Episcopalian vs. Catholic

  • Thread starter Thread starter beegirl
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
B

beegirl

Guest
I’m just wondering what the differences between the two are…other than allegiance to the Pope? Thanks!
 
Well functionally, both are made up of human beings, so you can’t really say that any two out of the whole bunch actually believe precisely the same beliefs. Humans are notoriously sloppy intellectually, you know. 😃

That said, the Episcopal Church no longer seems to believe that God established any sort of protected Magisterium that infallibly protects the truths of Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. Many individual Anglicans and Episcopalians do hold virtually the same beliefs as catholicism, but the structure of their church itself suggests that each person is free to interpret Scripture and Tradition in the manner he/she sees fit. And so people widely take them up on it and embrace all sorts of weird stuff. And who is to say they are wrong?

As I mentioned first, catholicism has much the same problem except that we have a framework and an authority that those of genuine good will can go to to learn to tell truth from error (at least in regards to revelation).
 
Liturgically there are many similarities. They dress the same, many of the sacramentals can even be the same, but the dogma, essential theology, and beliefs of the Episcopalians are worlds apart from Catholics.

Episcopalians have an extremely liberal view of:

sexuality
homosexuality
pre-marital sex
condoms
abortion
cohabitation
gay and bisexual clergy
the nature of God Himself (for many Episcopalians it’s “herself”)
the unique role Christ alone has in saving us all, many Episcopalians believe other religions are equal or similar paths to God, in other words, Jesus is “a” way, not “the” way to salvation
pansexuality

compare this to Catholicism or other conservative forms of Christianity and it’s a mile away
 
The differences are many. For example, the Catholic Church sets out, among her teachings, the attributes of the Church herself, and the Sacraments. The Episcopal church rejects most of these teachings. (It is pointless to note that there is a variance of opinion among Episcopalians. That has nothing to do with teachings.) Episcopalians, as Anglicans, hold that the Church has erred in her teachings on faith and morals. The Church teaches that she has not because she cannot. The Church teaches Seven Sacraments. Episcopalians do not (again, individual opinions among Episcopalians is as it may be). There are differences in the Canon of Holy Scripture. There are differences in the nature of ordained offices. One could go on much further.

Finally, and perhaps the biggest difference: To be a Catholic is to be in communion with a Bishop who is in communion with the successor to St. Peter. Episcopalians are not. They are Protestants, and this is demonstrated by the fact that every sovereign of England, who is head of the Church of England, swears on succession that he/she is a Protestant, and will uphold Protestantism.

The group of Anglicans (some of whom had once been Episcopalian Anglicans) who came to Rome seeking reunion, have acknowledged that these (and other) differences were real, renounced them, and signed as believing the teachings found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Blessings,

Gerry
 
It’s sometimes even difficult to say for sure that Episcopalians are specifically Christian. The very large Episcopal Church in my area has a real Jewish Rabbi on staff as well as a Vicar.
 
gurney,

You seem to give the impression that the differences revolve mostly around popes and sex. It goes a bit beyond that! Not that anything ON the list is wrong, but your post comes off rather singularly focused. I may or may not be way off, but its food for thought anyways…
 
hmm…I sense some animosity (?)
I guess I didn’t realize how different the two really are!
sorry if i offended anyone of either denomination :o
 
Much of what the Episcopal Church has done to become un-Christian and distance itself from any semblance of orthodoxy (small o) is related to sex. Surely you have followed it, right? Gene Robinson, Schiori’s views, the Anaheim Convention this past year that declared openly-gay, lesbian, transgenders can be priests and bishops in good standing, etc. Didn’t you observe these events? Go to Virtueonline and read about pansexuality. David Virtue lays it out great. Sexuality is not small thing, Manual. We are by nature sexual beings. To re-write the book on sexuality is dangerous.

Take note that I also mentioned that they have, in a most reckless and evil manner, made it a point to look at all religions as having a salvific final destination, that Christ is “a way” not “the way.” That was in my post along with abortion. I think you missed those two crucial points. I also mentioned their belief that God is female. Did you miss that as well? I also mentioned the lawsuit litigation-lust they have, another point you might have missed. Sex is a major part of their disfunction and evil but…that ain’t all!

Thanks for your observations, but trust me, if I were to enumerate the vast array of evil theological points, immoral views, insane polity, etc. I would run out of room…
manualman said:
gurney,

You seem to give the impression that the differences revolve mostly around popes and sex. It goes a bit beyond that! Not that anything ON the list is wrong, but your post comes off rather singularly focused. I may or may not be way off, but its food for thought anyways…
Click to expand...
 
Gerry_Hunter said:
The differences are many. For example, the Catholic Church sets out, among her teachings, the attributes of the Church herself, and the Sacraments. The Episcopal church rejects most of these teachings. (It is pointless to note that there is a variance of opinion among Episcopalians. That has nothing to do with teachings.) Episcopalians, as Anglicans, hold that the Church has erred in her teachings on faith and morals. The Church teaches that she has not because she cannot. The Church teaches Seven Sacraments. Episcopalians do not (again, individual opinions among Episcopalians is as it may be). There are differences in the Canon of Holy Scripture. There are differences in the nature of ordained offices. One could go on much further.

Finally, and perhaps the biggest difference: To be a Catholic is to be in communion with a Bishop who is in communion with the successor to St. Peter. Episcopalians are not. They are Protestants, and this is demonstrated by the fact that every sovereign of England, who is head of the Church of England, swears on succession that he/she is a Protestant, and will uphold Protestantism.

The group of Anglicans (some of whom had once been Episcopalian Anglicans) who came to Rome seeking reunion, have acknowledged that these (and other) differences were real, renounced them, and signed as believing the teachings found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Blessings,

Gerry
Click to expand...
But let us note, in passing, that Episcopalians are not members of the Church of England.

GKC
 
I am one that holds similar beliefs in many areas of theology, sacraments and morals to the RC church. Manualman is generally correct about the wide latitudes of belief in the Anglican world. Generally missing in the US is the evangelical branch that one finds in England, Australia, Ireland, and Scotland. Here most churches are broad church, with a few Anglo-Catholic parishes. I am Anglo-Catholic, but in a traditional, albeit broad church.
manualman said:
Well functionally, both are made up of human beings, so you can’t really say that any two out of the whole bunch actually believe precisely the same beliefs. Humans are notoriously sloppy intellectually, you know. 😃

That said, the Episcopal Church no longer seems to believe that God established any sort of protected Magisterium that infallibly protects the truths of Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. Many individual Anglicans and Episcopalians do hold virtually the same beliefs as catholicism, but the structure of their church itself suggests that each person is free to interpret Scripture and Tradition in the manner he/she sees fit. And so people widely take them up on it and embrace all sorts of weird stuff. And who is to say they are wrong?

As I mentioned first, catholicism has much the same problem except that we have a framework and an authority that those of genuine good will can go to to learn to tell truth from error (at least in regards to revelation).
Click to expand...
 
I have been blessed to worship at one of the last remaining orthodox Episcopal parishes, and I can assure the OP and any other readers that the thing said here are tragically true. Things are worse in the Episcopal Church than are generally known. In my opinon, the pushing of agendas seems to outway all other emphases. Good is called evil, and evil good. No offense is meant to anyone by these words, but I can’t think of another way to put it.

But to answer the original question, the place where I’m at would probably seem 90-95% oldschool Catholic to you in terms of practice. Very High Church, lots of reverence, belief in Real Presence, kneeling at the altar for Communion, etc. We even oppose abortion - a shocking statement from an Episcopal church. The other Anglican options where I live are basically evangelical/emergent church plants, so we can either hold out as long as possible or put “Rome” in our Mapquest. It’s tough to be an Anglo-Catholic or a “sorta Catholic” Protestant these days…our time seems to have ended, but a few parishes never got the memo. We covet your prayers!
 
blazerdave said:
I have been blessed to worship at one of the last remaining orthodox Episcopal parishes, and I can assure the OP and any other readers that the thing said here are tragically true. Things are worse in the Episcopal Church than are generally known. In my opinon, the pushing of agendas seems to outway all other emphases. Good is called evil, and evil good. No offense is meant to anyone by these words, but I can’t think of another way to put it.

But to answer the original question, the place where I’m at would probably seem 90-95% oldschool Catholic to you in terms of practice. Very High Church, lots of reverence, belief in Real Presence, kneeling at the altar for Communion, etc. We even oppose abortion - a shocking statement from an Episcopal church. The other Anglican options where I live are basically evangelical/emergent church plants, so we can either hold out as long as possible or put “Rome” in our Mapquest. It’s tough to be an Anglo-Catholic or a “sorta Catholic” Protestant these days…our time seems to have ended, but a few parishes never got the memo. We covet your prayers!
Click to expand...
Good luck to you.

GKC

posterus traditus Anglicanus, Anglicanus-Catholicus
 
Much of what the Episcopal Church has done to become un-Christian and distance itself from any semblance of orthodoxy (small o) is related to sex. Surely you have followed it, right? Gene Robinson, Schiori’s views, the Anaheim Convention this past year that declared openly-gay, lesbian, transgenders can be priests and bishops in good standing, etc. Didn’t you observe these events? Go to Virtueonline and read about pansexuality.
Click to expand...
I had heard a little about this…but I assumed (naively?) that this sexual opneness (gay preists) was somewhat sheltered and not genral in all episcopalian churches.

I’m not catholic yet, but i’m conservative protestant and - while i would never openly gay-bash - would never attend a church where the presit was openly gay/lesbian. Its “an abomination to the Lord”. God loves everyone, but he hates sin, and would never want Christians to accept it so openly in their chruches…at least in my opinion.
 
beegirl said:
I had heard a little about this…but I assumed (naively?) that this sexual opneness (gay preists) was somewhat sheltered and not genral in all episcopalian churches.

I’m not catholic yet, but i’m conservative protestant and - while i would never openly gay-bash - would never attend a church where the presit was openly gay/lesbian. Its “an abomination to the Lord”. God loves everyone, but he hates sin, and would never want Christians to accept it so openly in their chruches…at least in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Which is why I said, originally, that it depends on which Episcopalians you are thinking of. Officially, and increasingly percentage-wise, Episcopalians are accepting of same-sex relationships as equally valid with heterosexual ones, in laity and in clergy. Not all Episcopalians, but many.

GKC
 
You have to make sure that you agree with the theology of the Catholic Church thoroughly before signing up. Have you considered conservative Anglican parishes? Make sure you agree with, as GKC calls them, the “particulars” of the catechism of the Church before making a commitment.
beegirl said:
I had heard a little about this…but I assumed (naively?) that this sexual opneness (gay preists) was somewhat sheltered and not genral in all episcopalian churches.

I’m not catholic yet, but i’m conservative protestant and - while i would never openly gay-bash - would never attend a church where the presit was openly gay/lesbian. Its “an abomination to the Lord”. God loves everyone, but he hates sin, and would never want Christians to accept it so openly in their chruches…at least in my opinion.
Click to expand...
 
GKC said:
Good luck to you.

GKC
Click to expand...
Many thanks, sir. And might I add that you and Gurney have the coolest usernames that I have seen thusfar 👍
beegirl said:
I had heard a little about this…but I assumed (naively?) that this sexual opneness (gay preists) was somewhat sheltered and not genral in all episcopalian churches.

I’m not catholic yet, but i’m conservative protestant and - while i would never openly gay-bash - would never attend a church where the presit was openly gay/lesbian. Its “an abomination to the Lord”. God loves everyone, but he hates sin, and would never want Christians to accept it so openly in their chruches…at least in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Agree, agree, and agree. Did I mention that I agree? The openness isn’t everywhere, but it’s certainly growing at an accelerating pace. It’s usually accompanied by an open disdain for those who oppose it. And if all the theologically orthodox leave our ranks, it will be everywhere within just a few years. :mad:
 
Thanks, Blazer. GKC and I are pretty cool dudes :cool: LOL…just kidding. Are you a Dune fan? 🙂
blazerdave said:
Many thanks, sir. And might I add that you and Gurney have the coolest usernames that I have seen thusfar 👍

Agree, agree, and agree. Did I mention that I agree? The openness isn’t everywhere, but it’s certainly growing at an accelerating pace. It’s usually accompanied by an open disdain for those who oppose it. And if all the theologically orthodox leave our ranks, it will be everywhere within just a few years. :mad:
Click to expand...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top