Biography’) written in October 1940.Would anyone have any ideas of what I could do to get her to Come Home?

Mandy31
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Hi Mandy31,

What does the Bible say is the role of the mother in her child’s marriage?

God Bless!
 
Cinette said:
It seems to me that you do not fully understand the meaning of infallibility

🤷
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Cinette,

Actually, GKC is one of the few non-Catholic posters here who has pretty solid grasp of Catholic teaching on the subject, he just happens to disagree with it. 😉
 
chris_molter said:
I agree. I was *much *more emotionally fulfilled in my Episcopal church than I have been so far in *any *of the Catholic parishes I’ve attended.

But that’s beyond irrelevant to me. Warm fuzzies don’t trump the truth in my book.

I’m not saying it’s easy… Trust me, if I went by feelings, I’d go back to my old church. Catholics are by and large TERRIBLE at making new members feel like part of the parish family. I’ve attended a dozen parishes and not ONCE has anyone ever greeted me, or talked to me or asked my name. Nothing.

Catholic Priests are so overloaded that it’s nigh impossible for them to show the amount of pastoral care an Episcopal Priest can. Hell, I called a Catholic parish FIVE TIMES trying to get ahold of someone to let them know I wanted to join the Church. Never got a response or a call back. That’s inexcusable, IMO, and a terrible witness to the Faith.

Anyway, I’m Catholic despite the Church and all her failings, because I believe she is what she says she is. Any other reason wouldn’t cut the mustard.
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:love: 👋 :hug3: :hug1: :console:

I wish I were a member of your Parish because you are such a worthy person. We do not go to church to be entertained but it is so nice to be greeted with human warmth and love. 🙂
 
AlexiaMusing said:
I used to be Roman Catholic, but have been Anglican for 20 years now. I certainly wouldn’t try to persuade you to change. That must come from your discernment. But you may not know, I have no idea of course, that Episcopals are not tied to doctrine from on high. Each diocese pretty much decides this for themselves and parishes choose rectors who are in tune with the congregation. There are dioceses, albeit few in number who do not have women priests nor bless same sex unions. So there are more “conservative” ones sometimes available. But of course, you must decide whether you agree that Roman dogma is correct or not. I find your statements about NFP to be interesting. I have heard people say the same thing, that it was hard, impinged on the intimacy of their marriage and didn’t work very well medically speaking either.

I guess I would spend some time in conference with a local Anglican priest and talk to them about your doctrinal concerns. Then you can compare them to what your local Roman priest tells you about the same issues. You might be surprised that Anglicans feel just as doctrinally right as Romans do! LOL.

Best of luck to you. I know, having been Roman for 30 years that it is not easy to let go of dogma I considered accurate. Also the “we are the first, and the ONLY church” is hard to release. But remember there are fine minds in many faiths and the answers you have lived with for years may not be the only ones. Only by true discernment and reading, studying and praying will you be able to answer this for yourself. I will pray for all of those in discernment this week. Blessings.
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As long as this is what your conscience tell you and where the Spirit leads but I think you are missing out.

🙂
 
Cinette said:
I am very sypathetic towards the Anglican Church and would like to see it reunite with the Catholic Church. However there are lots of problems. You either have the Bishop of Canterbury, the Queen and ALL Anglicans join or you will have all the Anglo Catholics join and leave the Church in the hands of the nutty liberals. You simply can’t do that.

🤷
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Yep. Lots of problems.

GKC
 
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