Two problems.
“Anglicans” no longer is applicable to all who hide under that banner. Within Anglicanism are splinters upon splinters that truly examplifies Protestanism! Listening to a number of Anglicans discuss matters about Anglicanism and what is held to be truth is like listening to any other group of Reformers ‘arguing’ with Catholics about The Real Presence.
Your adherence to your views of Anglicans, mrgfin, is understandable, given that you lump them all under the same banner. I was of the same view until recently.
GKC, feel free to correct me but I am now told that I must be specific as to which “Anglican branch” I reference when discussing any issues. Apparently, If I adopt the view that there are ‘Baptist’ Anglicans, ‘Methodist’ Anglicans, 'Evangelical, AoG and even “Mormon” Anglicans, then I would have a better grasp of “which Anglican” I may be debating / discussing with.
Perhaps this is what mrgfin misses, I don’t know.
Predominantly, my own view was that when the Anglican church split from Rome, it still contained ALL of what Rome held to and had taught, since the split was by the country’s monarch rather than dissention to doctrine as the Reformers. Of course, that means that SOME of those ‘things they originally possessed’ must still be in evidence, including adherence to The Real Presence, Marian Adoration etc…
You know of course GKC that the validity of administration is a big issue. Even if the flock BELIEVE in The Real Presence, heart and soul, when partaking in (Anglican) Holy Communion, a biscuit would be more beneficial if the “ordained” is invalid.
I note also that you have worked and continue to work on our differences towards ‘unity.’ In this case, I hold with mrgfin’s ‘methodical approach’ of sticking to facts! However broad or generalised it sounds, it is correct that the subject matter he is addressing, are still under a different umbrella. If you say his views are too broad, get a bigger umbrella, but it would still be different.
I, as he does, see a very easy simple solution! If you hold to all or almost all that The Church holds to, why isn’t the Tiber crowded with excited English folk? Because the real issues are human emotions; not about Truth.
Many Anglicans stand alongside Catholics at anti-abortion rallies; world peace; rights of human individuals, etc… But so too Muslims, Hindus, Buddhist, Atheists or just curious!
- I think there is also a Catholic ‘understanding’ which is obscured somewhat by the “outside The Church, there is no salvation” brigade that is actually reinforced by this same statement. If you remain outside The Church, that is, without submission To His Vicar, even through pain of death or suffer the loss of blood in the name of Christ, you cannot be saved!
(I think that was either Augustine or Basil)