The Episcopal Church, the American province of the Anglican Communion (though our present Presiding Bishop seems bent on redefining us as an international, self-standing denomination), is on the whole more liberal than other parts of the Anglican Communion, and certainly more liberal than other American churches which call themselves Anglican (which have separated from us precisely because they think we are too liberal). It is also on the whole one of the more “Catholic” provinces, largely because if you are a low-church Protestant in America you have lots of other choices. So whereas many Anglicans worldwide (and the breakaway “Anglican Church in North America” here) would be best described as similar to other evangelicals but more liturgical, Episcopalians as a whole could be described as “like Catholics but more liberal.” (These are huge generalizations, of course.)
You asked this question twice.
Not all provinces of the worldwide Communion do, no, but on the whole the practice is spreading. Among the groups that have split away in the U.S., the “Continuing Anglicans” (represented here by the poster GKC) decidedly do not, and the more recent “ACNA” is divided on the issue.
I don’t think any Episcopalians, and probably few if any Anglicans, would object to ordaining
celibate gay clergy. If you mean clergy who are openly in gay relationships, the Episcopal Church as a whole does not forbid this, and probably (though I’m not sure about that) most dioceses do it. My own does not ordain people who are not either celibate or married (defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman).
Anglicans generally reject the IC and the Assumption. The more Catholic Anglicans accept the perpetual virginity, at least as a pious opinion worthy of respect. But there is no binding teaching on the subject (we have only minimal binding teaching).
No one has ever tried to stop me from doing so privately. Only a very few Episcopal churches would do so publicly as a congregation (the parish where I was confirmed did so; the two others I’ve attended regularly, and most of the ones I’ve visited, did not).
Yes (obviously a “yes” to the second implies a yes to the first, but I also pray the Angelus and typically say a Hail Mary when I encounter a statue of Our Lady). Not very regularly, mind you.
Anglicans celebrate saints’ days, if that’s what you are asking.
I have trouble getting my head around the word “literal” in this context. Heaven and hell are apocalyptic realities that lie beyond the bounds of our current experience. I don’t see how any language about them can possibly be “literal.” But if you mean “real and not just a metaphor,” then yes. I believe in such a heaven and hell, and the language of the Prayer Book clearly implies such a belief. However, Episcopalians tend not to talk much about hell, and many are universalists or annihilationists. Many more, including myself, more or less, are “hopeful universalists” who think it possible that all will be saved while believing in the real possibility of eternal damnation.
The Episcopal Church as a whole has no objection to birth control, does not take an official stance on gay marriage but tends to support gay rights in general and has recently allowed for the celebration of gay unions without calling them marriages; and has no clear position on abortion but again tends to be “pro-choice” in its public lobbying activities. The dean of one Episcopal seminary called abortion a “blessing” a few years ago
. My own bishop has no stance on birth control that I know of but does not allow his clergy to celebrate gay unions and is opposed to abortion.
As for myself, I accept Catholic teaching. And before you ask, yes I intend to follow through on this conviction shortly (I am about to move to Kentucky and the local Catholic priest advised me to wait and go through the process there–I’m happy to do this because I love my local parish, as I have loved every Episcopal parish I’ve been part of).
Edwin
