Difference Between Episcopalian and Catholic
Episcopalian vs. Catholic
Episcopalians and Catholics are very much alike and sometimes hard to distinguish from each other. As some of you may know, the word “Catholic” means “found everywhere” or, to be exact, “universal”. We can see some Catholic practices and beliefs in almost every religion. This makes it difficult to distinguish Roman Catholic churches from Episcopal ones. We can tell the two apart by paying attention to how they conduct their masses and other practices.
One of the major differences between Episcopalians and Catholics is the fact that Episcopalians allow women in some – but not all – provinces to be ordained as priests; unlike Catholicism, where only men are allowed to become priests. However, both wear very similar clothing while preaching. Furthermore, priests and bishops in the Episcopal religion are allowed to marry if they want to. Another difference is that the Episcopal Church – unlike the Catholic Church – rejects the idea of the Bishop of Rome — the Pope — having supreme authority over the Universal Church. They also do not have a centralized authority figure like the Pope is for the Catholics; instead, they have bishops and cardinals. Unlike Catholic bishops who are appointed by the Pope, the bishops of the Episcopal religion are elected by the people; this is because, as mentioned earlier, the Episcopalians don’t believe in having Popes.
One of the distinguishing Catholic practices is the confession of sins. Catholics confess to their priest to cleanse their souls of sins and ask the Lord for forgiveness. The Episcopalians, however, do not believe in this; they believe that the only way to ask for forgiveness is to talk to the Lord directly and tell Him your sins.
It is part of a Catholic’s life to pray to the saints and ask for their guidance and protection. Catholics believe that a particular saint is a patron to some of their everyday activities. The Episcopalians also believe in saints; they’ve even named some of their churches after them. But in their point of view, it is not right to worship false idols. They recognize saints as holy people to be honored, but do not pray to them. They do, however, include the saints in their prayers addressed to God in thanks for providing them with good examples which they call saints.
Another major difference between the Episcopal and Catholic Churches is communion. Catholic churches only give communion to those who are members of the Church. This means that one has to be a Catholic first in order to receive the Holy Communion. Conversely, in the Episcopalian Church, anyone can receive communion even if they are not Episcopalian.
Lastly, being separated from the Pope’s authority, Episcopalian married couples have the free will to use birth control, whereas Catholics are under the Pope’s supervision, which prohibits them from using any birth control methods.
Summary:
- Both men and women can be ordained as priests in the Episcopalian Church. They can also get married. But in the Catholic Church, only males are allowed to become priests, and they are not allowed to get married.
- Episcopalians don’t surrender to the Pope’s authority; they have bishops and cardinals that are chosen through elections. Meanwhile, Catholics are under the Pope’s authority.
- Confession of sins to priests is not practiced in the Episcopal Church, but is an important element of the Catholic Church.
- The Episcopalians believe that saints are mere examples of what God wants them to be; in the Catholic’s perspective, saints are to be asked for guidance as well.
- One can take part in an Episcopalian Communion whether one is an Episcopal or not, but one cannot participate in a Catholic Communion unless one is Catholic.
- Episcopalians are allowed to use birth control; Catholics are not.
Here are a few FAQ
Is episcopal catholic?
Episcopal catholic is a protestant and catholic church at the same time. It is based in the United States and traces its bishops via holy orders to the apostles.
What religion is closest to catholic?
The religions closest to catholic are Anglicanism and the Eastern Orthodox Church
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There are a number of elementary mistaken ideas in your article above:
May I suggest that your writers use the Book of Common Prayer for consultation.
Under summary (1) – the correct way of speaking of our church is
The Episcopal Church; People are Episcopalians.
Under summary (2) – An Episcopal Bishop in each local Diocese is elected by lay delegates that come from each parish and clergy of that Diocese. We don’t have cardinals. (An occasion bird, however.)
Episcopalians respect the Pope as the Bishop of Rome and see him “as first among equals.”
Under summary (3) – Confession is a practice of the Episcopal Church.
It can be done in a number of ways:
a) most commonly, in a general confession by the congregation each time the
Eucharist is celebrated and at other times;
b) much rarer, however,directly to a priest
Under summary (5) We would say an Episcopal Communion Service (not Episcopalian)
Under summary (6) not only allowed to use birth control, but encourage to use birth control according to the individuals concerned. We also see it as an important way not to overpopulate.
Thank you so much Reverend McCann, for your response to this post. It provided me with much clarification.
I have been a Catholic my whole life, but the recent news of the Catholic Church fighting full-force against contraception, as well as my life-long frustration with the inequality of women and the unrepresented congregation in decisions regarding the lives of Catholics worldwide…has led me to finding a new place where I can raise my children with my faith, but without the doctrines that I cannot in good conscience follow.
I have decided to join a wonderful Episcopal Church which has welcomed us with open arms.
It is pleasing to me to know that the sacrament of reconciliation will still be available to me and that, when I teach my children about the equality of men and women, I will not have to explain why there are no women in authority at church.
Sharon, I do not know if you belong to a particularly liberal diocese, or if your Priest is more open. I have to say that, after an entire childhood of catechism, and generations of Catholics surrounding me my whole life, I am unfamiliar with a Roman Catholic Church that claims that anyone who is a Protestant is welcome to receive Holy Communion (Eucharist). It is a Sacrament which requires religious education and a Holy blessing.
How could you decide to just change religon?? If you just decided to do that then you just didn’t have enough faith.
How you worship God is a very personal thing? When we become of age, we all have to decide which is the best fit. Deciding to change to a church that allows you better express you faith and serve God is not an indication of a lack of faith, but rather an indication of a true desire to worship and serve God to best of your ability.
Oddly enough, if we look at God through the eyes of the jews of the Old Testament there was a very specific way that one should worship God. Jesus being a Jew didn’t undo the teachings of worship of God, He simply perfected it. We throughout generations have attempted to make God fit us as individuals rather than us fit Him. I challenge you to look at what early Christianity looked like. It’s good to look for new ways to grow in your faith and constantly live the Gospel, but as for what services looked like and the traditions that were taught well those are still evident in at least 2 denominations of the thousands of choices we have today. As for hierarchy of church which one will argue easily in this thread, only one still looks the same.
Agree
She didn’t “change religions”. she changed the denomination. That’s a HUGE difference. You are acting like she decided not to believe that Jesus is the son of God and her savior.
Its not that huge of a differance. Denomination is a religious organization
The Catholic Church is not a denomination. It is the Church Jesus Christ founded. The Episcopalian community is a denomination and not founded by Jesus but an offshoot of the Anglican community founded by Henry VIII. It sounds like you choose your faith by preference, not by Truth.
I hope that works out for you at the judgment.
I would like to remind you that religion is man made. The bible, the word of God, was interpreted by man through the ages and many “books” of the bible have not been released to the public but have been kept tucked away under the Vatican. You mistake God’s church as a denomination which resides in a particular building established by a certain religion, in my case Catholic, born and raised. It wasn’t until my later years I came to realize my loyalty does not belong to the Catholic church but to our savior, Jesus Christ. His church isn’t a building where like minded people go to pray. His church are the people who believe in his love, acceptance and forgiveness. People who strive to live as he lived.
Well said. I am Catholic and so is my husband. I get so frustrated because he constantly judges me on how many times I do or do not go to confession, etc. I feel it is my relationship with God and not following the Rules to the letter that are important.
Amen. ♥️
Very well put.
Religion/denominations etc are all man-made. Jesus did not create any religion or denomination. He came for people. His church isn’t a particular building, denomination or sect. We are his church. On the last day, He will not ask anyone whether they were catholic, Pentecostal or Epicospalian or anything else we have chosen to call ourselves or what type of service we ran and how. It will come down to whether we know Him and are known by Him.
I think a lot of us will be surprised on that day.
Spoken like a fan of the St Thomas gospel! Good for you.
The Gospels were written by ?? (In some cases 100-300 years after Christ death.
The New Bible was created by the Pope under Constantine control right? To control the masses.
Pretty sure the way to go is have strong belief system and choose your house of worship but have a zipper on your pockets.
Today S’s Catholic Church was formed by Paul who many times disagreed with James (probably leader after Jesus’s death). Just my opinion
Absolutely agree with you Karen!
Godspeed
I am Catholic and you sound very arrogant. Given scandals and abuse I suggest you take a more humble spproach instead if the pre-Vatican II Church Triumphant. There have been many good reasons to leave the Church. How much do the laity have to take from Zealot Clericalism. Enough!!
Greatly appreciated!!!!
Actually if you study theology, the catholic church wasn’t started by Christ. It was started bc the Roman empire was failing and the Christians were being killed. Hence the Roman Catholic church.
Christ was already gone.
Amy, The Catholic Church began in the East and was based in Constantinople. So the church existed prior to the Latin based or Roman Catholics. They coexisted and then split over cultural differences between the Greek based East and Latin based west.
100%!
Thank you for enlightening me I didn’t know Jesus was a Catholic
Or Episcopal.
Jesus was born to a faithful Jewish girl, Mary.Christ taught that no man comes to God but by me.Christ didn’t collect our sins;but rather paid for them.
I do not find any validity in either religion not being a denomination..the word itself meaning to have dominion/dominant power over
Starting with titles suggesting a pecking order. Titus only speaks of elders and bishops/deacons..they also have wives.
The only pecking order in the Lord’s church can be found in Ephesians..God, Jesus, man, then woman because she was made from man
No man can or is ever permitted to change his word..last verse in Revelation. Jesus was never pompous in His teaching. He was meek but yet bold like we His followers should all be. Sent in Christian love.
The Catholic Church was founded by Peter…
That’s why the Cardinals prostrate to Peter’s tomb
AMEN. Jesus appointed his apostle Peter(the ROCK) to be the first bishop of Christianity. If more people would study the founding fathers of the Church, they would understand that the Catholic Church is the first Church. And has stayed the same since St. Peter.
“The Roman Catholic Church traces its history to Jesus Christ and the Apostles. Over the course of centuries it developed a highly sophisticated theology and an elaborate organizational structure headed by the papacy, the oldest continuing absolute monarchy in the world.”
If you believe that only the Catholic Church was founded by Jesus then you are wrong. The Catholic Church is one interpretation but there are others and just because it is an old religion it doesn’t mean it’s 100% correct. Like someone else said, religion is simply “mans”
Interpretation of faith. So if you believe 100% in what you do then God will judge you on that. Not if you were a Catholic or not.
The word is of no private interpretation.A denominator is used to bring together things of difference to become like.
I agree. I am a Roman Catholic and it’s not easy for anyone outside of it to fully understand and adhere to its dogma. We are not perfect nor or denominations. It’s a choice but I prefer to see and worship God in the holiest of ways. Jesus died on the cross for all of us but he did command St. Peter to guard the gates of Heaven and to build his church on the rock of Jesus’s teachings. (The Pope) is our leader who guides us based on the truths passed down. I know people don’t always agree but he has authority. Similar to a President but guided by the Church. I don’t wish to argue with anyone who differs as I won’t argue either. God Bless all believers and do what’s right in the sight of God. Peace!! Oh btw I Mary the Mother of God intercedes for us in prayer etc and I ask the Saints for guidance It’s the wonderful mystery of my Catholic faith.
May the Peace of our Lord be with you always. Amen❤️✝️
Eloquently explained. Amen and thank you!
I believe quite the contrary. Changing denominations (or religions) shows a lot of thought. Rather than just accepting the religion in which I was raised I thought of other religions. I was raised Catholic but had trouble with a lot of their tenets. After thinking long and hard I attended an Episcopal service. That was six yeas ago. I felt at home almost immediately. I consider myself an Episcopalian in my religious practices.
I was raised Baptist all my life, and only this year I started to attend a local Episcopal church. It was actually a rather difficult decision, but I’ve never been more happy with any of my decisions.
Hello Danielle. To my knowledge Jesus didn’t practice any particular religion, albeit he was a Jew, probably of the Nazarene sect. This so called religion was created by Peter and Paul, based loosely on the writings of Mark; not Matthew Luke and others. Throw in Constantine and the various councils, and you have the book that you worship. I prefer to follow Jesus’s teaching thru his understanding of the Cathers and Nazarene, as well as his Far East believes. The New Testament has suppressed this info. As a women, I don’t know why you would follow these paternal beliefs. Women were on an equal basis, based on the Jesus I know and follow.
It’good to beleive what ever you want I grew up Methodist but became cathlic, my personnel choice.
I used to love my catholic church, but the new priest makes me feel like I don’t belong there, very unwelcome and I cannot be going to Boise to attend mass and other classes. I he neighbors who elongated to St. JAMES Episcopal Church and I would love to be part of this church so similar to the román catholic. The visit to the Pope to Chile and the dark part of the church made me take this decision too. I am baptized.
Each person seeks his/her own way to the Father.
It’s called critical thinking. A change is made because you discovered something, not that you lost something. Faith without question is not faith, but fear.
Patrick, your last line speaks volumes!
How totally wrong. Faith and fear are total opposites.Look up the word faith in Webster’s dictionary no where will you see the word Fear. That’s why firefighters who run into a burning building are fear less and faith full.
Joseph, You missed the critical word in Patrick’s reply. It’s the word “question”. Not “faith” or “fear”. Didn’t Jesus question the priests and wisemen who were the religious leaders of the time? Do we doubt Jesus’s faith in God, His Father?
You are very wrong! Why on earth would you say that to someone. Children follow their parents decision as where to go to church. They then move on and may marry someone who is not of the same faith. What’s wrong with again following what you feel is right for your new family. That is personal and it is between god and that person!
MELI. You are aware the its not a change of religion its a change of beliefs and a difference of endoctrination to a point. I am a man raised in the Catholic lifestyle and beliefs my whole life as well. But I never agreed with inequality in the church. As for the politically charged monarchy in Rome. God is my Sovereign not the pope he is flawed and corruptible because we all are. The Lady above has the right to choose for herself where her religious path takes her and her family. You Meli, do not. I would suggest that before you berate others about the choices and decisions. You take a hard look at yourself and your bepiefs as well as your treatment of others. Christians do not act that way, we comport ourselves in a manner of respect and decency. Were I you, I would reread my Bible in matters pertaining to Respect and deference. As for The Episcopal Church the article and (The Reverend) Rob McCann’s
Explanation helped immensely.
I have long felt that the differences in certain parts of Catholic doctrine and my 9wn personal moral compass were at a bit of an empass. So this has helped to reassert my point of view a bit. As well as to assuage some of that burden on my spirit as well. It is not an easy decision to change the core of your faith and beliefs. Even when doing so may help you to better walk with Him and to be at ease with His presence in your life. Fore God gives us those challenges in life that he feels we can handle. Remember those words Meli. (I am aware that this article and these posts are a bit out of date, but I felt compelled to respond inspite of that fact.)
Griff, well said. I was raised an Episcopalian, however my mother was Methodist (Father Episcopalian). The Episcopal Church was about 12miles away so Mama brought us to the Baptist Church around the corner. Our little town was atleast 95% Catholic. We were the only Episcopalians and kids loved to make fun of the name. When I was in the 6th grade my parents enrolled us in the local small Catholic school. So I was a bit conflicted. Ofcourse I married a Catholic and back then I was told I had to sign a(non-binding)note saying I’d raise our children Catholic. After the birth of my daughter I converted to Catholicism which was a mistake. In my heart (and head) I’m still an Episcopalian.
Who are you to decide someone does or does not have faith? As to changing one’s religion, again, this is a personal decision you have no right to dictate,or censor.
Are you for real? Anyone can change their religion because they don’t agree with it. Doesn’t mean they don’t have faith. Faith is believing in God. How people practice their faith varies but they all have faith.
She didn’t “change a whole religion”. She changed a denomination. I know “high church” Anglicans who live and worship more like Catholics than many Catholics do.
Correct. We don’t get to omit what we want from coursework for med school. We take all of it. So yes receiving the body of Christ requires preparation. The mass is nothing more than the last supper. It was the first universal faith. All others are excerpts from the book. I’ve been Catholic my whole life, and attending bible classes have allowed me to see and appreciate it even more. I don’t have the truth. The truth has got me.
Truthfully and beautifully said. AMEN
Judge not least thee be judged!
“ME-YOW!” Calm down Karen!
Bless be those with a Christian faith base!
I really appreciate the information you have here. I just wanted to clear up a couple points. We as Episcopalians (high church) do consider ourselves Catholic, just not Roman Catholic. Low church Episcopalians consider themselves protestant. High church Episcopalians do often pray to saints. The Holy Rosary is prayed every Sunday before mass at my episcopal parish.
Blessings.
How do you know the difference between a high/low church n how can you find one in your area
Darlene you are of the same option as I. Now finding out that a cardinal tried numerous times to lure seminarians to his bed.I have fought with the decision. But I am changing to the Episcopalian Church.
I feel the same as you. I am so unsure if my soul is safe If I stay with the Roman Catholic Church. It is a great sadness for me because I am a cradle catholic in my 60’s. Our parish is run by money not by faith this is how I perceive it and very into politics which I believe is not a part of worship or interjected into the homilies!
Amen, just today I took a leap of Faith, after all the shameful cover-up of the abuses and paying HUSH money, I have decided to leave the Roman Catholic Church. I have been brought up as a cradle Catholic, practice the the religion very personally, I cannot accept in good faith that priest are being sheltered from all these terrible accusation. Worst, re-assigned to another Parish, I simple cannot accept PAPAL infallibility anymore, it’s just downright wrong. I am to search my local Episcopal diocese for an Anglo-catholic communion. But I don’t know where to start here in Singapore
I understand your concern and frustration with this issue. I would say, however, that no religion is without scandal or sin. We are dealing with human nature. God knows. I have known many good, faithful priests and cannot punish all because of some. That is not to say I want all bad apples out of the church. Let’s do that now that the cover up has been exposed. I respect Episcopalians (possible bad spelling no disrespect) and their decisions. I respect how close the faith is to Catholics. I love my church and feel we all need to worship in whatever way works for us but, please, do not expect perfection in any faith. God bless you.
Truthfully explained. Satan preys on anyone. Those sins belong to those individuals, not the FIRST and ORIGINAL CHURCH started by Our LORD JESUS CHRIST. If it weren’t for the Catholic Church, there would be no New Testament books.
You are totally misguiding your family with making the Saten / devil happy as all getting you to being so against the one True Gods laws set by His Son “Jesus” May He have mercy on your soul”.
Misguided individual!!!!
Absolutely false. You must be Catholic to receive the sacrament of Holy Communion. Catholics believe that thru the consecration that the bread and wine truly become the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Other Christian faiths, or Protestants see it as a more symbolic gesture than a sacrament.
FYI the Eucharist is most certainly a sacrament! That being said,as an Episcopalian I do not believe it becomes the actualy body and blood of Christ by virtue of a man/the priest. It is a hugely strong symbol of His body and blood.
This is not correct. You do NOT have to be Catholic to receive communion in the Catholic Church. Ask any priest or check the back of your missalette during mass. The reason Episcopalians and other Protestants cannot receive communion in the Catholic Church is because they have invalid sacraments. Members of Orthodox Churches, the Assyrian Church of the East and the Polish National Catholic Church may receive communion in the Roman Catholic Church since those churches are considered to have valid sacraments with valid apostolic succession. Canon 844.4 However, some of those churches, such as the Eastern Orthodox Church, may not allow their members to receive communion in other churches.
Actually, that is incorrect. Look on the back page of the misalette; there is a list of those that are in communion with the Roman Catholic Church that may receive communion they are: Assyrian Church of the East, Eastern Orthodox and several others.
Actually, that is incorrect. Look on the back page of the misalette; there is a list of those that are in communion with the Roman Catholic Church that may receive communion they are: Assyrian Church of the East, Eastern Orthodox and several others.
You dont think perhaps there is a reason women are not held as equal in all ways?
You have been misled by modern values. Women have a place within the church. By their husbands and within the community, and of course to their children.
Women should not, however, be allowed positions of leadership within the church or outside of it. As uncomfortable as it is to believe, there is a very good reason for this.
You should reconsider your choice.
Zack there’s a reason you are Catholic too… So rolling my eyes right now!
Worst article of explainstiin a I have ever heard obviously from an episcopalian
I am an Episcopalian, a CHRISTIAN.
You are a Catholic, a CHRISTIAN?
Yes
Spellcheck please
Rita … I agree! Not a fair account of the differences between the churches. Most notably defining the the value of Saints within the church. Catholics never worship Saints.
I will try to believe that this misrepresentation was unintentional and not a nefarious attempt to misrepresent Catholicism.
Thats a desgusting statement made from someone who says they believe in jesus. Theres absolutely nothing wrong with having your own beliefs. Be open to a religion that makes you happy and feel good about yourself. Just because i am catholic doesnt mean i believe everything that is preached by catholics. Have an open mind. Religous fanaticals kill others who dont believe what they do. Is that godly in any way?
Thanks so much for clearing some things up. When they said that the Episcopal Church had Cardinals, I was like, WHAT, we don’t have Cardinals do we, I’ve never met one & I’m a cradle Episcopalian never been involved in any other church & I’m 50 years old. But 1 question, I always thought as an Episcopalian u had to be confirmed first before starting to take communion, but all guest where welcomed to receive communion. Has it changed?
You have to be baptized or christened to take First Communion
All baptized Christians are welcome to receive communion in the Episcopal Church.
I believe that the Catholic Church allows natural family planning as a form of birth control.
The Catholic Church was not founded by Jesus Christ. Christianity was developed by gnostic mystery cults which fashioned the mythological Christ Jesus as the Jewish counterpart to the god man of the Dionysian mysteries such as the Egyptian God Horus. Ref: Sixteen Crucified Saviors by Kersey Graves; The Jesus Mysteries by Freke & Gandy; The Pagan Christ by Tom Harpur; In Quest of the Historical Jesus by Albert Schweitzer; What King of Glory is This?by Alvin Boyd Kuhn.
Catholicism, developed by the late Roman & Byzantine Empires, and Anglicanism [Episcopalian] are really only superficially alike. In reality, Episcopalians are much more like Evangelical Lutherans, both churches being “high church” Protestant.
The information was very valuable to the layperson. Let the theological nitwits play word games they may impress themselves but not so much with us
Thank you so much for clarifying all those points! You did a much better job than I would have.
Wrong about the Catholic communion service. Protestants are allowed to participate in a Catholic communion service.
Sharon Westey, you are incorrect. Only Catholics who have completed their First Holy Communion can partake in Communion at a Catholic Mass. This is because we believe in transubstantiation, which happens when the priest blesses the host and wine. It is also why we don’t take Communion at Protestant services, because they don’t believe in transubstantiation.
I am correct. Our priest said all people who are Evangelical are invited to receive the Holy Eucharist in the Catholic Church. It was news to me too.
As an Episcopalian, I was as not allowed to take communion in the Catholic Church for my Father in Law’s funeral, nor will I be permitted to at my son’s wedding. All Christians should be welcomed at Jesus’ table.
There isn’t a “I am am a Catholic card” to present when receiving Holy Communion. You are free to receive communion in a Catholic Church regardless of denomination or religion. However, if you do not believe in what the host represents than what is the point? Otherwise, it is a bland tasting piece of bread. It’s what is in your heart.
The same is true with episcopalians requirement to be Christian in order to receive communion. If you’re Hindu and choose to partake in communion without any belief, it is no more than a piece of bread.
Thank you for that clarification. You are correct. There is no Catholic card, but what is the point without faith?
Sharon you are incorrect. All people can get a blessing at communion, but not the actual communion. I know because my father was the sacramental director for years and I was a teacher for holy communion for years. You have to be baptized Catholic and you must believe that the wine and the wafers are blessed by the priest into the actual blood and body of Christ.
Technically if you committed a mortal sin, you are supposed to go to confession before receiving communion.
Your priest does not know what he’s talkin about don’t take one man’s word for anyting check it out with your Bishop
NO Sharon….your priest over stepped his bounds/made his own rules. I met with our priest to requested communion at the local Catholic Church that I had attended for years. He said I have one question, “What is your belief about the Eucharist?” I stated it was a very strong symbol at which he said…..WRONG ANSWER! I was denied because I did not believe it was the ACTUAL BODY AND BLOID of Christ. As stated above, only Catholics were taught to believe it transforms.
Actually, it really depends on the church-at my aunt and uncle’s (Catholic) wedding, my Protestant grandmother asked the priest about whether the Protestant half of the family could take Communion, and he replied “Who am I to say you can’t?”
But there are Catholic (and Lutheran, Baptist, and Episcopalian) churches that will require you to be a member of that denomination before partaking.
Believing that we are correct and all others are wrong is a recipe for spreading hatred. It is the opposite of following the greatest commandment of our blessed Savior Jesus Christ: that we love God with all of our heart, soul and mind, and love our neighbors as ourselves.
My RC friends on occasion attend my Episcopal church, and I attend theirs. We enjoy all of the traditions we keep in common. In a loving spirit of ecumenicalism, there is so much we can learn from our brothers and sisters in other faith traditions.
There are quite a few errors in this article. For example saying that Episcopalians don’t have confession. We have both corporate confession (the confiteor) and one-one-one confession with a priest; it’s called reconciliation of a Penitent. (As a matter of fact, today is Ash Wednesday and I am heading to confession after work).
The Episcopal Church welcomes all Christians to receive the Body and Blood of our Savior Jesus Christ. We believe in the Real Presence of our Lord in the species the Body and Blood. We believe that this Sacrament, instituted by the commandment of our Lord, is not something we should restrict only to those in our particular tradition. If you feel drawn to Christ, let nothing keep you away from Him as he is present in the Sacrament.
I was not allowed to take Communion when attending a Catholic service. I was with two other people who were also not Catholic, but we’re not turned away. When I was approached with the bread and cup, however, I was asked if I was Catholic first. I have no other reason than my skin color to go on for the difference in how I was treated in contrast to my friends. I responded that I am not, and I was told I am not allowed and was passed by. It was painful and humiliating to be disallowed to partake in Holy Communion, especially when I was with two others not treated in like manner. I’m of the belief that if it’s a rule, apply it equally. Ask everyone you don’t know. Or allow everyone. But don’t just ask people what don’t look like you.
“E” …why would you want to take Holy Communion if you do not believe in what it represents? If you do believe, than why not become Catholic?
If I didn’t know better, I’d say your long response is a fun. But I know you wouldn’t do that.
Only Catholics can received Christ during the mass. My church has a statement up on our video screens asking all non Catholic to respect the laws of our religion and refrain from taking communion. Now we have no idea who is Catholic or not, so you can receive but it would be against Catholic law.
One baptism for the remission of sins …Jesus would say feed his sheep…all should be fed his body and blood as he commandrd.
Perhaps you’re right, however, at a funeral for a close friends husband, the priest from St. Paul’s in New Bern, NC, asked me ,”Are you Catholic?” after he handed bread & not handing it in my hands “crossed”. I responded, “I am Episcopalian”. He took the bread back, placed it in bowl, where he picked it up from, then shook his head saying, “no, you may not.” I then crossed my arms across my chest for his blessing , he continue an affimative, NO. So hurt, feelings of disappointment, negativity on many levels came through while truest an end of our friends closure was just not in my soul. He gave instructions to those attendees before giving communion. I’d gone to a funeral at this same church for a neighbors wife where there was a line for Catholics to receive and a line for other denominations. Unfortunately my mind was for George Delgrosso, may he rest in peace. I am in need to “let this go”. I went to this priest, after service, explaining I have a brain tumor, can’t hear well, I misunderstand Your words, and I’m sorry.
Perhaps you’re right, however, at a funeral for a close friends husband, the priest from St. Paul’s in New Bern, NC, asked me ,”Are you Catholic?” after he handed bread into my crossed hands. I responded, “I am Episcopalian”. He took the bread back, placed it back in bowl where he picked it up from, then, shook his head saying, “no, you may not.” I then crossed my arms across my chest for his blessing , he continue an affimative, NO. Horribly hurt, feelings of disappointment, negativity, a christian rejection on many levels came through my heart, while an end of our friends closure was just not in my soul. He gave instructions to those attendees before giving communion. I’d gone to a funeral at this same church for a neighbors wife where there was a line for Catholics to receive and, a line for other denominations, but I just didn’t reminese this past experience. Unfortunately my mind was for George Delgrosso, may he rest in peace. I am in need to “let this go”. I need to be here strong to help Mary, praying for closure. I went to this priest, after service, explaining I have a brain tumor, can’t hear well, I misunderstand Your words, and I’m sorry. Then, walked out, not saying a word to anyone. I didn’t want my tears to turn for myself, continuing a concentration for all and our loss of George.
I arranged a memorial service for my late boyfriend at a local RC church, he being a lapsed Catholic, like many in the neighborhood who are wedding/funeral Catholics (not even C&E – Christmas & Easter – Catholics). The priest announced that only Roman Catholics in good standing who have been faithful in church attendance and have made a recent confession would be allowed to receive communion. When the time came, 30 friends who I know haven’t been to church in years, all went up to receive.
A Catholic priest once told me that if a non-Catholic goes up to receive communion during a mass, it simply is not the real body (and blood) of Christ for them.
No they are not allowed only Christian Orthodox are.
Not when the priest announces that all non Catholics should please remain seated during communion.
Since when? I attended Catholic Service with my husband for years because he would not attend with me and never received communion, only baptized Catholics were invited to the alter. I am now back in the Episcopal Church and my husband no longer attends any church.
No they’re not. As said in many Catholic teachings, “The Holy Eucharist is the most important of the seven sacraments because, in this and in no other sacrament, we receive the very body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ”. For this reason, it is normally impossible for non-Catholic Christians to receive Holy Communion, for to do so would be to say that they are in communion with the belief of it’s sacred symbolism exist which, regrettably, does not.
I just wanted to clarify that as it is many times misinterpreted, even by members of the church, Catholics do not pray to the saints, instead they are asking the saints to pray for them, and asking God to let them follow the example of that saint. As many times it is said during the mass “Saint (enter name here) Pray for us.”
Yes! Thank you. The Catechism of the Catholic church even defines prayer as raising one’s mind and heart to God… as a church we do not pray to Saints. God bless!
In both Roman Catholicism and Anglican Catholicism (Anglicans and Episcopalians), all members of the Communion of Saints may pray to or for one another, living or dead and of course can pray directly to God, the source of all power. To pray is to ask another to use his or her power in a certain way . In both denominations, only God, not even Mary, is to be adored. Believers in both denominations ask the “saints” (all the holy ones, including Jesus and often in Jesus’s name) to pray or intercede to God for them
Episcopalians have a broader formal definition of saints, respecting as saints anyone who was canonized before the schism of the Anglican branch when Henry VIII refused to pay taxes to the Pope. They also respect as saints many who seem worthy since then, such as Martin Luther King and Hannah Arendt and Pope John XXIII.
People are “declared” saints by the Anglican / Episcopal Communion (Church, capital C). They are not “canonized” as they are in the Roman Catholic Communion (or capital C Church).
The only big differences between the two are that Episcopalians practice equality in regard to women and men, do not have cardinals or monsignors (but do have nuns, deacons, monks, priests, bishops, and archbishops), do not see the pope or anyone else as infallible, and believe that during the Eucharist, the process the bread and wine undergo is consubstantiation not transubstantiation. Birth control, not abortion, is fine for Episcopalians, but Episcopalians do not claim to know officially when the soul enters the body.
Episcopalians take it literally that Jesus’s biological brother was James and that, as the bible says, they had other sisters and brothers.
Both have seven sacraments, the same ones. The only way I would be sure that I were in a Catholic Mass rather than an Epicopalian one would be if the people said, “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you” (or” that you should enter under my roof”); speak but the word and my soul will be healed.” Since the majority of Episcopalians I know are former Roman Catholics, many of them, like me, still say that prayer silently (I say it in Latin, the language of my youth). And I have received absolution in private confession (sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation) from Episcopal priests during my 35 years of being an Epicopalian.
Sweet Betsy … pretty fair assessment except for one glaring mistake …”do not see the pope or anyone else as infallible …” . That is a pretty Broad and generalized description of the Pope’s infallibility often perpetuated by non-catholics.
In the Catholic Church, The Pope is infallible only in matters of church Dogma because he defines a doctrine concerning faith or morals to be held by the whole Church. Otherwise, the Pope is a human being and capable of making mistakes.
Not all Episcopal provinces allow women to be ordained as priests. Just because Catholics and some Episcopal churches do not allow female priest does not mean they do not believe in equality of women. I believe you are getting fast and loose with the definition of equality. When was the last time a male headed NOW or a white the president of the NAACP?
I think you should leave these religeous organizations and find out what God Himself says by studying His Word – the Bible – for yourself. Find a church that teaches the Bible – not the opinions and imaginations of a group of men. Catholicism is not Christianity…
I was baptized in the Church of England and confirmed in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. In England and the U.S. my whole life has been strongly associated with High Church worship and indeed I am under the banner of Protestant Reformed but only in the name. I am an Anglo-Catholic and many of the Roman Catholic prayers to the saints are definitely used in many High Church and or Anglo-Catholic Episcopal and Anglican Churches. Personally,I pray the rosary of the blessed virgin Mary daily without fail nor shame. Also the Book of Common Prayer is the official book of the Anglican Communion. I may be a rare case and very traditional for my age (22) but I was raised very formal and traditional. Bottomline is that We are Christians and Jesus is the True Answer whether you be Catholic,Orthodox or Protestant. Also King Henry VIII did not really start the Church of England. Pope Gregory in 604 A.D. sent missionaries to Britain. Our Heritage is both orthodox,catholic and apostolic. So for all those ignorant to us please note that we are a very much so valid true church just like that of the Roman one. When you learn the fullness of Church History, you will see the Roman Catholic Church as only one of the most beautiful ancient churhes of Christianity. May God Bless All who Read This And May you be more educated and not so judgmental and harsh to one another for Christ is Love. Remember.
Matt, that was beautiful and awesome, Thank You!!
Matt, it is great you have such faith where there is very little today. But unfortunately you have put your faith in a church that does not have a beautiful history. In fact the Catholic Church has a very bloody and ugly past. I for one cannot be a part of a religion that has done the things the church has, and saying they did them in the name of Christ. Christ would never have accepted the Catholic Church. Look up the history of the Catholic Church, it is in all encyclopedias for all to read. I have.
I agree with Melisa. The Roman Catholic Church is a false Christian denomination. A lot of their teachings and traditions completely contradict the King James Version Bible. The RCC has been notorious for adding and taking away from the their Bible. For example, they changed the 10 commandments by removing the 2nd commandment. “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image…” When Catholics pray to the Virgin Mary, they are actually committing idolatry. Secondly, there is no such thing as purgatory. The RCC added extra books to the Bible known as the Apocrypha as their way to validate purgatory. The Catholic mass is also an act of heresy. What Christ did on the cross is enough. There need to be no more sacrifices after that. Infant baptism is also unbiblical. If you do your research and your homework, you will find that Constantine merged ancient Babylonian occultism with Christianity as a way to attract new believers when he first established the RCC. The RCC is not Christian at all or by any means.
Ang, the RC church didn’t ‘create’ the Apocrypha, these were parts that had been meticulously deleted from the Bible. In fact, Anglicans and Episcopalians still read from the Apocrypha (usually at Evensong).
And aside from that, the rector decides the degree of Orthodoxy within his parish. Many churches pray for intercession from saints, many do not. Many have Marian chapels, many do not. At St John the Unfinished in New York, there are Seven chapels, all dedicated to various patron saints. It’s all to taste, and all to Christ.
In Him,
HS Slawosky, belonging to Trinity Episcopal, Bend Or.
The Apocrypha was never part of the original Hebrew Scriptures, therefore it is unbiblical. The rector is just a man. Man cannot dictate what is right or wrong for his congregation. Only God can. Marian chapels as well as chapels dedicated to saints are considered to be idolatry and is completely forbidden by the Bible.
Ang,
Hail Mary, full of grace, the LORD IS WITH THEE
Blessed art thou, amongst women
BLESSED IS THE WOMB OF THY LORD JESUS
Holy Mary MOTHER OF GOD PRAY FOR US sinners
Now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
It’s asking for Mary to pray for us. Saints have done the Lord’s work however are not ever considered equal to him by any standards. If they were they would be called Gods and wouldn’t be Christian.
You have been very misguided. And every modern Christian religion has formed from Catholicism. North America was found years after the Catholic Church.
Melisa,
Christianity is a religion, Catholicism is a denomination. ALL Christian denominations stem from Catholicism, and though Catholicism has a blood past, that doesn’t mean its future must be overshadowed by this. Your statement indicates that you believe that one cannot be forgiven for ones past transgressions, which is the exact opposite of what Christ stood (and stands) for. Quit being so pretentious and judging others because they don’t practice their faith in the same manner as you.
Steph,
You are incorrect when you claim that ALL Christian denominations stem from Catholicism. There are many Christian denominations that started in North America that have absolutely no background in Catholicism. Take for example non-denomination Evangelical churches or even Seventh-Day Adventism.
Very well, I will concede to your point on Evangelicals & SDA. However, please stop spreading your ignorance of the Catholic church when it comes to Mary & the saints. Though you do not agree with our dogma, that doesn’t mean we pray TO anyone but God & Jesus.
Ang I think you are wrong. It is a valid assumption that all foxes are red but not apples. You must see the light.
When you do that, be sure to look up the persecution committed by Protestants in the name of religion too, including the persecution of Catholics all over the world. Many religions commit wrongs in the name of their faith and it is all wrong.
Certainly, the Catholic Church is notorious for executing non-Catholics through the Spanish Inquisition, the Crusades, and the reign of Queen “Bloody” Mary in England. It has been calculated that the Catholic Church has martyred at least 50 million Christians who refuse to bow down to the corrupt authority of the Catholic Church. Read Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. When will the Catholic Church stop burying their bloody crimes? Certainly, they need to step up to the plate and admit their crimes before they can call themselves holy.
Much of what we know as historical writings, especially in the areas of the highly charged Inquisition, Crusades and Reformation discussion, are moderately to heavily biased. I like Peter Kreeft’s statement that goes something like this: “The only reason to believe something … is because it’s true.” I suggest, to balance your understanding of history in these areas, that you listen to Matthew Arnold’s Fire & Sword 3 CD set (~$22) that address these topics in a fairly thorough manner. He points out many “biases” and frames what actually happened in history. Is Matthew Arnold without bias – certainly not. But I believe his series is worth a listen, even if to simply bring yourself closer to center on your understanding.
The summary that follows is not simply an emotional paragraph that lashes out against a differing opinion. It points to an intelligently drawn-out work with much research, content and heart, which, by the way, is somewhat unfamiliar in this age:
Many have been taught the inaccurate history of the Church…a history shaded by the biases of those who wrote it. How odd is it that in an age where most knowledge is a click away, so many people continue to stubbornly hold stereotypical, incorrect ideas of the Crusades, Inquisition, and Reformation? In this 3-CD set, Matthew Arnold offers a stimulating discourse aimed to dispel such erroneous histories and provide truth.
And finally, many other thoughts come to mind – Matthew 25, where Jesus rewards those who have served the hungry, thirsty, ill, imprisoned, etc. with eternal life (not sure where the group is that responds to blogs well); John 6 where Jesus says, “… My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink” and then goes on to encourage the people there to “… eat My flesh and drink My blood; A quote attributed to Pope Benedict reshaped as: “… The world offers you comfort. But you were not made for comfort – you were made for Greatness.” … then I remember from scripture a key definition of greatness by Jesus “… to be the servant of all.” But I’ll leave you with the words of Ghandi (attributed or otherwise), in reference to writings that state he read every day from the new testament and often quoted the Bible, responding to the question why he never became a Christian. He answered, “If I had met one, I would have become one.” Now this response has its own issues (i.e. I’m not going to do it if no one else does …) but it makes a point. I should, as a follower of Christ, put my energy into being the great person He has made me to be. Striving against the flesh, which calls out in many ways to satisfy self-aimed cravings, like the those of wanting something for nothing, I must simply, continuously and lovingly serve others – not with loud noises that seek to gain the attention of others – but serve in the power and love of the Holy Spirit that lives in me, ever listening to the voice of Christ who is calling me to Himself – a discipline of serving amidst my “Joe-Joe, the crazy circus monkey” mind. God help me (no, really!). May we all allow Christ to immensely bless others through our lives.
Continue to stand strong in faith. God bless.
Beautifully written
After feeling very welcomed at a few Episcopal events I’ve attended recently, I have a question. Is weekly attendance at mass mandatory as the catholics are and is communion offered at every mass ?
Attending church every Sunday is required in ALL Christian denominations
Love is certain. So this is a prime example of chutiagary.
Attendance is not required weekly in the United church.
Not!! Sin is sin- according to the Bible. Protestants don’t teach that it is a sin to not attend church on Sunday. It is encouraged because Jesus tells us to get together with other Christians.. who by the way are referred to as “saints”. Religions create rules. Jesus provides freedom. No matter how many rules you follow, unless you do what he said, and are born again, you won’t go to heaven (HIS words… not words created by Protestants.) Belonging to a denomination wont get you to heaven, neither will going to “Church”. Going to “church” feeds your soul. – from a former catholic (praise God, the Holy Spirit opened my eyes & heart to the truth of his word, not the “word” of a denomination.)
I have grown up in the Episcopal church my whole life but I have also been to mass at the Catholic church and I can basically do the same thing! I think the only thing we do different in the Episcopal church is we say the whole Lords prayer they don’t, at my friends church they don’t kneel for communion. We do confess our sins just as a congregation. We are more welcoming and less judgmental then the Catholics no offense. Hope this helped!
I don’t know where you people get your information from!
Catholics say the entire Lord’s Prayer. We pause before the last line to allow the priest to say a special blessing then the congregation continues with “For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Also, like Lauryn stated above, we do not pray TO the Saints. We believe that the dead have the ability to watch over us and pray FOR us. We ask the dead, usually Saints but also friends & family who have passed on, to pray for us just as when we ask a living friend to do the same.
A prayer is a type of communication with one of three types of subjects:
1. Giving Thanks
2. Asking for forgiveness
3. Asking for some form of help
Therefore, asking the saints to pray for you falls under #3, which is a form of prayer. And besides, the Bible plainly states that the only spirits you should communicate with are the Holy Trinity. Jesus is living, you should never ask the dead for anything.
By your interpretation of these criteria, it is blasphemous to ask anyone (dead or alive) for help. Asking for prayers is not a direct request for help, so I respectfully disagree with you.
With all the discussion about asking for intervention in prayer, as Christians we believe in life after death through our Lord Jesus Christ. So how how is it different from asking a friend living here on earth to pray for you then asking a friend in heaven to pray for you?
If you believe the dead are just dead, what’s the point?
The dead cannot hear your prayers because they have already passed on. Jesus can hear your prayers because He is the one true living God.
hmmm. that’s aethism!
As an Atheist, I assure you that you’re mistaken.
Perfect, well said Steph.
The differences between the two religions seems silly and some of the comments, self righteous. I just don’t understand how all of you (who are probably very intelligent) can actually keep a straight face believing in this stuff?
The one thing that is the same in the two religions is that you damage many children by telling them they will burn in hell if they do not believe in this god/ghost or that god/ghost.
I was raised orthodox Christian and believe me, I had nightmares about the devil. I will never forgive my patents for subjecting me to that at such a young age when I could not understand or choose for myself. Shame on them and all if you if you do the same to your children.
With that said I wish you all the best.
The differences between the two religions seems silly and some of the comments, self righteous and petty. I just don’t understand how all of you (who are probably very intelligent) can actually keep a straight face believing in this stuff?
The one thing that is the same in the two religions is that you damage many children by telling them they will burn in hell if they do not believe in this god/ghost or that god/ghost.
I was raised orthodox Christian and believe me, I had nightmares about the devil. I will never forgive my patents for subjecting me to that at such a young age when I could not understand or choose for myself. Shame on them and all if you if you do the same to your children.
With that said I wish you all the best.
Do Episcopalians believe in transubstantiation? In other words, when they take communion, do they believe that they are taking the literal blood and body of Christ like Catholics do? Or do they take it symbolically like how Protestants do?
Yes. Episcopalians believe in transubstantiation.
Oh no! That’s terrible. Thanks for helping answering my question.
is it postulative though?
is it postulative and superlastingly feritible though?
is it superlastingly feritible though? thats the real discussion.
To clarify no church has female priests because that would be impossible by definition… the word priest is male and the word priestess is female. There is no such thing as a female priest anymore than there is a female father. There is no such thing as a priestess in the Jewish or Christian religion. There are important female roles in the Bible but they are not priestess, they are prophets or disciples of God. Blessings!
The definition of Priest is “one authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion especially as a mediatory agent between humans and God; specifically : an Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, or Roman Catholic clergyman ranking below a bishop and above a deacon”
Websters dictionary
Middle English preist, from Old English prēost, ultimately from Late Latin presbyter
First Known Use: before 12th century
presbyter
a member of the governing body of an early Christian church
a member of the order of priests in churches having episcopal hierarchies that include bishops, priests, and deacons
This is an interesting point really. What kind of differences are postulative? also isn’t this chutiyagiri? think abt it
JB
Another major difference of the Episcopal Church to The Catholic Church is their open communion. Catholic churches only give communions to those who are members of the church. It means, you have to be a Catholic first in order to receive the Holy Communion. But in the Episcopalian Church, anyone can receive communion even if they are not Episcopalian.
So does this mean in an ‘Episcopalian’ church that anyone can receive communion who’s been baptized by ANY church, or anyone at all regardless if they are baptized or NOT BAPTIZED BY ANY CHURCH WHATSOEVER, can receive communion.
On 1/9/2009 Pope Benedict XVI named Seamus Cunningham Bishop-elect of the Hexham and Newcastle Diocese. Thereafter, Bishop Cunningham was ordained as an Episcopalian priest on 3/20/2009. (Wikipedia) I am familiar with certain dioceses accepting former Protestant, and sometimes married, priests but I’ve never heard of it going the other way. This appears to mean that an Episcopalian priest is conducting Catholic services and answering to the Pope after being ordained Episcopalian.
What am I missing? All Christian religions followed the same path until Rome created Roman Catholicism. Since that time there have been some significant moves away from RC but I think the Episcopalian move was not terribly significant. Still, there is a reason people choose one faith over another.
I guess my bottom line question is whether Episcopalian priests can remain Episcopalian while still answering to the Pope. Moreover, it would seem that by doing so the priest would have to denounce his Protestant faith first rather than being ordained Episcopalian afterwards.
Thanks from Confused
The Wikipedia entry says, “He received his episcopal consecration on 20 March 2009…” This is “Catholic speak” for he became bishop. He is not, and never was, Episcopalian. The Pope appointed him Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle on January 2, 2009 & took office on March 20, 2009.
I’m Episcopalian and my wife is Catholic. Most of the time we GI to the Catholic church because it is nearby and it is the Church my wife is a member of. I always wondered if I can recieve communion there, since I have been confirmed and baptized in a Episcopal Church. So one morning I decided to go up to the alter and receive communion without knowing you have to be Catholic to receive communion. Anyway I received communion and stepped away from the alter and headed towards the aisle to bow and right before I can do it, a man from the congregation grabbed my arm in front of everyone and told me to go up to the alter and bow! I felt very uncomfortable because of his judgemental demeanor towards me. So now when I go to church with my wife I feel kind of uptight and I don’t want to feel that way. So next Sunday we are going to attend the Episcopal Church, and see how my wife’s vibe is about the Episcopal Church To me I don’t care what denomination you are, as long as you bekieve in Jesus Christ and mean well, then you are a Christian in my book!
Derek,
I’m sorry that parishioner did that to you. It was rude of him to behave like that. Not all Catholics bow at the alter, so I’m not sure why he was so forceful towards you. However, you should not have received communion since you are not Catholic. This is just one area that protestants & Catholics differ. While I am welcome to partake in communion at my husband’s church (he is Presbyterian), I do not participate because I do not believe it is the Eucharist, and it would be blasphemous for me to take it as such. This is why Catholic communion is not offered to all Christians present. You should ask yourself what you believe, and perhaps speak to a Catholic priest to get more answers.
I went to a Roman Catholic college and the nuns there told us that this widespread belief that only Roman Catholics could receive Communion in a Catholic church was in fact false. Anyone who is baptized with water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who believes that transubstantiation occurs at the consecration, can receive the Eucharist in a Roman Catholic Church. My wife is Roman Catholic and I am Episcopalian and we both receive in both churches. My daughter attends a Catholic grade school and she made her first Eucharist with her class, though she had been taking Communion in the Episcopal Church since she was a child. These distinctions are having less and less meaning these days, I’m surprised people pay attention to them.
Transubstantiation and acceptance of Papal rule are the essential differences between the religions.
Science makes it difficult to accept transubstantiation … you must accept it on faith. Henry VIII decided that the Church’s teaching on divorce was inconvenient so the Pope had to go.
Science has proved the Eucharist is in fact the body and blood of Christ. The book The Eucharistic Miracles of the World details this on many occasions. You are correct that Henry VIII wanted a divorce. When researching this I found it interesting and convicting that he wanted a divorce because his wife could not have an heir (son) for him. So he wanted a new wife to give him a son. It’s convicting because two thousand years later science proves men are responsible for the sex of the baby. Pricing to me that Henry VIII’s religion was based on misunderstanding. Thus we have 33K denominations as a result that also Pick and choose what they want to follow orbit follow just as he did. The Bible says to trust Him beyond our understanding.
I was raised Baptist and believed that the Catholic Church was rigid and frankly a stick in the mud, not changing with the times. Once I went to classes to learn what the Catholic Church truly believes, not what misinformed people spread about it, I understand that it appears rigid and unchanging because they are trying desperately, thank God, to preserve the teachings God/Jesus gave us.
The Catholic Church will never be perfect but Satan has capitalized on human nature to create the division which works against God’s desire for one body. Sad. If you criticize the Catholic achurch first learn what it truly teaches. Even people in their responses here that are Catholic misrepresent it’s teachings. I truly believe it pains God to see the 33K divisions of His church body and the criticisms. I have found that at this point with so many divisions to focus on our common beliefs and forget fighting about the others. It’s so convoluted and most people don’t even know what the history on why their religion split.
May you live as Christ lived and please God in doing so. Oh and lastly, love. That’s all He asks if you sum it up in one word: love. Graham Cooke has a wonderful teaching on it that is easy to apply to our everyday life called The Fruit Of the Spirit that you can find on YouTube. Enjoy!
I’m a new Episcopalian, I was just recently Baptized in the church and am loving every second of it. My fiancé who was Baptized Catholic also converted to Episcopalian, to us the Catholic faith is doing allot of things we don’t agree with, for example praying to the saints or virgin Marry is Idolatry, even if its just for them to interpret our prayers to God, the only person who can do that is our lord Jesus Christ. However with the Communion you must be a Baptized Christian, now if you where Baptized Mormon or Jehovah witness you aren’t supposed to take communion since their Baptisms aren’t considered Authentic in mostly all other churches.
The Episcopal Church does, in fact, believe in transubstantiation. Big misconception here! And, there are some Catholic churches (and schools) that do allow non-Catholics to receive Holy Communion. Times are changing, but I recognize there are still some Catholic churches that restrict participation to Catholics, only.
There is so much confusion and misguided comments here. I assure you, it’s a sacrilege to receive the body, blood, soul and divinity of Our Lord Christ Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. The Church requires that one makes his/her Holy Communion before we partake and receive Holy Communion. Only an Ordained Catholic Priest can consecrate the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. THAT’S WHAT WE BELIEVE AS CATHOLICS!! We’re not being uninclusive to our noncatholic brothers. THE HOLY EUCHARIST IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN Our Lords HOLY Catholic Church. I don’t say this to brag or boast, but only pointing out the TRUTH!! YOU WANT TO KNOW OUR CATHOLIC FAITH ?? READ THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH!!
I really hate to burst your bubble but where does it say in the Bible that “Only an Ordained Catholic Priest can consecrate the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ?” You will not find the words “Catholic” or “Priest” anywhere in the Bible. What you believe as Catholics completely contradicts what’s in the Scriptures. Catechism is entirely made up by man and is found nowhere in the Bible. If you believe in Catechism, you’re placing your faith in man, not the Bible. The Catholic Church is a false, Christian denomination which traps its believers into believing that you have to take the Eucharist and that only their church can offer. No church, priest, or Eucharist can authorize salvation. Only the Lord Jesus Christ can authorize salvation.
The Catholic Church is one of the ORIGINAL early Christian churches founded by the first Christians about 2,000 years ago along with the Eastern Orthodox, Coptic, Armenian, Church of the East and several others. This is important because these churches actually put the Bible together. They were there when the various books were translated and when many of the languages in which the Bible was written were still spoken. These churches know how to interpret the scriptures.
The problem with most Protestants is that they “threw out the baby with the bathwater”. They took the Bible out of context and by itself without hundreds of years of tradition and interpretation that went along with it. Only a couple of the Protestant denominations, namely the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, WELS Lutherans and some more traditional ELCA and Episcopalian Churches (not the denomination as a whole) use some context and traditions when interpreting the Bible.
During the years I attended a Baptist Church I would always ask my pastor where does it say in the Bible that you needed to accept Jesus a your “personal” Saviour. I searched almost every single version of the Bible for the word “personal” and it was nowhere to be found. I also asked my pastor where did it say in the Bible that you would be saved in the exact moment that you accepted Jesus as your personal Saviour. Faith does not simply go from non-existence to instant existence. There were other issues as well such as nowhere in the Bible did it say babies could not be baptized and Jesus himself said divorce was sin yet all Protestant churches allow divorce.
For me, Salvation has to do with belief in Jesus and that he died for our sins. However, I do not believe that at 1:04pm you can be not saved, at 1:05pm you profess Jesus as your “personal Saviour” and then at 1:06pm you are now saved. That is not Biblical at all. And it is also rather selfish. I mean, your whole belief in Jesus is just based on saving yourself and that’s it. Although I am not Greek Orthodox, the best book I read about salvation is called “Are You Saved? The Orthodox Christian PROCESS of Salvation” published by the Orthodox Church.
So, if I believe that Salvation by belief in Jesus Christ is not instantaneous or even permanent (if you lose your faith or change your mind) then what better church to help you become saved and to help you stay saved than one of the original Christian Churches founded shortly after Jesus’ death that one of the Protestant Churches dating from the 1500’s or later that does not know how to interpret the Bible within the context in which it was written.
Thank you, Mar!
So your book of fairy tales is different than the Catholic one, what’s the big deal? You’re very bitter towards the Catholic Church Ang. Believe what you want and let others believe what you want. Your guess at which version of the Bible is “correct” is no different than anyone else’s. You weren’t there, so you don’t know the actual truth. To a normal free thinking Catholic like myself you sound like you have a cult like devotion to your religion.
AMEN!
Actually, you are not correct. The Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican teaching is that the Body and Blood of Christ are received in the Mass, Divine Liturgy, or Eucharist (interchangeable terms). This is the teaching of the historic Catholic Church in whom we all believe. We disagree about the infallibility of the Pope and the historical importance of the different ancient patriarchates.
My MDiv is from a graduate consortium which included schools from all three of the above denominations.
Two errors in this article… the Episcopal Church DOES have sacramental confession… its called “Reconciliation of a Penitent” and its in the prayer book, I don’t recall the exact page number, but its in the 440’s or 450’s. There are two forms for making sacramental confession, one is more Roman Catholic in style, the other is more in the Orthodox style. The difference is that sacramental confession is not required in order to recieve Communion in the Episcopal Church. Many churches still encourage their members to make confessions during Lent and Advent, if not more frequently. Some have designated times where clergy hear confessions.
Also, the assertion that Episcopalians don’t believe in Transubstantiation is not entirely true. A more accurate statement would be that SOME Episcopalians do not believe in transubstantiation. Others do. Making blanket statements about what Episcopalians believe is rather dangerous. There is always an exception.
You do not have to be Catholic to receive communion in the Catholic Church. This is a common misconception. The requirement is that you have to be from a church with valid sacraments, which according to the Catholic Church are the churches that have apostolic succession.
This leaves out all Protestants although Episcopalians do claim apostolic succession the Catholic Church does not recognize it. Eastern Orthodox, Polish National Catholic, Church of the East and several others may receive communion in the Catholic church if their church allows them to as well.
What are the requirements for a catholic priest to become episcopalian priest?
“What are the requirements for a catholic priest to become episcopalian priest?”
Lol. He has to become a Christian first..
Catholics do not worship saints. They pray to them asking for their prayers to God as an intersession on their behalf. The same way they do to the Blessed Virgin. We ask for their prayers. No worship is involved. We only worship Our Lord.
How can someone who has passed away pray for you? Especially when Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the Father but by me
Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but by me. When Jesus died the veil was rent in two. Therefore we have acess to the Father ONLY through Jesus! Definitely not thru any saints. Religious zealots were denounced by Jesus.I am a God called minister with no denominational ties. God’s word is final authority not the pope, any bishop or any other religious office. Jesus is high priest therefore no man can forgive you of your sins nor can any man present your sins to the Father on your behalf. Accept Jesus as saviour, live for Him by his commands and your soul will be satisfied
Episcopalian Church (Anglican) was created because the king of England wanted a divorce and to be remarried in the church. The Catholic Church said no, so he started his own church and kicked the Catholics out of most of the English churches. More small changes have taken place throughout the years, but Episcopalians are basically Catholics with divorce.
Disclaimer: We as Catholics do not pray to the saints but rather ask them to pray for us to the Lord in our prayers. We also do not believe in worshiping false gods and we are not doing so when asking the saints to pray for us. We believe that the Saints will pray to the Lord just as we do and it is very different than praying directly to the Saints
That’s not biblical. When Jesus died and rose again the curtain was torn down, allowing us to go straight to him. We don’t need a priest or so called “saints” to intercede on our behalf.
With love, respect and sincerity to all believers of the faith in Yeshua (Jesus). The brethren ( man & woman) were indeed created for His divine purpose and position. This Holy ordinance cannot be thwarted or disregarded by human will no matter what. As for the churches at large, within this earthly realm the man is the head (leader – under Christ of course). Women, although very capable, no doubt, are not suitable for this particular role. In known biblical history, was there a woman ever named or chosen as a Disciple? Considered as one of the tribes of Jacob? (Even though he had 1 daughter) Several women followed the Messiah and were highly esteemed but none, not even mother Miryam (Mary) was chosen to lead. Men, like it or not, personify strength, power, lineage and dominance. Women, equally blessed with His breath, are man’s reinforced personification. In that his strength, power, and lineage is amplified by her existence and balance. Neither can exist without the other. Let’s support and respect our God-given positions and not take them for granted. And most of all follow the Greatest Leader our Creator Lord and Saviour.
Men, like it or not, have proven themselves horribly, woefully inept.
The so-called ‘stronger’ sex is LAUGHABLY too weak-willed in terms of resistance to the pleasures of the flesh, and are powerLESS–not powerFUL–in terms of resisting their ego-driven endless greed for MORE POWER (fame/fortune/hero-worship).
FEMALES are the PURER and more HOLY of the sexes–that is why we shed blood from within, nurture from within and without and literally bring forth SACRED LIFE from our blessed WOMBS.
Far more men revel in sin than women, and committ infinitely more atrocious and heinous sins– adultery (70% of married men REPORT having done so), pornography, sexual assault/harass-ment, rape, trafficking, white-collar crime, cult leadership, cavalier (non self-defense) murder–you name it–the VAST majority of evil masterminds behind it all are always MALES–rarely females.
Lust, Selfishness & Greed are not synonomous with the more noble-sounding qualities (Strength, Power, Dominance) you list and equate with being male.
STRENGTH?! POWER?! DOMINANCE?! Ha!!! Are you seriously suggesting that men have SUCCEEDED in wielding these attributes in a way that comes even remotely close to PLEASING GOD ?!?!
Perhaps it’s time to give RESPECT and CREEDENCE to the ‘Kinder, Gentler’ (dare I proclaim POTENTIALLY MORE SPIRITUALLY POWERFUL?!) sex.
Bravo Lauranne.
Your Ignorance of biblical scripture is embarrassing, the feminist garbage you are spouting is asinine at best. 1 Corinthians 11:3 But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Or Ephesians 5:22 and many others state that MAN NOT WOMEN are to be leaders in the church. You cannot claim to be Christian but pick and choose what to follow, and you cannot claim to be Christian and spout the hateful garbage you are spouting, please be quiet and stop being an embarrassment to real Christians.
Nunya, you seem like a horridly miserable person. Stop judging and be kind to others…. you might actually like yourself.
And all this is why people don’t want to go to church.
Don’t go to church, trust me I doubt anyone would notice you not attending cause we really don’t care.
After 67 years a good Catholic, the recent priest sex reports and systematic church cover up in Pennsylvania, and certainly very widely spread, have for the first time in my life caused me to question my respect for the Catholic Church and do some research on the Episcopal Church as an alternative Christian denomination.
Go to Catholic League For Religious and Civil Rights (CatholicLeague.org) and read some of the information about your concerns especially “Open Letter To Attorneys General In All 50 States”.
It’s great to see such a lively discussion. Most of you seem to be very well informed. I appreciate it.
I will tell you as a victim of sexual abuse in the Episcopal Church that is just as rampant as a Catholic church if not worse because it is being hidden completely there are over 400 victims in the Diocese of Arizona alone of the Episcopal Church very sad
Please provide us an authoritative reference to your claim about Episcopalians in Arizona. Does Pew have a database? Did you just hear this somewhere or read it somewhere? If so, where? I’d like to track it gown. I’d like to believe that it is not remotely true, but if it is true, I would like a reference. Thanks!
I don’t believe that at all.
Not all Catholics are allowed to have communion. If a Catholic has committed a mortal sin, that sin must be confessed prior to receiving the BODY BLOOD SOUL AND DIVINITY of Christ (aka Eucharist).
Examples include co-habitation, abortion, same sex relationship/lifestyle, sex outside of marriage.
Why does the Episcopal Church in one of their prayers say I believe in one holy Catholic church ? If they are Episcopal ?
Stop offending those wonderful people who labored heavily to raise you properly. Do they deserve a slap in face? You change religion once you’ll certainly do it again, in a heartbeat. Just be glad you’re alive and stop trying to make your people no longer alive, roll over in their grave’s. Stay put and help instead of running away!
Whoa. There is so much to say. Firstly, Episcopalians don’t have a Pope, but Queen Elizabeth is the head of the church just like Henry 8 was – in effect, its Pope. Even more bizarre is that Queen Elizabeth is actually a Presbyterian, but no matter.
To say Catholics are not permitted to use birth control is just strange. They invented natural family planning. Alternatively, using contraception is allowed under certain conditions.
To make such blanket statements clearly points to the author’s misunderstanding of the Catholic church.
Clearly you misunderstand the Episcopal church as well. It separated from the Anglican Church after the American revolution. No one in it swears allegiance to the monarchy.
I don’t think you understand the term “natural family planning either,” it’s not birth control. It’s the keep your fingers crossed and hope you don’t get pregnant method. Sperm can live inside the body for 5 days. Abstinence for 5 days prior to ovulation is not birth control, it’s abstinence.
I must say, as a practicing Catholic and when going through pre-marital counseling, I learned a bit about the Episcopal church and how it is close to us. What you state in this article is WRONG about Catholics praying and asking protection directly from the saints and that Episcopals venerate them. Catholics DO NOT pray to saints like we pray to God. We ask for them to INTERCEDE for us in front of God for our needs such as protection. We do not treat anyone like God. Please be more accurate when comparing the two. I teach religious education and this is one thing I tell my students to not let other religions lie to them about.
Thank God you are one of Many Roman Catholics
That believe the teachings of the catholic faith
Watch EWTN “Eternal Word Telecast Network
We as Catholics we in no way computing with anyone. This is how those very people started the war doing the Reformation in 1517. We made each and every church that is exist today. Catholics blood wasted enough just as to establish Christianity. With all of that, they are still imitating Catholics way of doing things. Even the very Martin Luther who brought about the Reformation that led to the Catholics been executed still have the Catholics doctrines teach in his very Lutheran Churches around the world. Why couldn’t he have created a new way of worship? Catholics suffered for Christianity and they’re still castigating Catholics. Long live this Noble institution called Catholic.
It sounds as though a few have pointed this out but there are some key misunderstandings here.
The Episcopal Church emerged as a Via Media or middle path within the Protestant Reformation, and to this day contains both practices and members which draw from both the Catholic and Protestant perspective as a result members may have slightly different emphases on things (ie “high” or ” low” church expressions, or describe themselves as more Evangelical or Anglo-Catholic Episcopalians) but the Book of Common Prayer is a key resource to understand the uniting core of our faith and practices.
Confession- Episcopalians do believe in the Absolution of sins by the Ministry of a priest (or Bishop), and private confession is available to those who seek it but also a more communal form with the same benefit. It is is more left up to the individual conscience on how one wishes to receive-to be fair private confession was also not always the case in the Roman Catholic tradition but developed over time. It is also important to note we and Roman Catholics do not actually believe that the priest is the source so much as helping to mediate God’s forgiveness – the words of the prayer point to God (but draw from a passage Christ authorized his disciples to forgive sins with God’s authority). Some Protestants reject this completely but The Episcopalians preserve some element of it – although we also have prayers of Confession with a prayer reminding all of God’s forgiveness that can be done by anyone in the absence of a priest separate from absolution.
Confession is one of the seven sacraments for Catholics. Episcopalians actually have the same 7, making us unique among Protestants but we do emphasize Communion and Baptism given their central role in the Gospels. One can still receive others including Confirmation, Healing of the Sick with anointing by oil blessed by a bishop, as well as Holy Orders in the form both of ordination to Deacon Priest or Bishop, as well as becoming a monk or nun as the Episcopal Church includes monastic orders too. we also have a very strong emphasis on lay Ministry however, understanding all baptized Christians to have a particular call to ministry and an important role in the church. Our tradition actually changed its name to a Missionary Society in the 19th century, reminding all our members we are part of the church’s work.
Saints are very important to Episcopalians and we celebrate All Saints Day and individual feasts as the Catholic Church does. Your note about Catholics worshiping saints as idols is also inaccurate – the Roman Catholic understanding is of intercession that saints can help bring our prayers closer to God since they are already in God’s presence. But they are not worshipped in either Church. Episcopalians do not tend to emphasize this intermediary role as much but many still feel a living and profound closeness to the saints and we do believe that we are mystically joined in our prayers in Earth and in Heaven, a living reality not simply an example. But there are slightly different tones in an individual’s understanding and practice. Some high church leaning congregations may even have a special devotional station set aside for Mary or a particular saint, although you don’t tend to see as many candles or quite as elaborate a shrine as in Roman Catholic churches. We do have a detailed calendar of the saints many churches follow certain times of the year.
Communion in the Episcopal Church is not completely open to anybody, officially we recognize anyone Baptized in the name of the Trinity as able to receive with us, they are members of Christ’s Holy Catholic Church in the universal sense even if they are not members of our denomination- although individual clergy may be more welcoming and while there have been debates in recent years about more open communion the rule is still in place. The Roman Catholic Church actually similarly recognizes anyone baptized this way as a true Christian but requires more formal unity to be able to receive- except for special emergency cases sometimes.
Generally we tend to view Communion as part of the path to church uniy while the Catholic Church views it as the end goal. The Episcopal Church has a very high and reverent understanding of communion – although we use the term Real Presence rather than Transubstantiation we believe Christ is really there when you receive it though leave the mystery of that a little less defined. Episcopal Churches also often include an invitation to come up for a blessing if you are unable or not wanting to receive communion on a given day.
As others have noted Episcopalians do not submit to the Pope as the Supreme head of the church, but there is still respect and we have a long history of dialogue and work for church unity with the Roman Catholic tradition, as well as many other denominations. The Episcopal Church believes itself to have retained certain unique Catholic traditions and recognizes Catholics and the Orthodox as also having maintained them (although the Vatican disputes some of this). As part of that dialogue Eastern Orthodox bishops have sometimes assisted in the ordination of our Bishops to strengthen these ties. The Episcopal Church does have Bishops- our name is actually Greek for Bishop/Overseer, but we do not have Cardinals. We have a national Presiding Bishop as well as 2 legislative houses that decide our business made up of bishops, other clergy and lay people. We are also part of a worldwide Anglican communion that has similar national or regional churches – some of them to use the word Archbishop instead of Presiding, and the Archbishop of Canterbury in England is a unifying worldwide figure, but with authority more symbolic than the Pope’s. Each of our member Provinces governs itself but we come together periodically as members of a broader tradition.
Very good synopsis!
The God that I believe in would never turn anyone away from His table. He is all welcoming. God know me and my sins. It is to Him that I daily ask for forgiveness. I was raised in the Catholic Church. I think if myself as a Christian rather than any specific denomination.
Episcopalians due can share with a priest the sacrament of confession or reconciliation.
Episcopalians due believe in the real presence of Christ in the Body and Blood and in essence agree on the Blessed Sacrament, where most Episcopal Churches have keep reserved sacrament with candle always light to remind us. I have been in Roman Catholic Churches where the priest will off communion to all who are baptized. In the Episcopal Church we can call the Holy Eucharist, Mass, Divine Liturgy, the Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion. If a host is dropped the clergy must pick up and eat an example that we honor Christ in the Holy Sacrament.
I will agree that King Henry’s destroying the religious houses during the break with Rome was horrible and was pure greed. The return of nuns and monks in the Anglican Communion does not justify his actions but can be taken as a need for their place in the Church. When the Diocese of Vermont consecrated the first diocesan woman bishop, some the Roman Catholic nuns held a sign at the reception that read, “this is a great day for the Church” I hope like the tearing down of the barriers is is truly Catholic we have a culture and other groups that are seeking destroy our purpose and that is to be the Body of Christ on earth. Deacon Jim
You are incorrect on birth control. Catholics are forbidden from ARTIFICIAL birth control. They can use natural family planning cycles as long as there is nothing that prevents the possibility of birth.
Marriage is for birth love and the reinforcement of your partner to become spiritually closer to God AND for the continuation of life through the gift of children.
I have considered the Episcopal Church for some time now. Being a divorced Catholic, the church prohibits me from receiving Holy Communion. Try as I might, I can find no biblical passage which denies sacraments to people who have divorced. A number of tenets of the Catholic faith did not come from Jesus Christ. They were decrees issued by men. Priests were at one time allowed to marry. Jesus never prohibited it. Man did. After studying the papacy there were some real gems. Alexander the VI comes I.mmediately to mind, but there were others who were worse. This does not comport with the doctrine of papal infallibility. One might say I have lost my faith, not in God, but in the Church of Rome. Hypocrisy reigns. Child molesters are hidden and now the lay Catholics are having to pay enormous settlements for obscene behavior and criminal acts by the clergy. I have had enough. Who aould want a relationship with such a church? Indeed, there are good, devout Catholics, but the clergy has failed them on so many levels. If I make the change, it will be to bring me closer to God. It is not a denomination issue, it is a personal desire to be closer to our Lord and not to be excluded from the cacramdnts because I divorced.
I agree that Catholics need to be more open, welcoming and stop prosecuting the faithful of other denominations. At the same a recognition that if it wasn’t for the Catholic Church there will be no church today…None!
Episcopalian Nuns can smoke and drink.
The six reasons above are more or less to the point, although technically non-Catholics can receive communion in the Catholic Church as long as their church has valid sacraments which would only include Orthodox, Assyrian and Polish National Catholic churches.
The other difference between the Catholic and Episcopal Churches is that the Catholic Church has consistent doctrines that do NOT vary from parish to parish. There may be priests who chose for whatever reason not to enforce a particular doctrine…denying communion to a divorced person, etc.
But to give you an example. I attend several Episcopal Churches in Chicago. And I will contrast two extremes. On church was very conservative. A large portion of its congregation was from Africa. They did not officiate gay marriages, would not accept a female rector, refused to let the mosque across the street share their parking lot, did not use inclusive language, had a prolife group, bible study, went out to evangelize and did not look favorably on their denomination.
The other church, just about 2 1/2 away was extremely liberal. The rector was a women. They performed gay marriages and supported abortion rights. They frequently worked with Musims, used extremely inclusive language to the point that you doubted that they were even Trinitarian and instead of evangelizing, they protested social justice and other non-religious issues.
To both church’s credit, they were among the largest congregations I had been to, both with about 250-300 worshippers. But how can these churches claim to be part of the same denomination. This implication of this is that if neighborhood demographics changes or you get a new pastor, voila, now your church has gay marriage,refers to God the Father as “mother” and refuses to read the correct Bible verses on Good Friday for fear they may be anti-Semitic.
In the Catholic Church you know that whether you go to Church A or Church B or attend church in Chicago, Mexico or France, everything will be the same.
Hello; this article has many errors in it. For example, Episcopalians do elect their bishops, but they don’t elect their cardinals because that church doesn’t HAVE cardinals. Also, you state that Episcopalians don’t go to confession like Catholics do. That’s incorrect, many DO. The difference is that it isn’t mandatory. Go into any “high church” Anglo-Catholic Episcopal parish church and you’ll likely find that it looks more Roman Catholic than do most Catholic churches today: statues, icons, confessionals, incense, devout, formal liturgy, etc.
I have not heard anybody taking about the difference between RCC and Episcopalian in that RCC are still considering gay people as a disorder, but the Episcopalian have open arms to any sexual orientation. I left the Catholic because God made me gay. I surely did not ask for it, and I want to feel good for the way God made me.
An utterly ignorant article. I’m not even Catholic, or religious for that matter, but even I know that Catholics don’t “pray to saints”. They ask saints to pray “for them”, or Mary to pray “for them”, but they don’t directly pray to saints. This talk about “idol worshiping” sounds like it came off the fingertips of an Evangelical rube rather than a sophisticated Episcopalian.
And as someone who was brought up in the high-church Episcopal tradition (although I left the religion), I can tell you that there are Episcopalians in the US who do almost everything that Catholics do, including priest confessions.
Why would you want to partake in a communion of a sort that you have no knowledge of?
Hi, just for the record. The Episcopal Church was not founded by King Henry 8th of England. They received their Episcopal succession via the Episcopal Church of Scotland. Henry lived and died a Roman Catholic. He was not a very nice man. The Church of England was also not founded by Henry. It traces its roots back to the Apostles, especially St Peter. Queen Elizabeth 1st
Was the English Queen who had the greatest influence on its Polity. It’s best theologian was Richard Hooker who borrowed his theology from st Thomas Aquinas.
I am an episcopalian. Episcolaluans are not just like the Roman Catholics. Episcopalians are Catholics. It is possibly incorrect to refer to Roman Catholics anyone who belonged to this church before the Ciuncil of Trent – just ask your Parish Priest if you wish confirmation.
Every blessings to fellow Christians in Roman and Episcopal ethos.
Robert Henderson
Educated at Trinity College Dublin and Dominican College Europe
Religion has separated humanity further from God and away from the teachings of Christ, often with catastrophic consequences, since the beginning. Religion is Satan’s most effective weapon against mankind. Religion is not Spirituality. Spirituality is a connection of each soul with God, reverently respectful of Creation and desirous to live exemplary, according to the teachings of Christ. It needs no title, no heirarchy; these are a perversion of man by the discreet influence from Satan, penetrated through our blindness in sin. The more importance we allow the standards of “Religion”, the more we play into the skills of Satan and his intended purpose for us all.
Thank you for your consideration. May God’s Sweet Blessings be Shared Abundantly Among All.
Yours in Christ,
Nanci
The Catholic Church was
established by Jesus Christ. She is the One True Church. Protestant denominations were established to permit divorce or other licenses to sin.
We are to conform to God’s will and not the other way around.
I was a Lutheran from 1984 – 2004
then in January of 2005 I became a
loyal member of the
Presbyterian Church USA the reason
that I was a member of the
Lutheran Church from 1984 – 2004
then became a loyal member of the
Presbyterian Church USA in
January of 2005 is because
it took me 20 years to find out
the hard way that Lutherans
are full of bologna.
Episcopal Church does believe in confession and there’s a whole section of the Eucharist dedicated to it each week plus it’s one of our sacraments. Rite Of Reconciliation. Which has two forms which are conducted in private with our Priest. Now we don’t have a confessional but we do confess for sure. Reconciliation of the Penitent p447 BCP 1979