Episcopal Alternative?

[PeterC]

I am a non practicing Roman Catholic who, according to the Roman Church, has not been in the State of Grace for over twenty years due to divorce and re-marriage. I have, from time to time, attended Mass refraining from receiving the sacrament of Holy Communion. In the earlier years I did receive after convincing myself it was ok. In later years, and presently, I do not physically receive in the Roman Catholic Church, however, I do from time to time receive in spirit only. More recently I have received in the Episcopal Church since I have learned I am welcomed to do so and not prohibited by cannon.

My wife is an active Congregationalist. I have attended services with her on many occasions but have never felt quite right about it. I do receive Communion when attending services at the Congregational Church. When I do receive I pray to Jesus for his understanding that I am participating in a community ceremony in remembrance of Him and I do not consider the bread and wine His body and blood. I do, however, believe in the True Presence in the Roman Catholic Mass and the Episcopal Eucharist.

My wife and I want to attend a church together as active and faithful members. It is important for both of us for many reasons. The most important reason for me is to fully practice my faith and to receive the sacrament of Communion leading to a State Of Grace in good conscience and on a regular basis. The service or mass is always a very emotional experience for me; especially when I feel the absence of Christ when the faithful are receiving.

I have only recently learned and now I truly believe that in the Episcopal Church the actual presence of the Body and Blood of Christ is in the Host. I was taught otherwise, thus I was under a different impression. My sister and her husband (who is becoming a Roman Catholic Deacon) has assured me of this fact. The good news is obvious. I can fully practice my faith in the Episcopal Church! The Nicene Creed recited in the Episcopal Eucharist further confirms my faith and gives me the “go ahead” to become an Episcopalian. I can actually feel the tug. This is the best news I have received in years.

Opinions ? ……

 

[Vincent]

Sanity is living according to what is. If the Catholic Church is who she says she is, then why would anybody want to be anything else?

 

[drforjc]

My sister and her husband (who is becoming a Roman Catholic Deacon) has assured me of this fact.

They would appear to be contradicting the teaching of the church they profess to belong to.

 

[Ghosty]

The Episcopal Church absolutly does not have the Real Presence according to the Catholic Church. You are not permitted to receive Communion there under any circumstances, I’m afraid.

 

[PeterC]

Ghosty:

The Episcopal Church absolutly does not have the Real Presence according to the Catholic Church. You are not permitted to receive Communion there under any circumstances, I’m afraid.

But …

In the last six months I have become very active in The Episcopal Church. Services with my wife and the rest of the community every week, Communion every week, and an active ministry serving the Hispanic Community. Faith and deeds together. Whereas in the past twenty years church was a rare event until recently. So was I more of a sinner in the first twenty years or the twenty years beginning now? I am not trying to argue; I just need answers.

 

[JGC]

As a former episcopalian a few thoughts.

In respect of your marriage, I don’t know if you have discussed this with a priest, you may or may not be in the position that your first marriage could be annuled. Our priest recently stated, when discussing the diocesan meeting for those affected by marriage/remarriage/divorce that the process is generally pretty quick nowadays, it may not be a hopeless situation. Fr Serpa, CA Apologist also notes these matters are often quickly resolved. forums.catholic-questions.org/showthre…6593#post236593
Why not post in the Ask an Apologist forum or private message one of the Apologists?

In respect of the real presence in Episcopal Churches, two points.

1 - Belief in the Anglican communion goes all the way from a Catholic understanding through to a real presence, but not transubstantiation through to memorial only. Depends entirely on the parish you go to. Similarly you will only find confession in Anglo Catholic parishes, etc.

2 - The Eucharist in the parish you go to might be valid. The ‘higher’ (i.e. more Anglo Catholic you go, the more likely.) The Church does not believe Anglican Orders are valid (Apostolae Curae), however many Anglican Bishops since then were consecrated or reconsecrated by Old Catholic or Orthodox Bishops which makes their Holy Orders ‘valid, if illicit,’ I have heard it described.

I would really investigate the annulment route. It sounds like you only want to leave so you can recieve the Eucharist, which I fully understand.

Hope this helps.

 

[Ghosty]

PeterC: A mortal sinner is a mortal sinner; dead in their soul. Degrees of mortal sin are irrelevant in the context of Salvation. The Episcopal Church has obviously done great things for you, and I can’t argue with that. The fact remains, however, that they are not the Church established by Christ, nor do they have valid Apostalic Succession. As a baptised Catholic, your removal of yourself from the Church is still Apostacy, and is a sin, as is taking bread and wine as if it were the body and blood of Christ.

Now I don’t know the disposition of your soul. I don’t know if you possess invincible ignorance on these matters, nor do I know if you were brought up with proper respect and education towards the Church, so I won’t say whether or not you are “more of a sinner now than before” (not that it really matters, as both periods reflect potential mortal sin, subject to my first statement in this post). If you truly respect the Church and view it as the Church that Christ established, and it appears that you do, then you are obligated to honor it in deed as well as sentiment. Now the Episcopal Church may have brought the spark of faith to you that was missing before, but now it’s your duty as a Catholic to take that spark back with you into the Church, and live the good life you seem disposed to living now.

I recommend making a good Confession (understanding that certain things are objectively sinful regardless of whether or not you bear guilt for them), and renewing (or beginning) your good life within the Church, communing with the Real Presence, and in all ways honoring God and your newfound faith. God is obviously calling you back to Him, and if you look you’ll know exactly where that is here on Earth. This doesn’t mean sever all ties with Episcopals, but rather you should work with them as a Catholic from a Catholic position, and stand firm in the Church and its Sacraments. That’s what God wants for everyone, and you have an advantage in that you were already Baptised.

Again, I don’t know what was/is in your mind, so I can’t say whether or not you are guilty of mortal sin (though it sounds like a case of misinformation rather than knowledgable malice), but I can say that it’s best to correct things now regardless. You can only be held accountable for what you know, or should know, and seeing as you are honestly seeking truth now, your responsibility to live that truth is greater, and also much more rewarding.

God bless you, and good luck in your spiritual discernment

 

[dhgray]

Peter,

Have you condisered just getting an anulment from the first marriage?

I am a former Episcopalian. I left for many reasons, but here are a few things to consider.

1. No real presence, they do it in Rememberance.
2. Women Priests
3. Homosexual Priests.
   3-1/2 Homosexual Bishop.
4. Too liberal
5. No direction or clear leader of the church.
6. Supports same-sex unions.
   If you feel the “absence of Christ”, changing churches will not fix that. I made that mistake in my faith journey. You need to get right with God first.

 

[puzzleannie]

I would not accept advice on your marriage situation, your church attendance, or the state of your soul from a book, website, magazine, or from anyone on these forums. I would, if you were my son asking me for advice, suggest you go to a priest in confession, or talk to him first and then confess if he suggests it, lay out the facts and find out where you stand. Anybody here who is knowledgable about Catholic teaching can tell you what that teaching is, but is not qualified to apply it to your personal situation. For that, you need a priest, and some honesty on your part. It goes without saying we are praying for you.

 

[Crusader]

Ghosty:

PeterC: A mortal sinner is a mortal sinner; dead in their soul. Degrees of mortal sin are irrelevant in the context of Salvation. The Episcopal Church has obviously done great things for you, and I can’t argue with that. The fact remains, however, that they are not the Church established by Christ, nor do they have valid Apostalic Succession. As a baptised Catholic, your removal of yourself from the Church is still Apostacy, and is a sin, as is taking bread and wine as if it were the body and blood of Christ.

No. PeterC is in heresy. He would be in apostacy only if he left the Christian faith. He has not.

Being in a state of heresy (even if one is a baptised Catholic) does not necessarily place one in a state of mortal sin.

I hope PeterC find an excellent confessor to speak to so he can then move on to the marriage tribunal within his arch(diocese.)

 

[Crusader]

I would not accept advice on your marriage situation, your church attendance, or the state of your soul from a book, website, magazine, or from anyone on these forums. I would, if you were my son asking me for advice, suggest you go to a priest in confession, or talk to him first and then confess if he suggests it, lay out the facts and find out where you stand. Anybody here who is knowledgable about Catholic teaching can tell you what that teaching is, but is not qualified to apply it to your personal situation. For that, you need a priest, and some honesty on your part. It goes without saying we are praying for you.

This is excellent advice. A good confession and a meeting with his marriage tribunal could change PeterC’s life (ant that of his wife) in the most dramatically positive manner imaginable.

I hope that he does go to confession and that he talks to the marriage tribunal…