Among the key differences between the two traditions are beliefs about the priesthood. Many
The Anglican Church originated when King Henry VIII split from the Roman Catholic Church in 1534, when the pope refused to grant the king an annulment. The Anglican Communion is made up of 46 independent churches, of which the US Episcopal Church is one.
While many Anglicans celebrate the Eucharist in similar ways to the predominant western Catholic tradition, a considerable degree of liturgical freedom is permitted, and worship styles range from simple to elaborate.
Anglicans believe that the Roman Catholic Church is a true, Christian Church. We may have issues with some of their theology and practice, even serious issues, but we affirm their faith in Jesus Christ. The Roman Catholic Church affirms the creeds, Holy Scripture and the orthodox faith.
Trinitarian – Anglicans believe that there is One God who exists eternally in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Furthermore, we believe that Jesus Christ is completely God and is also completely human. If a religious group does not teach these two doctrines, we do not recognize them as Christian.
It has been said that the Anglican Communion rests on the three pillars of Faith, Reason and Tradition. The unique strength of Anglicanism lies in our attempts to hold in balance these three aspects of our belief.
Anglicanism, one of the major branches of the 16th-century Protestant Reformation and a form of Christianity that includes features of both Protestantism and Roman Catholicism.
Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians pray 'to' Mary (i.e. 'invocate'). Anglican tend to pray 'with' her (i.e. 'comprecate'). With her, we pray that we may bring birth to God's word in the world.
James' is an Anglican-Catholic church where we emphasize the Catholic elements of the Anglican faith. As Anglican-Catholics we venerate the Virgin Mary, and for this reason, we pray the Rosary.
Anglicans and Old Catholics are welcome to participate fully in each other's worship and receive communion at celebrations of the Eucharist; clergy may act fully in each other's churches. This was the first agreement of its kind that Anglicans had ever concluded.
The Anglican tradition is full of hidden treasures, among the chief of which is the discipline of private confession, now usually called the Reconciliation of a Penitent. Forgiveness, of course is basic to the Christian way of life, as we seek to do God's will and fall short of doing it.
The original Anglican Bible was the so-called King James Bible, the Authorised Version. It exists in the original, and also as several modern revised versions. The Jerusalem Bible and the New English Bible are more recent translations.
Current Anglican Communion
The modern Anglican Church of Canada permits divorce and remarriage.
Contrary to popular belief, the royal family is not Catholic. We repeat, they are not Catholic. The royals are in fact the head of the Church of England, which is a Protestant Anglican church, and they've been a part of this religion since the 16th century.
The Sovereign holds the title 'Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England'.
Worship (latria) is properly given only to God. While Anglicans can agree that God alone is to be worshipped, many do not agree that Mary should receive a degree of veneration above the other saints; she is simply the greatest of all the saints, and she should be venerated as such.
Catholic (both Eastern and Western), Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican and Lutheran Christians generally use the crucifix in public religious services.
The Anglo-Catholic movement saw a resurgence in the use of the sign of the cross within Anglicanism, including by laity and in church architecture and decoration; historically, "high church" Anglicans were more apt to make the sign of the cross than "low church" Anglicans.
Anglican use
Some Anglicans also employ the Hail Mary in devotional practice. Anglo-Catholic Anglicans use the prayer in much the same way as Roman Catholics, including use of the Rosary and the recitation of the Angelus.
Tongues are less associated with Anglicanism than with a form of Christianity known as "charismatic" . Many charismatic worshippers expect the work of the Holy Spirit to be seen in miracles and supernatural occurrences in their lives.
Immaculate Conception refers to the mandatory Catholic dogma, pronounced in 1854, that Mary was born free of “original sin.” The Assumption refers to the belief required since 1950 that Mary was directly received, body and soul, into heaven at the end of her life. Anglicans have neither teaching.
Within the Anglican faith, there is a belief that the quality of the afterlife is based on how the deceased lived their life. Many Anglicans believe that faith in Christ is a fundamental aspect of assuring an eternal life with God. Without this faith in God, it is believed that one could be condemned to eternal death.
We believe that after Jesus' ascension into Heaven, God the Holy Spirit was given as a gift to all believers, and equips, guides, and renews God's people whilst conforming the church to the image of Christ.
The Anglican Church rejects the Roman Catholic doctrine of purgatory while affirming that salvation is based solely on Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross, without the addition of human works. The church professes belief in the three Christian creeds: the Apostles' Creed, Nicene Creed, and Athanasian Creed.