Peter leading the Church in Rome?

[DanHere]

Durring a conversation with a Protestant inlaw last week, he said that the Anglican Church was NOT the closest denomination to Catholicism, going on to list how others were closer in liturgy, etc. I began to list the reasons I though they were the closest; at least belief in CONsubstantiation, acknowledging and attempting to maintain apostolic successionn, etc. At that point he stopped me and pretty much stumped me.

He isn’t one who disputes that Peter was ever in Rome or that prrimacy would stem frrom Peter. He only disputes that there is any evidence that Peter ever lead the Church from Rome. At the time I gave what weak evidence I could think of, but I’d like to provide him with more.

Before you answerr, I should point out that he minored in historry in college and is definitely NOT ignorant of the Fathers of the Church and other ancient writings.

I’m sorry for the long preamble, but all that said, would you please direct me to the best sources to answer such an argument. I’ve answwered the “Peter was never in Rome” one many times successfully.

Thank you for all you do!

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

The fact that we don’t have a lot of evidence about what he did in Rome, doesn’t remove the evidence that he was the leader of the early Church. For more on this, see:

Peter, Apostle, Saint

By the way, we do not hold to the consubstantiation which is what Lutherans believe. In consubstantiation the Lord is somehow present next to the bread and the wine. But the bread and the wine remain bread and wine. We hold to TRANsubstantiation whereby the bread and wine actually change into the body and blood of Christ—which is what Scripture tells us.

Anglicans do not have a stated Eucharist theology. Some believe that somehow the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ, while others believe that the sacrament is only a symbol. While Anglicans in good standing are allowed to hold either of these contradicting understandings, both cannot be true!

Most resemblances between the Anglican and Catholic Churches are superficial.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.