Catholic vs Episcopal

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Dgerber

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Can you tell me the biggest differences between the Catholic and Episcopal? My son was baptized in the Catholic church and attended Catholic elementary school. He has received first communion, reconciliation, and confirmation. He was married in another church but the marriage was blessed by the Catholic church. He and his wife have had much discussion about what religion they will practice. His wife is not Catholic but has agreed to attend the Episcopal church where she can receive communion and participate fully. Therefore, my son also attends the Episcopal church with his wife. How does this effect my son’s participation in the Catholic church in the future?
 
Catholic= Church of Jesus Christ and conservative on morality

Episcopal=broke from Catholic Church in the Reformation and is similar liturgically to Catholic, but liberal on morality and increasingly liberal theologically.

He must stay Catholic and not become Episcopalian.
 
Dgerber said:
Can you tell me the biggest differences between the Catholic and Episcopal? My son was baptized in the Catholic church and attended Catholic elementary school. He has received first communion, reconciliation, and confirmation. He was married in another church but the marriage was blessed by the Catholic church. He and his wife have had much discussion about what religion they will practice. His wife is not Catholic but has agreed to attend the Episcopal church where she can receive communion and participate fully. Therefore, my son also attends the Episcopal church with his wife. How does this effect my son’s participation in the Catholic church in the future?
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Your son is bound by the rules of the Catholic Church. He is free to attend the Episcopalian Church, but he may NOT partake in their communion, since it is not considered valid by the Catholic Church and would be a sign of unity that sadly does not exist at this time. Further, even if he goes to their service, he is still obligated to go to Catholic Mass every Sunday plus Holy Days. I should also mention that it would have been a condition of the blessing of his marriage by the Catholic Church that he is obligated to raise any future children in the Catholic Church as well.

In short, they are stuck in the predicament that if she goes to the Catholic Church, she may not receive (and would not be allowed), and if he goes to the Episcopalian Church, he is obligated NOT to receive (although he would be allowed) and must still attend a Catholic Mass.
 
Because of his baptism your son is Catholic and will always be considered Catholic by the Catholic Church. But since he is Catholic, he has an obligation to attend Sunday Mass (or Saturday vigil Mass) in the Catholic Church. Mass in the Episcopal Church does not meet his Sunday obligation. Therefore, in order to return to the Catholic Church, all he must do is go to Confession to confess any grave sins he may have committed since he left the church ( including missing Mass and initially getting married outside the church). Then he will be in full union with the Catholic Church once again and may once again receive the Eucharist. There is nothing wrong with your son attending Episcopal Mass with his wife (as long as he does not receive Communion), but he still has an obligation to go to Catholic Mass.
 
The OP sounded to me like her son had gotten married originally outside the church and then later had the marriage blessed by the Catholic Church (although you are correct-- if he had a dispensation to get married in another church then it was fine). I only meant that IF he had never confessed getting married outside the church in the first place (without dispensation) then he should confess it before returning. And also the missed masses and receiving communion in the Episcopal Church. But the fact that the marriage is valid is GOOD and therefore only Confession is needed in order to return.
 
Swiss_Guy said:
Catholic= Church of Jesus Christ and conservative on morality

Episcopal=broke from Catholic Church in the Reformation and is similar liturgically to Catholic, but liberal on morality and increasingly liberal theologically.

He must stay Catholic and not become Episcopalian.
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Just a small correction - the Anglican Church was CREATED by Henry 8th. The Episcopalian Church is the Anglican Church in America. So it never “broke from” the Catholic Church. It is Henry’s own creation which included the possibility of divorce (for him).
 
Reductionist simpleton here. Unless someone is interested in English history, the prior tensions are less important than the main event, which is Henry making himself the titular head of his own church.
 
TheRealJuliane said:
Reductionist simpleton here. Unless someone is interested in English history, the prior tensions are less important than the main event, which is Henry making himself the titular head of his own church.
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I’m interested in English history. Being deep in it is a hobby of mine.

GKC
 
GKC said:
I’m interested in English history. Being deep in it is a hobby of mine.

GKC
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i will vouch for that!! 😉 there is no one on this forum with more knowledge of English history and the times of King Henry VIII than GKC. he knows what he is talking about!!
 
7_Sorrows said:
i will vouch for that!! 😉 there is no one on this forum with more knowledge of English history and the times of King Henry VIII than GKC. he knows what he is talking about!!
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You are very kind to say so.

Sometimes I bluff, though.

GKC
 
TheRealJuliane said:
Reductionist simpleton here. Unless someone is interested in English history, the prior tensions are less important than the main event, which is Henry making himself the titular head of his own church.
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That is hardly true for understanding the East-West schism, and I can’t imagine that it would be any truer in this circumstance either. Reductionism does not help to promote mutual understanding or effect reconciliation and rapprochement.
 
Let’s not go down this road again. Simple answer, Rome and Canterbury are not in communion with each other. Catholics should not take Communion in an Episcopal church, and attendance at one does not satisfy one’s Sunday or Holy Day obligation.

If you want to know why, search the archives. But be warned, buy some headache remedy first. :banghead::ouch:
 
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