What are Anglo-Catholics?

BjBarnett · #1 5th May 2004, 11:03 PM

What are Anglo-Catholics? I mean what sets them off from a Roman Catholic. I think they are not in communion with rome. is that the only thing? Thanks in advanced

Bulldog · #2 5th May 2004, 11:15 PM

They are the "hiher: Anglicans.

They are more traditional than the "lower" Anglicans, and they share many/most of the practices with Catholics.

It seems to me like the major difference is Papal Infaliiblilty, plus ome minor ones.

PaladinValer · #3 6th May 2004, 12:05 AM

Anglicans/Episcopalians are only slightly different from Catholics:

1. We allow women to become ordained clergy. In some provinces, women are even bishops.
2. We allow our clergy the option to marry or remain celibate.
3. Although we do fully believe in the Real Presence in the Eucharist, the official doctrine of the AC doesn't go far as to affirm the doctrine of transubstantiation. Most of us a consubstantiationists, although there are some transubstantiationists too
4. The big issues are still open and are still debated.
5. We do not recognize the Pope as the vicar of the Christ, although we do recognize him as a bishop.
6. Officially, the AC believes that the OT Deuterocanonical/Apocryphal Books are useful aids, but are not to be used to promote doctrine, although there are many of us (like myself) who consider these books fully canonical like you Catholics

Ten Big similarities (among others):

1. Apostolic Succession
2. Affirm the authority of Holy Tradition
3. Jesus' Body and Blood is there at the Eucharist
4. We used the same lectionary, the Revised Common Lectionary
5. We have three ordinaries just like you: deacons, priests, and bishops
6. The same worship style: first is the Liturgy of the Word and then is the Liturgy of the Eucharist
7. We both firmly believe in the "Communion of Saints" (yup, we got those saints and are sometimes accused of saint-worship [or at least I was recently] just like you)
8. We both have the same holy days and liturgical calender (All Saint's Day, Pentecost, Day of the Transfiguration, etc) and use of colors during seasons (red for Pentecost, white for Easter, etc)
9. We have the same seven sacraments that impart grace
10. We pray for the dead

BjBarnett · #4 6th May 2004, 12:33 AM

Originally Posted by PaladinValer

Anglicans/Episcopalians are only slightly different from Catholics:

1. We allow women to become ordained clergy. In some provinces, women are even bishops.
2. We allow our clergy the option to marry or remain celibate.
3. Although we do fully believe in the Real Presence in the Eucharist, the official doctrine of the AC doesn't go far as to affirm the doctrine of transubstantiation. Most of us a consubstantiationists, although there are some transubstantiationists too
4. The big issues are still open and are still debated.
5. We do not recognize the Pope as the vicar of the Christ, although we do recognize him as a bishop.
6. Officially, the AC believes that the OT Deuterocanonical/Apocryphal Books are useful aids, but are not to be used to promote doctrine, although there are many of us (like myself) who consider these books fully canonical like you Catholics

Ten Big similarities (among others):

1. Apostolic Succession
2. Affirm the authority of Holy Tradition
3. Jesus' Body and Blood is there at the Eucharist
4. We used the same lectionary, the Revised Common Lectionary
5. We have three ordinaries just like you: deacons, priests, and bishops
6. The same worship style: first is the Liturgy of the Word and then is the Liturgy of the Eucharist
7. We both firmly believe in the "Communion of Saints" (yup, we got those saints and are sometimes accused of saint-worship [or at least I was recently] just like you)
8. We both have the same holy days and liturgical calender (All Saint's Day, Pentecost, Day of the Transfiguration, etc) and use of colors during seasons (red for Pentecost, white for Easter, etc)
9. We have the same seven sacraments that impart grace
10. We pray for the dead

wow you believe in the communion of saints? very cool. i didnt think any protestant faiths believed in it.

Colabomb · #5 6th May 2004, 06:07 PM

I will clarify, that that list does not speak for all Anglicans

My denomination is FULLY against the ordination of women to the priesthood.

TomUK · #6 6th May 2004, 06:50 PM

Indeed, My anglo-catholic church does not agree with the ordination of women. Neither do many Anglican churches.

bonniea84 · #7 7th May 2004, 12:00 AM

I'm grateful that our diocese *DOES* support the ordination of women. If that wasn't the case, we'd be missing out on one of the best priests our church has ever had. She's so wonderful and is so filled with the Holy Spirit. Praise be to God for that.

Karl - Liberal Backslider · #8 7th May 2004, 04:55 PM

There are distinctly two species of Anglo-Catholic - the Affirming Catholic types, who tend to the liberal on matters of sexuality and the ordination of women, and (in the CofE) the "Resolution A, B and C" types who are conservative on these issues.

Of course, there's lots in between and people who are accepting of one but not the other. But the two types are noticeable!

This is because Anglicanism is best seen as a Triangle:

E

..............L (Ignore the dots; it's just that the board software removes the extra spaces)

C

Where E is Evangelical, L is Liberal and C is Catholic.
Any individual will be somewhere within this triangle. A (n Anglo-) Catholic who veers towards Liberal will be likely friendly towards Aff Cath; one who leans towards Evangelical will likely oppose the ordination of Women and take a traditional line on sexuality.

BAChristian · #9 7th May 2004, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by Colabomb

I will clarify, that that list does not speak for all Anglicans

My denomination is FULLY against the ordination of women to the priesthood.

I actually didn't realize that...

So does the Anglican churches and Episcopalian churches share the same authority hiearchy? Is it just that we typically call Anglican churches in the US, Episcopalian?

PaladinValer · #10 7th May 2004, 11:59 PM

First off, I apologize for being so broad in my analysis. There are those Anglicans/Episcopalians who disagree with women clergy (although I respectfully disagree), and I wish to apologize if I caused any alienization.

To answer BA's question:

We, like Catholics, uphold the historic hierarchical rankings (and functions) of deacon, priest, and bishop. Deacons can either be transient deacons, who are on their way to becoming priests or one can be a permanent deacon. Deacons cannot celibrate the Mass (unless under special instruction), but can read the Gospel. Currently, our denomination (at least in the 'States) is going through a revival of the original role of deacons for ministering to the people (the sick, etc), which I find to be excellent.

The official Anglican Church in the United States is the ECUSA, the Episcopal Church USA. We are called Episcopalians here instead of Anglicans because our first bishop was ordained through the Scotts and not the English. The Scottish also use the term Episcopalian, and so therefore, so do we here in the United States. There are a few other places in the world that also use the term "Episcopalian" instead of "Anglican" as well.

I should note that each Anglican province is administered to seperately by its own archbishop (or presiding bishop here in the US). The ABC, Rowan Williams, is our first-among-equals. Once every 10 years, all provinces elect members to participate in the Lambeth Conference where all Anglicans participate and set official "broad" beliefs, etc.