Well, I do receive the Eucharist at least weekly in the Episcopal Church. (I know you guys don’t think we have valid orders, but obviously** I disagre**e!)
My point is that Catholicity simply is the fullness of the Faith, however we define it. Protestants do not think that communion with Rome is necessary or sufficient for Catholicity. I think it is necessary but may not be sufficient. I.e., I am not convinced that simply by entering into the Roman Communion (what you would call the “Catholic Church”) as it currently exists one enters into possession of the fullness of the Faith. I think it may well be true, but I honestly don’t know. And since the Pope himself has called for corporate reunion in which we “separated brethren” retain our distinctive traditions (of course that means only insofar as they are compatible with orthodoxy), I consider myself justified (with many doubts and questions) in remaining Anglican and working for the reunion of Christians–not just of individual Christians but of styles of Christianity.
So why would I be a partial Christian rather than a full one? Because** I’m not certain** that Catholicism can be anything other than a work in progress before the return of Christ, and because this is the particular work in progress I’ve been handed–to reconcile evangelicallism with the fullness of the Christian tradition. “Becoming Catholic” in the sense you mean would be, for me, giving up real communion with fellow Christians for a theoretical Catholicity that clearly does not result in a practical enjoyment of the fullness of the Faith for most Catholics.
Edwin
There’s a lot of ‘thinking’ in that response. I can remember defending my positions that way in the past, but I don’t remember when I stopped. I do recall it was after resigning myself to what the Catholic church teaches as explained by the Hahns, Steven Ray and Fr. Corapi. Hearing and reading their works, their explanations of WHY Catholics believe what they believe, their ability to show - through scripture and history - that the Church IS the One, Holy, Catholic church and has remained true all these years (including through some of our darkest times) affected me.
My mind, my reason, could not keep up or surpass their extensive research and personal faith journeys which obviously were gifts from the Holy Spirit. Suddenly I felt quite small in the grand scheme of things. I recognized the pride and stubborness and arrogance in the arguments I would wage about articial birth control, chastity, abortion, domestic partnerships for homosexuals, and even the right to ‘pull the plug’ at the patient’s bidding.
The Hahns, Steve Ray and Corapi touch upon those subjects but as part of the greater lesson being taught about God’s love for mankind and His call for each and every one of us. They show how Jesus gave us the Catholic church to bring all souls to Him and they break it down so clearly that there really was no argument for me anymore.
Once I resigned myself to the authority of the Church through the grace of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit I was left to obey, respectfully, until such time as the Spirit would deem it time to reveal to me the ‘why’. So even though I didn’t know the logical whys I found myself defending the church’s positions on those matters I used to argue against. Sometimes the Spirit led me to materials which satisfied my intellect and reason so that I could better express my arguments in defense of the church, but mostly the Spirit just kept putting the image of Christ before me - particularly Jesus on the cross. It is from my love for Him, my immense gratitude to Him, that I defend the Church’s positions for she is His bride and He would not lead her astray.
Jesus has but one bride. As close as any ‘partial’ christian denomination can come, they will never be His bride, and certainly they cannot consider themselves His mistresses.
“Styles” of Christianity is not the same as calling for our separated bretheren to return home to eat of the same bread and drink of the same wine which becomes Christ Himself. “Styles” may pertain to what clothing one wears when they come to the table, what perfumes, what songs, what languages, what gifts to bring and so forth…but still the christians must first COME. That is the evangelization which the Pope calls for…speaking the truth, inviting all to come to the table, bringing with them their ‘style’ so as to make the one family more complete in its diversity.
. May God continue to bless you and watch over you, whatever your decision.