Do Catholics despise Anglicans?

[ronnok20]

It seems to me that Catholics seem to have more of a disliking for The Anglican Communion than for anyone else, even Lutherans. Why is this? Is is because the Anglican reformers in the 16th century kept most of the RC form of worship when they split from Rome? Is it because of King Henry or Queen Elizabeth II? Or possibly could it be that Anglicans actually profess the Eucharist to be exactly what RC’s believe that it is?

 

[GKC]

It seems to me that Catholics seem to have more of a disliking for The Anglican Communion than for anyone else, even Lutherans. Why is this? Is is because the Anglican reformers in the 16th century kept most of the RC form of worship when they split from Rome? Is it because of King Henry or Queen Elizabeth II? Or possibly could it be that Anglicans actually profess the Eucharist to be exactly what RC’s believe that it is?

I’m Anglican. I don’t see any support for your basic premise.

GKC

Anglicanus Catholicus

 

[ronnok20]

I’m Anglican. I don’t see any support for your basic premise.

GKC

Anglicanus Catholicus

Maybe it is more of a local thing here where I live, but it certainly does exist.

 

[GKC]

Maybe it is more of a local thing here where I live, but it certainly does exist.

Details/examples?

GKC

 

[ronnok20]

Details/examples?

GKC

There was a program on a local Catholic radio station here and the priest was talking about conversions. When asked what are the sweetest conversions to the Catholic faith he unhesitantly responded, “oh Anglicans of course!”. When asked why he said that it is because they are truly the most misled Christians in history because their early leaders made them believe that they were still truly catholic in nature. I also heard my parent’s priest say some very nasty things about Episcopalians that I have never heard him say about anyone else. He seems to have a real anger about him when he talks about Episcopalians. I have heard him say on two occasions that they may look like us and sound like us, but they ain’t us! (referring to Episcopalians).

 

[lak611]

I’m Anglican. I don’t see any support for your basic premise.

GKC

Anglicanus Catholicus

Maybe it is more of a local thing here where I live, but it certainly does exist.

I only knew one person who was Anglican, and I certainly did not despise her. Where I live, there are not very many Anglicans. I know lots of Lutherans, Methodists and Baptists. I do not despise any of them either.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I’ve never seen any evidence of this. I went to an Episcopal College and my wife has worked as Music Director for Episcopal Churches at various times. Thus, we have a number of Episcopal friends including clergy. I don’t know if you are distinguishing between Anglican and all Episcopalians here, but our experience has spanned the gamut of Episcopal practice.

 

[Fred_4]

Wow. I can’t speak to your experiences, but I feel confident in saying that if a Catholic despises anyone, they’re not a very good Catholic.

I’m not going to pretend that I’m a saint and just love everybody so very much. But people that I dislike tend to be dislikable (at least from my point of view), and that never has anything to do with their religion, or lack thereof. And in cases where I really REALLY dislike someone, I have to confess that I’m the one in the wrong as I’m called to be like Jesus, and Jesus loves that person… even if everyone else does think they’re a bung-hole.

 

[lak611]

Wow. I can’t speak to your experiences, but I feel confident in saying that if a Catholic despises anyone, they’re not a very good Catholic.

I’m not going to pretend that I’m a saint and just love everybody so very much. But people that I dislike tend to be dislikable (at least from my point of view), and that never has anything to do with their religion, or lack thereof. And in cases where I really REALLY dislike someone, I have to confess that I’m the one in the wrong as I’m called to be like Jesus, and Jesus loves that person… even if everyone else does think they’re a bung-hole.

Great post. I feel the same as you.

 

[udoc89]

I am an ex-Anglican, and I still love that communion, although I confess to being saddened by it–a communion that includes many members of my family, by the way.

Before I had even consciously considered “poping” my children attended a Catholic school. When I told the diminutive and venerable nun who was the director of religious education at the school that we were Episcopalians, she replied very graciously, “Lovely! Our nearest relatives!”

I haven’t witnessed any antagonism toward Anglicans in the ten years I have been a Catholic, and I honestly believe I would recognize it, if it were truly a problem.

 

[GKC]

There was a program on a local Catholic radio station here and the priest was talking about conversions. When asked what are the sweetest conversions to the Catholic faith he unhesitantly responded, “oh Anglicans of course!”. When asked why he said that it is because they are truly the most misled Christians in history because their early leaders made them believe that they were still truly catholic in nature. I also heard my parent’s priest say some very nasty things about Episcopalians that I have never heard him say about anyone else. He seems to have a real anger about him when he talks about Episcopalians. I have heard him say on two occasions that they may look like us and sound like us, but they ain’t us! (referring to Episcopalians).

Heck, you should hear my opinions of the Episcopal Church.

But what you report there are the opinions of a couple of individuals. It is understandable, if we as Anglicans say we are, basically, Catholic, that RCs find that objectionable. I don’t think it means that they dislike Anglicans in some more fundamental sense than others that they consider to be Protestant. I belong to a forum that is for traditional minded RCs, Orthodox and Anglicans, and while we recognise where we don’t agree (Apostolicae Curae, for example), we spend a lot of time discussing where we do agree.

And recall that Pope Paul VI and Michael Ramsey, while Archbishop of Canterbury, established the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission, aimed at finding just where we might be in formal agreement, and perhaps working from there. Given the current state of official Anglicanism, that’s not a cheerful task these days, but it’s a certain recognition of our relationship.

Generally, I don’t think RCs have any particular animousity toward us. Maybe someone will prove me wrong.

GKC

Anglicanus Catholicus

 

[ronnok20]

Heck, you should hear my opinions of the Episcopal Church.

But what you report there are the opinions of a couple of individuals. It is understandable, if we as Anglicans say we are, basically, Catholic, that RCs find that objectionable. I don’t think it means that they dislike Anglicans in some more fundamental sense than others that they consider to be Protestant. I belong to a forum that is for traditional minded RCs, Orthodox and Anglicans, and while we recognise where we don’t agree (Apostolicae Curae, for example), we spend a lot of time discussing where we do agree.

And recall that Pope Paul VI and Michael Ramsey, while Archbishop of Canterbury, established the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission, aimed at finding just where we might be in formal agreement, and perhaps working from there. Given the current state of official Anglicanism, that’s not a cheerful task these days, but it’s a certain recognition of our relationship.

Generally, I don’t think RCs have any particular animousity toward us. Maybe someone will prove me wrong.

GKC

Anglicanus Catholicus

I appreciate hearing your positive remarks, thank you

 

[THutch04]

I’m an ex-Anglican, and I can’t say I ever encountered any real animosity…Actually, the conversation usually went something like “I’m Anglican.” “Oh really, what’s that?” Not too many people know that much about Anglicans, so they can’t say whether they like or dislike them.

I will say that in my theology classes at Duquesne that Anglicanism is certainly the most debated form of Christianity, but I haven’t really met anyone who actually disliked people who practiced it (most people at Duquesne are from Pittsburgh, and there are hardly any Anglicans out this way).

 

[SORROWS]

It seems to me that Catholics seem to have more of a disliking for The Anglican Communion than for anyone else, even Lutherans. Why is this? Is is because the Anglican reformers in the 16th century kept most of the RC form of worship when they split from Rome? Is it because of King Henry or Queen Elizabeth II? Or possibly could it be that Anglicans actually profess the Eucharist to be exactly what RC’s believe that it is?

I’ve never heard anything like this. Despise is a really harsh word - doesn’t seem like an accurate depiction at all. As a Catholic I was not raised to Despise anyone or any religion at all.

 

[LilyM]

I’m an ex-Anglican, and I can’t say I ever encountered any real animosity…Actually, the conversation usually went something like “I’m Anglican.” “Oh really, what’s that?” Not too many people know that much about Anglicans, so they can’t say whether they like or dislike them.

I will say that in my theology classes at Duquesne that Anglicanism is certainly the most debated form of Christianity, but I haven’t really met anyone who actually disliked people who practiced it (most people at Duquesne are from Pittsburgh, and there are hardly any Anglicans out this way).

That’s only in America. We in Australia are very familiar with Anglicanism!

I don’t think it’s Anglicanism in general that’s a problem so much as its founder himself - dear old Henry VIII. If someone is determined to sling mud at the key figures of the Reformation, Henry presents an even more obvious target than a Luther or a Calvin.

Especially in view of such horrors as the farce of his marital life and his dissolution of the monasteries, not to mention his occasional flip-flops on the details (even the theology) of his Church, one can really see an incredibly strong current of self-interest and even greed going through his actions.

 

[lak611]

I’m an ex-Anglican, and I can’t say I ever encountered any real animosity…Actually, the conversation usually went something like “I’m Anglican.” “Oh really, what’s that?” Not too many people know that much about Anglicans, so they can’t say whether they like or dislike them.

I will say that in my theology classes at Duquesne that Anglicanism is certainly the most debated form of Christianity, but I haven’t really met anyone who actually disliked people who practiced it (most people at Duquesne are from Pittsburgh, and there are hardly any Anglicans out this way).

I actually started a thread asking in what cities/states Anglicans are prevalent. I only know one Anglican, and she is an immigrant from Jamaica. There are not many Anglicans/Episcopalians in Cleveland either. The denomination is more prevalent in the original 13 states, based on the answers I got in my thread.

 

[Tonks40]

I can’t despise Anglicans - I married one!

He does have great ease in attending Mass with us, though.

 

[Dranu]

I’m an ex-episcopalian myself, and I never really experienced any hostility from Catholics, but a bit going towards them (not like some of the other more protestant churches mind you). Anglicans are some of my favorite non-Catholic Christians. At any rate, one of my greatest wishes is that the anglicans/episcopalians will come back to the Church, or at least a majority of them.
In my experience they had some very beautiful church services, with alot more kneeling and chanting (my sorta thing ). Not to mention I love the old tradtion of the Catholic Church in the Islands. Unfortunately they do not have the real presence and the fulness of truth, but that could be fixed! Perhaps Canterbury will once again be in union. Lets pray for such things.

 

[Greg27]

I don’t really have much experience with Anglicanism. In my experience, Anglicans were generally warm and welcoming (they had an very important part to play in the early stages of my Christian journey). I also admire Rowan Williams, who is a very astute scholar. One Anglican I have some trouble with is the Sydney Archbishop Peter Jensen, who is a bit too Calvinist/Fundamentalist for my liking.

 

[ronnok20]

That’s only in America. We in Australia are very familiar with Anglicanism!

I don’t think it’s Anglicanism in general that’s a problem so much as its founder himself - dear old Henry VIII. If someone is determined to sling mud at the key figures of the Reformation, Henry presents an even more obvious target than a Luther or a Calvin.

Especially in view of such horrors as the farce of his marital life and his dissolution of the monasteries, not to mention his occasional flip-flops on the details (even the theology) of his Church, one can really see an incredibly strong current of self-interest and even greed going through his actions.

Pretty selfish guy, I’ll give you that, but had every reason in the world to know that his annulment denial was politically motivated by Clement.