Why would you NOT want to be Anglican?

[jmcrae]

…] I sometimes find it incredibly difficult to comprehend how you can live with some of your religious laws …]

It’s not actually that bad. As an individual, not every law applies to me - I only have to follow the ones that apply to me. They are also not very hard, and they are things I most likely would have been doing anyway - the only difference is that, now, I have a pre-made schedule of when and where to do them, and guidelines to follow, to make them work.

 

[mschrank]

What religious laws? Going to Mass on Sundays?

 

[lizaanne]

Honestly…I do not see how anyone…ever, could be duped into becoming Anglican…and I don’t understand how those raised Anglican do not convert to Catholicism…The whole existence of Anglicanism/Episcopalians is rooted in a Syphyllis infested, sex craved, self serving, hedonistic, overweight, control freak known as Henry VIII…a man once known as the Fidei Defensor, who quickly abandoned the Pope and the Church when he was not released from his sacramental vows to his wife. Why would anyone on God’s green earth follow such an obviously man made religion when they know the whole story.

:clapping: :clapping: :clapping: :clapping: :clapping:

Very well said!

~Liza

 

[dixieagle]

I can’t argue against you saying it was founded by a man (with charector floors)… but I really am getting quite hurt/upset/disgusted with the whole flaming of the Anglicans. I know this is a Catholic board and I did want to hear your opinions, but to be honest I expected them to be a bit more civil. I won’t flame you on your own faith, because I do respect it (despite the fact I sometimes find it incredibly difficult to comprehend how you can live with some of your religious laws). But whatever happened to religious tolerence.

Your religions may be perfect, but is your faith and comprehension perfect within it?

Rita (love that name…my late mom’s…)

If you ask devoted Catholics what they feel about another denomination…you’re going to get a lot of pro-Catholic answers! We believe that the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church really does have the fullness of truth. The simple fact that the Anglican Church was founded by a corrupt, dissolute, disobedient king doesn’t do much to recommend it, frankly. Add to that the recent “ordinations” of women, practicing gays, etc., and there you have it!

There’s a lot of the “trappings” of Catholicism, but little of the substance. (“All sizzle and no steak”, as they say where I live.)

Lots of good music and singing, though!

God bless.

 

[CapIV]

Because the Anglican communion is a completely phony and completely human concoction that does not contain valid sacraments and does not even hold a candle to the Catholic Church when it comes to the pursuit of Truth.

I don’t want anybody to think I am flaming. But this is basically how it is.

 

[mschrank]

…and their Latin to English translations, in the “High” variant are better. I always kind of do an internal laugh when I hear “speak the word only and I shall be healed”… the Latin says “sanibitur anima mea”. Do they think Novus Ordo Catholics like myself do not know what a soul is?

Still not a good reason to be a Protestant though.

 

[Rita88]

If you ask devoted Catholics what they feel about another denomination…you’re going to get a lot of pro-Catholic answers!
.

Hmmm… as I said, I don’t mind the pro-catholic answers, I just don’t think some of the insulting, anti-Anglican answers are justifiable.

Lol… hmmm… oh when I become an vicar!

 

[manualman]

I can’t argue against you saying it was founded by a man (with charector floors)… but I really am getting quite hurt/upset/disgusted with the whole flaming of the Anglicans. I know this is a Catholic board and I did want to hear your opinions, but to be honest I expected them to be a bit more civil. I won’t flame you on your own faith, because I do respect it (despite the fact I sometimes find it incredibly difficult to comprehend how you can live with some of your religious laws). But whatever happened to religious tolerence.

Your religions may be perfect, but is your faith and comprehension perfect within it?

So sorry you’ve received so many condescending answers! It IS possible to be clear, even blunt without being rude.

I’m not Anglican because I don’t believe in the principles that Anglicanism holds where they differ from Catholicism. I believe Jesus really did give Peter a special mission to be the apostle that brings unity to his fellow apostles and bishops. Anglicanism repudiates that authority (it’s one of a VERY few things that Anglicans all truly agree upon!). Even if all Anglicans were more like the Oxford anglo-catholic variety instead of the Jeffers-shori type, I’d still believe that Gods wills all believers to be united in the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church he instituted.

 

[Lhhs]

Because it’s not Catholic

 

[mschrank]

Hmmm… as I said, I don’t mind the pro-catholic answers, I just don’t think some of the insulting, anti-Anglican answers are justifiable.

Lol… hmmm… oh when I become an vicar!

At least be funny, like Dawn French if you do.

 

[markadm]

Because I was and Anglican and realised the Anglican conception of my faith was not the same as my “fathers”. I wanted the “faith of our fathers”. I wanted Truth and faith, unadulterated.

And, as an aside, I particularly wanted to be in communion with the Holy See.

 

[Kevirish01]

Rita - Peace be with you.

Rita, I agree with you about some ahem! of the comments on this thread.

Some folks are trying to be cute – like the comment about Bp. Spong (which I thought was hilarious) – alas, sometimes it comes across in a very bad way. In such cases I apologize to you on behalf of the Church (uh, Catholic Church). We have our own Bp. Spongs – sadly.

For me – I would rather be Catholic. Why? Because as one poster alluded – it is the fullness of Truth in Jesus Christ. This is **not **saying the Anglican Church does not have *any *truth. On the contrary, the Catholic Church does indeed teach that those ecclesial communities which arose from the reformation **do have **some of that Truth. (See the Catechism of the Catholic Church #823, right in there)

Now, having said all of that – let’s go to liturgy.

There are *many *Anglicans who have such a hard time leaving their Church for the fullness of Truth because of bad worship in the Catholic Church (let’s not pussyfoot around here – take one look at the liturgy thread and you will see that we have some work to do in this dept. – and Benedict is making fine strides correcting the problems). Certainly, this is not saying that there are bad liturgies in the Anglican Church – it is there as well.

However, I really feel for those high church Anglicans who worship the Lord in such devout and reverent ways. It is a tough - tough call which I would not want to make if I were a life-long Anglican worshiping in such wonderful ways.

Ultimately though it comes down to the Truth and correct Holy Orders (you might want to check out Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical Apostalicae Curae[sp] about the validity of Anglican Holy Orders).

Peace to you Rita!

 

[jmcrae]

Hmmm… as I said, I don’t mind the pro-catholic answers, I just don’t think some of the insulting, anti-Anglican answers are justifiable.

Lol… hmmm… oh when I become an vicar!

The first thing you will discover when you become a Vicar is who is really in charge of the Church - the Moms.

(Closely followed, of course, by the caretaker and the secretary, in that order.)

 

[lizaanne]

I can’t argue against you saying it was founded by a man (with charector floors)…

Why would YOU want to believe in a man made religion?

…but I really am getting quite hurt/upset/disgusted with the whole flaming of the Anglicans. I know this is a Catholic board and I did want to hear your opinions, but to be honest I expected them to be a bit more civil.

What flaming have we done? You came to a Catholic site asking us why we would not follow your religion. I think we have all given you honest answers and no one has attacked you personally.

I won’t flame you on your own faith, because I do respect it (despite the fact I sometimes find it incredibly difficult to comprehend how you can live with some of your religious laws).

What religious laws are you referring to? The only laws we have are God’s laws. The Catholic Church did not just make stuff up - it was passed to us from Christ through His Apostles.

But whatever happened to religious tolerence.

I’ve said it on other threads and I’ll say it again. I will not tolerate or respect error. I can have the utmost respect for you as a person, but I do not tolerate anything that leads people away from the fullness of Truth in Christ’s One True Faith - the Catholic Church. Political correctness is not my bag - sorry.

Your religions may be perfect, but is your faith and comprehension perfect within it?

The Holy Catholic Church is the Church founded by Jesus Christ. She is the Bride of Christ. So yes - she absolutely is perfect.

~Liza

 

[THutch04]

I was really happy as an Anglican, but it didn’t have the unity that I knew the Church needed. Probably one of the hardest decisions I ever made, but I knew it had to be done.

 

[scylla]

It is not the intent of any Catholics to offend you Rita.

Unfortunately we cannot compromise on truth and need to condemn any insult to Christ and His truth. This has nothing to do with Anglicans as people, but the faith system. Separate yourself from identifying yourself as the system and identify yourself as a follower of Christ. This then means that we love you as a follower of Christ but will not give any respect to the faith system which is Anglicanism.
I can appreciate some of the beautiful ways some Anglicans express their faith, many times much more beautiful than those of us Catholics who have the more liberal dissenting Bishops. This just shows that there are very good people and not so good people in our faith systems.

God Bless
Scylla

 

[MomaMary8]

Its taken me almost all day, but I think I finally understand why this question is so perposterous to me. The question is asked as if we have a choice about our belief in God. As if we can CHOOSE what is true! How Odd!

BUT, this is very similar to a discussion that I had with my episcopalian priest-ess sister in law. She really feels as if there are many ways to worship God and we should choose what type fits us best! For her, as well, all the “rules” are too much to handle. Its a funny view of God and Faith, that you can choose your beliefs about God.

Walking away from the Catholic Faith would be walking away from God. He gave us His Church to help us learn about Him and to make our way into Heaven. Turning my back on His Church would be turning my back on Him. That is not an option.

 

[palmas85]

This has got to be one of the sillier questions ever posed on this forum. Why would I not want to be Anglican? Well, its not Catholic for one, it is entirely man made for another and was founded for the some of the basest and quite frankly almost obscene reasons I can think of.

The real question should be why would anybody want to be Anglican.

 

[bpbasilphx]

I was an Anglican before I became Orthodox, but I discovered the Episcopal Church was not the church I thought I was joining.

When James Pike lost his faith, he had the grace and integrity to resign his rank as bishop.

John Spong didn’t, but remained in office until his retirement.

Frankly, I got tired of waiting for TIME magazine to come out before I learned what the current teaching of the church was.

 

[GKC]

Honestly…I do not see how anyone…ever, could be duped into becoming Anglican…and I don’t understand how those raised Anglican do not convert to Catholicism…The whole existence of Anglicanism/Episcopalians is rooted in a Syphyllis infested, sex craved, self serving, hedonistic, overweight, control freak known as Henry VIII…a man once known as the Fidei Defensor, who quickly abandoned the Pope and the Church when he was not released from his sacramental vows to his wife. Why would anyone on God’s green earth follow such an obviously man made religion when they know the whole story.

I do know the whole story. It’s one of my hobbies.

For example, why did Henry receive the *Defensor Fidei * (n.b.)title? No, I mean the whole story.

What was Henry’s stated causa, when he petitioned for a decree of nullity with respect to his marriage to Catherine? Under what general class of impediments would this have fallen? Was there a yet stronger argument, in the original dispensation? And was any of this at all unusal in the time period?

Knowing the whole story doesn’t usually require waving cardboard cutouts.

GKC

Anglicanus Catholicus