Episcopalians Compared to Catholics?

[mercygate]

I think that you need to be careful with generalizations in categorizing “Anglican teaching”. The Anglican Communion and the various offshoots from that Communion are not a confessional church but, rather, a liturgical church based on the liturgy of the BCP. My guess is that the teachings of the particular branch of Anglicanism to which I used to belong (conservative evangelical Episcopal) might differ from both what you are used to and what Mercygate is used to. All three though can lay claim to being Anglican based on the BCP and other aspects of the Church.

This is absolutely true. Basically, Anglicans may believe anything not specifically denied by Scripture – or anything interpreted in a way that can be reconciled with Scripture (Mary’s perpetual virginity, the Assumption, Purgatory).

Old Episcopalian response to the statement in the 39 Articles that “The Romish doctrine of Purgatory” is “repugnant to the Word of God.” Of COURSE the “Romish” doctrine of Purgatory is repugnant to the Word of God, but the ANGLICAN doctrine of Purgatory is perfectly acceptable!

 

[GKC]

Missalison, for what it’s worth, you might consider checking out the 39 articles of the Episcopal faith to see where they differ from your beliefs as a Catholic. Although the Episcopal church may have become so latitudnal that it does not require their communicants to believe those articles, it might give you some clues as to doctrinal differences (or at least POTENTIAL differences).

I THINK even the newer Book of Common Prayer has the 39 articles printed in it. They are also online here:

anglicansonline.org/basics/thirty-nine_articles.html

No one is required to affirm the Articles, anywhere in the wide and whacky world of Anglcanism, outside ot the ordinands of the Church of England, due to the erastian nature of the CoE. Many Anglicans affirm them, many affirm some (and so would many RCs), and some cut them from the back of the BCP, and burn them to kindle the new fire at Easter.

The 1979 book places them in a section for historical stuff, which is quite accurate. They represent how Elizabeth I chose to govern her fractious Church.

On everything I’ve seen him post, mercygate is quite accurate on Anglicans. Which is not surprising.

GKC

Anglicanus Catholicus

 

[GKC]

God bless, keep, preserve and protect any such folks in their dilligent efforts to be God-pleasing, GKC.

But, God love you, and I certainly do enjoy your witty repartee and firmly convicted arguments, I cannot commend any soul, in good faith as a Catholic, to proceed with pursuit of valid but illicit(according to Augustinian thinking) sacraments from those in the Anglican fold.

Your constant appeal to “well they could be… at least here and here’s why…” is laudible, but way to much of an excercise in private judgement and personal hope than I can wish on anyone. “I feel pretty confident that this is valid and right, at least among this particular party because…”

I admire your persistence in demonstrating or attempting to demonstrate a praxis or non-Papal Catholocism in an Anglican context, but where the rubber meets the road, I am left to ask simply this: How many litmus tests must a given ecclesial community pass, and by whose authority and reckoning would these litmus tests be offered, and by whose authority and reckoning could they be said to pass or not pass these tests?

I have noticed more than once that you proclaim your faith to be that of Anglicanism while making it clear you are not in TEC. This always begs the question in my mind, WHICH are the “Catholic” Anglicans, and how do we know?

I cannot reasonably or comfortably commend any searching soul to do his or her best to find a “Catholic-enough” expression of Anglicanism.

Of course I must confess this much bias - I rather enjoy what you write, and, if I had my druthers, would rather see you “pope-up and swim” already.

We could certainly use you.

Many blessings,

ASimpleSinner

No time for a reasoned reply, I’m up to this part of the anatomy in that sort of stuff.

But many thanks for the kind comments and wishes. To find the Catholic Anglicans, check for hairspray above the collar, and below the miter. If found, leave immediately. If this test is passed, one can proceed to more detailed analysis.

Pax tecum, frater.

GKC

posterus traditus Anglicanus

 

[mercygate]

Thanks, thommie, for that link. I guess what I am understanding here is that there is a big disparity in the Episcopal church itself, although there are some establishing theological documents.

Are most of you who were raised in the Episcopal church upset by the changes that took place during the 60s, 70s, etc?

Not at all. Those who were well grounded in their faith were “upset” because the changes violated the faith they had learned, knew and loved. So they left the Episcopal Church, which has lost two thirds of its membership in the past 30 years.

Many are now on this side of the Tiber, and there is a Vatican approved Anglican Use liturgy (implemented by Cardinal Ratzinger) based on the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. Google Our Lady of the Atonement Church in San Antonio (I think) Texas. It is an Anglican Use Catholic parish in full communion with Rome.

I assumed that these changes were made because members of the church wanted them. Why did they happen if they alienated many constituents?

Long story for another thread. Short answer: the Episcopal Church is organized along federal lines rather than monarchical ones, so “majority rules.”

My boyfriend and I are 23 so we were born after these changes. Since we are going to get married, I am thinking about our religious differences, etc.

SMART kids! Take care of it now. You have no IDEA how much stress this can cause in a marriage. What may not seem important now, can assume COSMIC proportions when children are involved.