What are the differences in beliefs of Espicopals and Roman Catholics?

Question

I have been trying out different churches. Originally I started out at a Baptist Church. But I felt opinion and politics were taught more than the bible. I want to go to church and here about the "Good News" . I later went to my Aunt's church. (She's Episcopalian) I don't really like the fact that they are letting homosexuals become priests and bishops. I did however enjoy the service. I like the rituals and routine of the service. I am going to go to church with my friend Sunday. (she's Catholic). What are the major differences between the Episcopal and Catholics.? Politically, I would say I am in the middle and to the right. I guess that's one thing I didn't like about the Episcopal church. They seem a little liberal.

Answer 1

>>Politically, I would say I am in the middle and to the right. I guess that's one thing I didn't like about the Episcopal church. They seem a little liberal.<<

That's all fine and well, but is it relevant to finding a church? Shouldn't the goal be to find out if there is a God-given religion, and if so, what is it? You should be concerned with how God wants you to worship Him, rather than how you want to worship God.

>>What are the major differences between the Episcopal and Catholics.?<<

The Episcopal communion makes no claims it is the One True Church. The Catholic Church does. I tried to disprove the Catholic Church's claims, and failed.

Answer 2

I don't know too much about the Episcopal Church, but I would say that theologically the main difference is our understand of the Eucharist. The whole concept of "this IS the Body and Blood of Christ" is pretty tricky, especially when you try to define symbol.

On another level, the Catholic Church is not going to allow married or women priests into its ranks for a long time. Whether you agree with those concepts or not, it's pretty a given that it won't happen in the next couple dozen years. As for homosexuality, the Catholic Church believes that the ACT of homosexual sex is a sin, but that being homosexual in and of itself is not. In this case, it's all about the actions. So yes, you will find gays in the priesthood. The important thing for any priest is the be true to his vows, and that includes abstinence from ALL sex.

Ritualistically, from my point of view, Catholics and Episcopals share quite a bit. Go check out a Catholic service or two. Remember that some churches will be more liberal than others in HOW they express their beliefs. You might want to try a couple of different parishes to get a feel for things.

Answer 3

The Episcopal Church was part of the Roman Catholic church until the Reformation in the 1500's. During those years, most of the Northern European Catholics split off and that's why you have Protestants today.

In the Episcopal case, King Henry VIII of England wanted to get a divorce, and the Pope wouldn't give him one. So he had the Archbishop of Canturbury - the head of the Catholic Church in England, split off all of the Catholic dioseces in England from Rome.

Unlike the other Protestants, the newly formed Anglican Church didn't make any significant theological changes - they just had another pope, the Archbishop of Canturbury.

The Anglicans in America changed their name to Episcopal after the American Revolution - but still, they are very similar to the Catholic Church, except they don't answer to the Pope in Rome.

Answer 4

The Episcopal Church in the United States of America (ECUSA) is the sole representative of the worldwide Anglican Communion in the United States of America.


The Roman Catholic Church or Catholic Church (see terminology below) is the Christian Church in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, currently Pope Benedict XVI. It traces its origins to the original Christian community founded by Jesus Christ and led by the Twelve Apostles, in particular Saint Peter.

The Catholic Church is the largest Christian Church and the largest organized body of any world religion.[1] According to the Statistical Yearbook of the Church, the Church's worldwide recorded membership at the end of 2004 was 1,098,366,000 or approximately one in six of the world's population.[2]

The Catholic Church is a worldwide organization made up of one Western or Latin and 22 Eastern Catholic particular Churches, all of which have the Holy See of Rome as their highest authority on earth. It is divided into jurisdictional areas, usually on a territorial basis. The standard territorial unit, each of which is headed by a bishop, is called a diocese in the Latin Church and an eparchy in the Eastern Churches. At the end of 2006, the total number of all these jurisdictional areas (or "Sees") was 2,782.

Answer 5

To my knowledge the only major difference between us and the Episcopals is that the Pope is the head of our Church and the Episcopal Church is led by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Answer 6

Hey, not all Catholics are the same. I'm an ex-C, but my father is one of those Traditional Latin MAssers,
and they were all ex-communicated recently by the Pope.
Why?
Because they are TOO TRUE to the old ways.
Catholic masses tend to be
bleh blah blech hummmmmmmmmmmmm,
whereas Baptist at least has the reputation of being musically and spiritually lifting.
The charismatics might be alittle more upbeat, but definitely more unstable, probably, simply because any one out of the norm has a personality that attracts odd things.
I know; I'm one of them.
Regular Catholics tend to believe that they are the only right way to go, same as the WASPS thought they were the only ones who belonged here in America.
Good luck! Go Unitarian!

Answer 7

Be a part of the believing remnant of these last days.Don't join any church.Study Scripture and find those who are true Bible Believers to worship and study with you.Episc... is close to Romanism which the Harlot of Revelation.

Answer 8

The Roman catholic church, was the first to arrouse after Jesus's crusifiction.

The episcipal church isn't so strick with everything,
You don't have to marry INSIDE YOUR CHURCH

Answer 9

Not much.
Ask Father K.