What is the difference between Roman Catholic and Anglican even both of it are Christian?

Answer 1

Because Anglicans broke away from the Catholic Church, they no longer have apostolic succession (which was passed on from Christ to the Apostles). Therefore it is very likely that:

1. Anglican priests and bishops are not validly ordained
2. Anglican sacraments are not valid

Anglicans also do not recognize the authority of the Bishop of Rome (the Pope) in matters of faith and morals. So these are not just political differences or minor issues. They are very critical doctrinal issues that will continue to separate Anglicans from the true Church.

I pray often for the unity of the Church. God bless you!

Answer 2

Anglicanism is the term used to encapsulate the doctrine, religious belief, faith, system, practice and principles of the Church of England and other Anglican churches.

During the short reign of Edward VI, Henry's son, Cranmer and others moved the Church of England significantly towards a more Protestant Calvinist and Zwinglian position, which was reflected in the development of the second Prayer Book (1552) and of the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (originally numbering forty-two). This reform was reversed abruptly in the subsequent reign of Queen Mary, a Roman Catholic who re-established communion with Rome. Under Queen Elizabeth I the English church incorporated aspects of Protestant theology.

Anglicanism differs from many Protestant churches in the following ways:

The use of liturgy and The Book of Common Prayer.
The threefold order of ordained ministers (deacons, priests, and bishops) in apostolic succession.
The use of wine (not grape juice) in the Eucharist.
The emphasis on the eucharist as the standard form of worship.
The requirement that only baptized persons are eligible to receive Communion.
The ordination of women in some dioceses.
Observing feasts, fasts, and the lives of the saints.
Prayers for the dead.
The diocese as the primary unit of governance and not the individual parish or denomination as a whole.
The practice of monasticism.
The practice of infant baptism.

Anglicanism varies from the Roman Catholic Churches and Orthodox Churches in the following ways:

Clergy are allowed to marry.
Ordination of women in some dioceses.
In some provinces the Eucharist is open to all baptized Christians.
The collegiate structure of the church in contrast with Roman Catholic centralization.
The loose structure of the Anglican Communion. Unlike the pope, the Archbishop of Canterbury has no authority outside his province but is regarded as "first among equals" among bishops in the Anglican Communion.

Answer 3

Anglicans (aka the Church of England; includes Episcopalians) broke away from the Catholic Church when King Henry VIII wanted to divorce his first wife for failing to give birth to a son. My understanding is that the two are otherwise similar doctrinally, although the Anglicans are more progressive than the Catholics.

Answer 4

King Henry VIII

This is because the split between the English Church and the Roman Catholic Church was due not so much to theological disagreements, as was the case with other Reformation movements in Europe, but rather because of personal and political disagreements between King Henry VIII and Pope Clement VII. Thus, it is not surprising that so much of what characterized Roman Catholicism of the time has survived in Anglicanism today.

On the other hand, it decisively broke from Roman Catholicism in that it placed itself under the direct control of the English monarch rather than the pope. The strong similarities have led to many Anglican priests and bishops converting to Roman Catholicism over the years because they have felt more comfortable with Roman Catholic traditions. There have also been many attempts to increase the number of Catholic customs and practices within Anglicanism - for example the Oxford Movement during the early 19th century.

Anglicanism as we know it today was shaped to a large extent by the efforts of Queen Elizabeth I. She was faced with a difficult situation in that many members of the Anglican Church wanted to return to the fold of Roman Catholicism while others, heavily influenced by Protestant theologians, wanted to "purify" the Anglican Church of all Catholic influences (hence the name Puritans). Elizabeth was not in favor of either, wanting instead to continue supporting a distinctly English Church.

Answer 5

I was baptised both Roman Catholic and Anglican.
The Roman Catholic head of state is the pope, the Anglican head of state is the Ruler of England i.e King or Queen. I was always told that it was because King Henry VIII wanted to divorce his wife but the pope of the time was related to his current wife and did not want this to happen so he refused so the king removed the church from England and made himself head of state so he could marry someone else. I'm not sure if it really is true but I do like the story.

Answer 6

The difference is in the Eucharist. In the Catholic Eucharist the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ is present in the Holy Eucharist as instituted by Jesus Himself at the Last Supper. This Truth was handed down through the Apostles and continues through the See of Peter through the Pope. In the Anglican Tradition the Eucharist is symbolic as the bread and wine can only be changed into the Body and Blood of Christ through the hands of a Catholic Priest acting in Persona Christi(in the Person of Christ).This is known as Transubstantiation.

Answer 7

The Anglican church split from the Roman Catholic Church in 1534 CE. The main cause was a dispute between King Henry VIII of England and the pope over the king's need to annul his marriage. The Anglican Church became the state church of England. It now consists of many affiliated provinces (national churches) across the world, such as the Episcopal Church, USA and the Anglican Church of Canada.

The two churches have gradually drifted apart on theological grounds. During the 20th century, the churches have also adopted different policies on various matters -- particularly those related to human sexuality. Some points of conflict between the two churches are:

The Roman Catholic Church refuses to recognize that Anglican priests have been legitimately ordained and that their bishops have been legally consecrated. This means, for example, Roman Catholics and Anglicans cannot receive the communion elements together.

Catholics believe in the existence of Purgatory as a place and state after death. Anglicans do not.

Catholics believe that the wine and wafer become the actual blood and body of Christ during the Eucharist. Anglicans do not.

Catholics believe that the pope has authority over all of Christianity. Anglican Archbishop George Cary says that he has no problem with the idea of a "universal" primate. It is the nature, jurisdiction and authority of that primacy that must be settled.

The Catholic church, alone, believes that certain of the the pope's pronouncements, when he speaks ex cathedra (officially) on matters of faith and morals, are infallible.

The pope is the ultimate authority in the Roman Catholic Church. Decisions in the Anglican churches require separate affirmative votes by the laity, clergy and bishops.

Anglicans do not believe in the Immaculate Conception (the dogma that Mary was without sin when she was conceived circa 20 BCE.) They do not believe that she was transferred bodily to heaven at her death. There is a growing belief in the Catholic Church that Mary has the status, with Jesus, of co-redemptrix. That concept is quite foreign to Protestant and Anglican denominations.

Very few Catholic priests and bishops are allowed to marry.

Catholic women are not eligible for ordination to the priesthood. The pope considers the matter a closed subject and has forbidden discussion on it. In 1971, two Anglican women in Hong Kong became the first female regularly ordained women in the Anglican Communion. This was followed by female ordination in many other Anglican churches and finally --in 1992 -- in the Church of England.

Women have been consecrated as bishops in some Anglican jurisdictions.

Catholics do not allow Divorce and remarriage; Anglicans do.

Birth control is forbidden for Catholics, although most North Americans use it routinely. To Anglicans, it is a private, not a religious, issue.

Roman Catholic women are forbidden to have an an abortion. The Anglican church takes a more liberal view.

Roman Catholic couples who are infertile are forbidden to start pregnancies through in vitro fertilization. To Anglicans, it is not a religious issue.


In 2001, the New Westminster, British Columbia diocese of the Anglican Church of Canada voted in favor of blessing gay and lesbian unions. In 2003-JAN, Rowan Williams was installed as the new Archbishop of Canterbury. He brings with him a strong desire to promote equality of persons of all sexual orientations within the Anglican Communion. During the 2003 General Convention of the Episcopal Church, USA, the consecration of Bishop Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire was confirmed. He was divorced and is now in a long term, committed relationship with another man. Any movement towards the ordination of homosexual priests who are in committed relationships, and/or the blessing of gay and lesbian unions will increase the divisions between the Anglican Communion and Roman Catholic Church.

Of these, the most serious point of dispute appears to be the authority of the Pope and the Vatican.

Answer 8

"Apostolic" - Authority of the Pope.

During the mid 1000's the RC Church was tarnished by many things. A few leaders decided that "Reformation" was needed and that they should appoint themselves as leaders into the reformation.

The RC Church, well, she moves slow. She started reformation in the 1600's which was the same time that Henry the VIIIth decided he wanted to be "Divine" and have authority for divorce. So the fruits of "Reformation" had little to no time to be absorbed before this major fraction in Christianity.

This split made it appear that anyone anywhere could appoint themselves as authority over what is good and what is not good. So, Christan's started splitting at the drop of a hat and this results into hundreds of Christan types. Mean while the RC Church slowly kept reforming with the last reformation of Vatican II (which aligned RC's closly with Orthodox & Anglican's).

The Anglican faith remains very similar to the RC faith except in the Sacraments of Reconciliation & Holy Orders. RC's believe that the "Keys of Heaven" were passed to Peter and Peter was the first Pope. As Pope, he creates authority, and "Apostolic Suceccion".

Pope John Paul II did much work on finding what was common in hopes of uniting with out brothers and sisters in Chirst. He did so with many great writing and efforts of Joseph Ratenger (current Pope Benedict XVI) ... who's also reaching out to all Christains.

Answer 9

relies upon on how liberal the Anglican Church is. some are basically Catholic churches that permit divorce. that's what Henry the eighth needed while he based the Anglican church. Others are extra equivalent to the Lutheran churches (Missouri senate) the place they striped out the saints and virgin Mary and allowed there pastors/clergymen to marry. And nevertheless others are extra equivalent to truly some the later protestant churches.

Answer 10

Mostly the Pope. Anglicans say the 'three legged stool' of their faith are tradition, scripture and reason. I think they put the reason bit intentionally to make a point. Their traditions and scriptures are the same.

To speak for a moment to the answerer above, the apostolic tradition was maintained in the Anglican church after they broke away from the Catholic Church. The "I'm right and you're not" argument has never been Christianity's most appealing feature.

*edit*
H20 and Spirit - again, the "I'm right and you're not" argument has never been Christianity's most appealing feature.