so I was recently talking to a Anglican friend and I realized they too have a mass structure similar to ours and some pray the rosary I started thinking do they even have a right to these things as there not in union with Rome some even believe in the transubstantiation of the eucruist as we do but they can have a valid eucruist can they ? Since there not united with us y should they get our stuff I know the history of the Anglican Church but if there not with us are they against us ?
I'd say that it's a combination of "stealing" (in one sense, I guess) and "keeping" stuff from us.
Anglicanism today is a tricky thing, because Anglicanism hasn't always been the same. Early Anglicanism (as distinct from a schismatic, but Catholic, English Church) was NOT very similar to us. It adopted much of the trappings of Continental Protestantism and forbade the use of many Catholic theologies and practices. Later on, as time passed (especially in the 19th century), the Church of England started to adopt a lot of Catholic distinctives for a variety of reasons. Thus, some things that are "Catholic" about Anglicans were kept from the schism (such as episcopal polity, for example) but most other things are adoptions of recent centuries (much of what your friend probably refers to).
Robert Ian Williams, a convert from Anglicanism,
wrote on this very subject in a way that really answers your question best. Also, in my home Diocese (at least before I joined the Order), there is a married priest who is a former Anglican minister. He wrote two excellent articles on explaining Anglicanism to Catholics. You'd probably enjoy reading them. The
first article discusses some basics about Anglicanism for orthodox Catholics. The
second article discusses the current situation of Anglicans (which is not good, actually).
Basically, here's the best way to approach Anglicanism:
The Anglicans are, at this stage in history, one of the closest Western Christian communities to the Catholic Church. They lack Holy Orders, and that is a severe impediment because it means they don't have sacraments except for baptism and matrimony; however, there are (by both keeping and adopting) elements of Catholic truth throughout the movement (especially in more traditional, "Anglo-Catholic" Anglicans) that impel towards the return to unity with the true Church (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 819). They are our brothers and sisters in an imperfect union (CCC 818) and we are called to help them find fully unity with the Catholic Church. One way to do that is to appeal to the Catholic things they still cherish.
As a matter of fact, there is a "use" (a variant) of the Roman Rite called the "
Anglican Use." It is approved by Rome and consists of the Anglican liturgy (corrected of heretical stuff) celebrated by validly ordained priests. Many converts from Anglicanism join these parishes, which allow them to celebrate their Anglican heritage without being outside the Catholic Church. This was one of the ways that the Pope
opened the door to letting Anglicans come home to Catholicism.
One-day, God-willing, the Anglican movement will renounce its errors of theology and practice and return home to the Catholic Church. On that day, the Blessed Virgin Mary will be most happy since England was called "Mary's Dowry."
Until that time, we must work to dialogue with Anglicans of good-will (like your friend) and gently teach them the Catholic Faith and be witnesses of it with our own lives. Henry VIII's mistake was a very, very bad one...but not bad enough to stop God's grace!
