Do Anglicans believe in mortal sin?

merrykate · Jan 1, 2015

I was raised in the Roman Catholic Church. I no longer identify as Roman Catholic, having "church hopped" for quite awhile. However, I am very interested in Anglicanism, especially Anglo-Catholicism, as I still find that Catholic spirituality resonates with me most deeply.

However, the concept of mortal sin is my main source of contention with the Catholic Church. I understand that Anglicans typically receive the sacrament of Confession within the context of the General Confession over private confession. However, do they believe that specific sins--"mortal sins"--must be forgiven in this manner, or is confession before God alone equally sufficient?

I agree that a deeper closeness to God's grace and love comes through Confession, both general and private. For this reason, I am glad the Anglican church continues to consider Confession sacramental. However, I cannot accept the idea that God must forgive certain sins through the aid of a priest.

Thank you for any insight. God bless.

Kate

Albion · Jan 2, 2015

merrykate said:
I was raised in the Roman Catholic Church. I no longer identify as Roman Catholic, having "church hopped" for quite awhile. However, I am very interested in Anglicanism, especially Anglo-Catholicism, as I still find that Catholic spirituality resonates with me most deeply.

However, the concept of mortal sin is my main source of contention with the Catholic Church. I understand that Anglicans typically receive the sacrament of Confession within the context of the General Confession over private confession. However, do they believe that specific sins--"mortal sins"--must be forgiven in this manner

No, they don't.

or is confession before God alone equally sufficient?

Yes it is.

I agree that a deeper closeness to God's grace and love comes through Confession, both general and private. For this reason, I am glad the Anglican church continues to consider Confession sacramental.

Officially, it considers Confession NOT to be a sacrament. The historic Book of Common Prayer has no rite for Private Confession, and the rubrics indicate that such a thing is meant to be used only rarely and by those people who, having confessed their sins to God, still cannot quiet their consciences.

Many Anglicans take the position, however, that although Confession is not a sacrament of the Gospel (which would make it not a sacrament, according to the Roman Catholic Church's definition), it is to be considered a sacramental or a lesser sacrament.

Liberasit · Jan 2, 2015

merrykate said:
I was raised in the Roman Catholic Church. I no longer identify as Roman Catholic, having "church hopped" for quite awhile. However, I am very interested in Anglicanism, especially Anglo-Catholicism, as I still find that Catholic spirituality resonates with me most deeply.

However, the concept of mortal sin is my main source of contention with the Catholic Church. I understand that Anglicans typically receive the sacrament of Confession within the context of the General Confession over private confession. However, do they believe that specific sins--"mortal sins"--must be forgiven in this manner, or is confession before God alone equally sufficient?

I agree that a deeper closeness to God's grace and love comes through Confession, both general and private. For this reason, I am glad the Anglican church continues to consider Confession sacramental. However, I cannot accept the idea that God must forgive certain sins through the aid of a priest.

Thank you for any insight. God bless.

Kate

Sin is sin - separation from God. There are no levels of sin - all have the same effect of falling short of God's glory.

We confess our sins directly to God, privately, with a small number of other Christians and in church worship. We know that if we truly repent of our sins, God will forgive us. We do not consider confession to be a sacrament - only baptism and the Lord's Supper.

ebia · Jan 2, 2015

Albion said:
Officially, it considers ...

Officially what does?

Liberasit · Jan 2, 2015

ebia said:
Officially what does?

The "Anglican Church" per the question asked by the OP.

ebia · Jan 2, 2015

Liberasit said:
The "Anglican Church" per the question asked by the OP.

Which Anglican Church?

Liberasit · Jan 2, 2015

ebia said:
Which Anglican Church?

Indeed.

graceandpeace · Jan 2, 2015

merrykate said:
I was raised in the Roman Catholic Church. I no longer identify as Roman Catholic, having "church hopped" for quite awhile. However, I am very interested in Anglicanism, especially Anglo-Catholicism, as I still find that Catholic spirituality resonates with me most deeply.

However, the concept of mortal sin is my main source of contention with the Catholic Church. I understand that Anglicans typically receive the sacrament of Confession within the context of the General Confession over private confession. However, do they believe that specific sins--"mortal sins"--must be forgiven in this manner, or is confession before God alone equally sufficient?

I agree that a deeper closeness to God's grace and love comes through Confession, both general and private. For this reason, I am glad the Anglican church continues to consider Confession sacramental. However, I cannot accept the idea that God must forgive certain sins through the aid of a priest.

Thank you for any insight. God bless.

Kate

In the Episcopal Church (the U.S. province of the Anglican Communion), we do confess our sins & receive absolution during the liturgy. The priest speaks the absolution, but of course it is God who is forgiving us. Private confession - called Reconciliation of a Pentinent - is available, to those who are unable to quiet their conscience during the General Confession. A principle I've often heard repeated regarding private confession for Anglicans is "all may, none must, some should."

Reconciliation of a Pentinent is considered a sacramental rite, so it is a means of grace; however, unlike Baptism & the Eucharist, it is not necessary for all Christians. God does forgive our sins, & Anglicans to my knowledge do not make distinctions of "mortal" & "venial" sins like the RCC does.

You can read the Q&A in the Episcopal Church's catechism, found in The Online Book of Common Prayer. Just select "The Catechism" link on the left & follow the next link to access it.

PaladinValer · Jan 2, 2015

merrykate said:
I was raised in the Roman Catholic Church. I no longer identify as Roman Catholic, having "church hopped" for quite awhile. However, I am very interested in Anglicanism, especially Anglo-Catholicism, as I still find that Catholic spirituality resonates with me most deeply.

However, the concept of mortal sin is my main source of contention with the Catholic Church. I understand that Anglicans typically receive the sacrament of Confession within the context of the General Confession over private confession. However, do they believe that specific sins--"mortal sins"--must be forgiven in this manner, or is confession before God alone equally sufficient?

I agree that a deeper closeness to God's grace and love comes through Confession, both general and private. For this reason, I am glad the Anglican church continues to consider Confession sacramental. However, I cannot accept the idea that God must forgive certain sins through the aid of a priest.

Thank you for any insight. God bless.

Kate

Do we have a theology of mortal and venial sins in the exact way our Vatican Catholic brothers and sisters do? No.

Do we acknowledge that some sins are worse than others? Yes, and it is a part of our theology that, if a person feels as if the General Confession and Absolution isn't enough to allow them to receive Holy Communion due to sins, then auricular confession is suggested.

We also still excommunicate individuals.

All are welcome to go to a priest or bishop for the Sacrament of Holy Reconciliation. This is especially true for those who, rightly discerning, feel as if they shouldn't receive Holy Communion for especially severe sins. And those who have been excommunicated must. However, the actual General Confession and Absolution is a sacramental rite within the liturgy, and, insofar as sins are acknowledged, contrite of, with repentant minds and the intent to rectify and make right, then that Absolution statement by the priest or bishop is indeed God's visible reply to said confession by the penitents.

Still, I find the Sacrament of Holy Reconciliation to be quite beneficial. Who better to confide in than a priest or bishop, who can give excellent spiritual guidance and counsel? Most "big name" Protestants' pastors do it anyway, even though they don't consider it sacramental, and Lutherans certainly do this given Luther's high regard of it, so it really isn't that big a change for folks like mainstream Presbyterians, Methodists, and Baptists.

And actually, the 1662 does indeed recognize auricular confession to a priest, by the way of the Exhortation immediately following the Prayer for the Church Militant, even going so far as outright saying that it would be sure absolution, so one of the earlier replies by another poster is not at all correct, and there even is a rubric for a confession, although it is buried in the Rite of the Visitation of the Sick.

I believe all current BCP or authorized and official Prayer Books in the 38 provinces have a formal Rite for auricular confession, so it is now pretty much standard.

Liberasit · Jan 2, 2015

graceandpeace said:
In the Episcopal Church (the U.S. province of the Anglican Communion), we do confess our sins & receive absolution during the liturgy. The priest speaks the absolution, but of course it is God who is forgiving us. Private confession - called Reconciliation of a Pentinent - is available, to those who are unable to quiet their conscience during the General Confession. A principle I've often heard repeated regarding private confession for Anglicans is "all may, none must, some should."

Reconciliation of a Pentinent is considered a sacramental rite, so it is a means of grace; however, unlike Baptism & the Eucharist, it is not necessary for all Christians. God does forgive our sins, & Anglicans to my knowledge do not make distinctions of "mortal" & "venial" sins like the RCC does.

You can read the Q&A in the Episcopal Church's catechism, found in The Online Book of Common Prayer. Just select "The Catechism" link on the left & follow the next link to access it.

In the CofE, confession during the worship service is the expectation. "Private" liturgical confession would be for the unwell or infirm, ie those who are unable to get to church and participate in the general confession. It is not for those who have more to confess or are more troubled.

As a fellowship of faith, we encourage small gatherings for accountability (ie confession) and edification. This would be the place for the more burdened to unburden themselves.

The minister would be on the same level as anyone else in the fellowship and would not possess greater powers. I think it would be unusual for the minister to be part of a congregational accountability group unless part of a very specific demographic. I think they are more likely to account for one another in their chapter group.

PaladinValer · Jan 2, 2015

Liberasit said:
In the CofE, confession during the worship service is the expectation. "Private" liturgical confession would be for the unwell or infirm, ie those who are unable to get to church and participate in the general confession. It is not for those who have more to confess or are more troubled.

Not true according to Common Worship, which is official in the CoE. Namely, here: https://www.churchofengland.org/pra...ation-and-restoration-recovering-baptism.aspx

Here's a PDF of the Rites in question:https://www.churchofengland.org/media/41167/cirecon.pdf

There is absolutely nothing to substantiate your post which it says it is only for the unwell or infirm. Rather, it is very clear that the Rite of Reconciliation is based on the same Exhortation that I cited in another thread very, very recently and in this thread, thereby again affirming the official theology that I have consistently posted upon.

Liberasit · Jan 2, 2015

PaladinValer said:
Not true according to Common Worship, which is official in the CoE. Namely, here: https://www.churchofengland.org/pra...ation-and-restoration-recovering-baptism.aspx

Here's a PDF of the Rites in question:https://www.churchofengland.org/media/41167/cirecon.pdf

There is absolutely nothing to substantiate your post which it says it is only for the unwell or infirm. Rather, it is very clear that the Rite of Reconciliation is based on the same Exhortation that I cited in another thread very, very recently and in this thread, thereby again affirming the official theology that I have consistently posted upon.

Try again

PaladinValer · Jan 2, 2015

Liberasit said:
Try again

No need. The links are to official liturgies which prove your posts incorrect.

The next move is not on my side.

RileyG · Jan 2, 2015

Liberasit said:
Sin is sin - separation from God. There are no levels of sin - all have the same effect of falling short of God's glory.

We confess our sins directly to God, privately, with a small number of other Christians and in church worship. We know that if we truly repent of our sins, God will forgive us. We do not consider confession to be a sacrament - only baptism and the Lord's Supper.

What about high-church Anglicans? It was my understanding some have 7 sacraments? Forgive my ignorance.

ebia · Jan 2, 2015

RileyG said:
What about high-church Anglicans? It was my understanding some have 7 sacraments? Forgive my ignorance.

When reading posts by Anglicans, esp CofE Anglicans, is that we spend a lot of time pretending that our flavour of Anglicanism is the only one and that the other lot don't actually exist.

RileyG · Jan 2, 2015

ebia said:
When reading posts by Anglicans, esp CofE Anglicans, is that we spend a lot of time pretending that our flavour of Anglicanism is the only one and that the other lot don't actually exist.

I guess my Catholic brain is getting confused about the terms "sacramental", "sacraments" and "rites".

Maybe someone can clear those up, that would be great.

ebia · Jan 2, 2015

RileyG said:
I guess my Catholic brain is getting confused about the terms "sacramental", "sacraments" and "rites".

Maybe someone can clear those up, that would be great.

You do realise that any response will only increase the confusion?

RileyG · Jan 2, 2015

ebia said:
You do realise that any response will only increase the confusion?

It may or may not.

I know, in my Church, "rites" and "sacraments" seem to be used interchangeably.

graceandpeace · Jan 2, 2015

RileyG said:
What about high-church Anglicans? It was my understanding some have 7 sacraments? Forgive my ignorance.

I realize this was not directed at me, but Reconciliation, Matrimony, etc are means of grace, but unlike Baptism & the Eucharist they are A) not sacraments set up by Christ & B) not necessary for all Christians.

Does that make sense?

PaladinValer · Jan 2, 2015

RileyG said:
What about high-church Anglicans? It was my understanding some have 7 sacraments? Forgive my ignorance.

It is universal in Anglicanism that there are seven. The 39 Articles state so.

Do Anglicans believe in mortal sin?

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