Anglicanism vs Catholicism

[Saint Dominicus]

Hi there,
so this may be a rather long winded one but I'm returning to religion/new to religion. I was raised with a diluted form of anglicanism essentially. So I've been wanting to get back into the church however the more I read, the more I feel the C of E itself has been diluted and is coming away from the scriptures.

I've been reading about high-church anglicanism and anglo-catholicism, and catholicism itself. I understand the whole via media approach kept alot of the old traditions and movements such as the oxford movement has had influences; but for there to still be distinct differences between two churches and multiple groups within the anglican church.

If people would kindly offer some insight and explain some of the key differences that would be fantastic.

 

[VincentIII]

Here is a basic comparison: Anglican vs Catholic - Difference Between

 

[Albion]

Here is a basic comparison: Anglican vs Catholic - Difference Between

I cannot tell for certain what the orientation of that website is, but unfortunately there isn't much in it that addresses the various parties within Anglicanism such as Anglo-Catholicism, Biblical Anglicanism, High Church, Low Church, etc.

And then there are the Anglican church bodies in the UK which are independent of the CofE.

In some respects, the differences between various of these may not matter much, but in others, it could be important.

Perhaps we need more information than was given in the original post.

 

[Julian of Norwich]

This, from the above article, shows a major difference to me especially with the interest of many Anglicans in the EO:

• One of the crucial tendencies of the Anglican Church was a tendency to restore the faith of the early Christian Church. Anglicans are famous for being consecutive seekers of reformation of Christianity. The Roman Catholic Church, on the other hand, is rather counter-reformation, as the authorities of the Catholic Church adhere to the mediaeval concept of the authority of the Pope.

 

[Saint Dominicus]

Thanks for the reply’s

 

[Red Gold]

Anglicanism vs Catholicism

I think both are very close, aren't they?

 

[seeking.IAM]

Anglicanism vs Catholicism

I think both are very close, aren't they?

It depends upon where you look. I would say they are quite similar in some places, less so in others. There is variance in how Anglicanism looks and is lived.

 

[Albion]

Anglicanism vs Catholicism

I think both are very close, aren't they?

With the exception of the Eastern Christian churches and the possible exception of the Old Catholic churches in Europe, it's probably safe to say that the Anglican churches are closer to the Roman Catholic Church than any other, yes.

 

[Padres1969]

With the exception of the Eastern Christian churches and the possible exception of the Old Catholic churches in Europe, it's probably safe to say that the Anglican churches are closer to the Roman Catholic Church than any other, yes.

Well yes... and no. Anglicanism is probably the most difficult branch of Christianity to nail down under one single category because of it's via media / big tent approach to the faith. There are segments of Anglicanism in the Anglo Catholic tradition that are more historical Catholic than the current Catholic church in many ways. There are subsets of Anglicanism in the low church sections of the family that wouldn't be out of place in similar comparison to Evangelical protestants in their worship. And of course doctrinally Anglicans run the gamut similarly from the beyond Catholic in their conservative interpretation of the scriptures to branches that are as nearly as progressive in their interpretation as you'd be able to find.

That said, in this core is the various BCPs that the branches hold, and yes inside that book is a faith that is probably most similar to Catholicism than any other out there beyond Orthodox and the Eastern Churches. But the BCP is usually the Anglican starting point, not the end all.

 

[Albion]

Well yes... and no. Anglicanism is probably the most difficult branch of Christianity to nail down under one single category because of it's via media / big tent approach to the faith. There are segments of Anglicanism in the Anglo Catholic tradition that are more historical Catholic than the current Catholic church in many ways. There are subsets of Anglicanism in the low church sections of the family that wouldn't be out of place in similar comparison to Evangelical protestants in their worship.

That's true, but when questions like this one arise, I think that the only reasonable answer is to point to the official positions taken by the churches...or at least to what is the norm.

Nor is that particularly strange, given that almost all other branches/denominations of the Christian religion have, among their members in good standing, a similar range of beliefs and practices.

 

[The Liturgist]

With the exception of the Eastern Christian churches and the possible exception of the Old Catholic churches in Europe, it's probably safe to say that the Anglican churches are closer to the Roman Catholic Church than any other, yes.

What about those ultra high church Lutheran bodies that identify as Evangelical Catholic, and have bishops, such as the Church of Sweden, the Lutheran Church of Finland, and the Church of Norway? (And to a lesser extent, the Church of Denmark). Those strike me as being equivalent to high church or Anglo Catholic Anglicanism, or Old Catholicism.

Also, what about Western Rite Orthodoxy? Specifically the Antiochian Western Rite Vicarate and the ROCOR Western Rite, and also the Syriac Orthodox Western Rite in Sri Lanka?

-

By the way, I absolutely love Anglicanism. I think I am technically a member of the Episcopal Church because before my friend retired, I received communion there three times, although my current work in a different denomination might invalidate that membership. I am considering rejoining however if I could arrange something with the Order of the Holy Cross to try to restart their monastery in Santa Barbara.

 

[Albion]

What about those ultra high church Lutheran bodies that identify as Evangelical Catholic, and have bishops, such as the Church of Sweden, the Lutheran Church of Finland, and the Church of Norway? (And to a lesser extent, the Church of Denmark). Those strike me as being equivalent to high church or Anglo Catholic Anglicanism, or Old Catholicism.

Could be, but I don't know enough about them to decide.

However, the comparison had been between whole denominations/communions (Anglicanism and/or Catholicism), which is different IMHO from selecting out certain factions or national churches for the comparison.

So that's just how I looked at it.

Also, what about Western Rite Orthodoxy? Specifically the Antiochian Western Rite Vicarate and the ROCOR Western Rite, and also the Syriac Orthodox Western Rite in Sri Lanka?

Well, they're still Orthodox Eastern jurisdictions, so I would say that was covered.

By the way, I absolutely love Anglicanism. I think I am technically a member of the Episcopal Church because before my friend retired, I received communion there three times, although my current work in a different denomination might invalidate that membership. I am considering rejoining however if I could arrange something with the Order of the Holy Cross to try to restart their monastery in Santa Barbara.

Very interesting.

 

[Paidiske]

What about those ultra high church Lutheran bodies that identify as Evangelical Catholic, and have bishops, such as the Church of Sweden, the Lutheran Church of Finland, and the Church of Norway? (And to a lesser extent, the Church of Denmark). Those strike me as being equivalent to high church or Anglo Catholic Anglicanism, or Old Catholicism.

Aren't they in full communion with Canterbury because of the Porvoo agreement anyway?

 

[PloverWing]

By the way, I absolutely love Anglicanism. I think I am technically a member of the Episcopal Church because before my friend retired, I received communion there three times, although my current work in a different denomination might invalidate that membership.

If you're already a member of the Episcopal Church, then Communion three times a year makes you a "communicant", a kind of "active member in good standing" status. (See Church Membership & Transfers - Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island, Membership information | All Saints Episcopal Church ) However, merely receiving Communion doesn't make you a member. There's a formal process of being recorded in a particular parish's register. It's not a difficult or lengthy process, but it is something you deliberately choose, that's then officially recorded.

You're welcome to continue receiving Communion, of course, for as long as you like, regardless of what denomination you belong to.

 

[The Liturgist]

Aren't they in full communion with Canterbury because of the Porvoo agreement anyway?

That’s my understanding, with of course the prominent exception of the Mission Provinces, which are traditionalist but high church rather than Sydney-style.

 

[The Liturgist]

If you're already a member of the Episcopal Church, then Communion three times a year makes you a "communicant", a kind of "active member in good standing" status. (See Church Membership & Transfers - Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island, Membership information | All Saints Episcopal Church ) However, merely receiving Communion doesn't make you a member. There's a formal process of being recorded in a particular parish's register. It's not a difficult or lengthy process, but it is something you deliberately choose, that's then officially recorded.

You're welcome to continue receiving Communion, of course, for as long as you like, regardless of what denomination you belong to.

they sort of told me after I had my third communion there that I was a member...it may have been irregular but I did not object, because the priest was my friend. However that would mean I am no longer a communicant, since I havent been there since my friend retired.

 

[Paidiske]

That’s my understanding, with of course the prominent exception of the Mission Provinces, which are traditionalist but high church rather than Sydney-style.

Mission Provinces?

they sort of told me after I had my third communion there that I was a member...it may have been irregular but I did not object, because the priest was my friend. However that would mean I am no longer a communicant, since I havent been there since my friend retired.

They may have meant, we've seen you around enough now to consider that you're part of our community. But formal membership requires more than that.

 

[The Liturgist]

Mission Provinces?

These are traditionalist groups which have not formally separated from the Church of Sweden or the Church of Norway. But they are high church traditionalist, not low church or evangelical. So it would be more like, say, the Anglican Province of Christ the King, than like the Archdiocese of Sydney.

There is also a Norwegian Catholic Church which is in communion with the Polish National Catholic Church.

They may have meant, we've seen you around enough now to consider that you're part of our community. But formal membership requires more than that.

Well, I spoke with my friend the retired priest earlier and he recalls that I was put on the membership register at my request, which I have no recollection of, so I guess I’ll have to call and ask them.

 

[seeking.IAM]

...They may have meant, we've seen you around enough now to consider that you're part of our community. But formal membership requires more than that.

As a convert from Methodism to the Episcopal Church, the latter's membership requirements always seems unclear to me. So, I am curious about your statement, "membership requires more than that."

I attended, communed, and gave sporadically for a few years before becoming confirmed. Years prior to confirmation, I remember one Sunday being told where I could pick up my information to vote in the annual meeting (eligible only to members). That was the first I realized they considered me a member before I did. I was never quite sure how I got that standing. I had never done any sort of letter of transfer from my UMC or even had a conversation with my Rector about membership. So, how does it happen? Is it common that one becomes a member without knowing it?

 

[Paidiske]

These are traditionalist groups which have not formally separated from the Church of Sweden or the Church of Norway. But they are high church traditionalist, not low church or evangelical. So it would be more like, say, the Anglican Province of Christ the King, than like the Archdiocese of Sydney.

Except that the Province of Christ the King is not in communion Canterbury, and you are saying that these groups are still in communion with their founding bodies. Perhaps more like SSPX?

A lot of Anglican churches maintain two lists of "members." One is those people who broadly fall under your pastoral umbrella. Visiting three times and showing an interest would be enough to get you on that list. But the other is those who have voting rights, can stand for governing bodies, etc., and for that there's a more formal process.