I think Catholics sometimes have a warped view of the Anglican communion. You often get a glimpse of this when you hear that phrase that drives me up the wall. That is "The Episcopalians are just like us!!" This is usually from a Catholic that had attended an Episcopal service. Of course this so wrong on so many different levels.
Catholic I think tend to have to this view for a main reason. If they live in a highly Catholic area chances are the Episcopal Church them them is more "High Church" or Anglo Catholic looking. But even in these High Church looking places it can be deceptive. For instance in the same Church there can be wide beliefs about what is going on at the altar. That is in a typical More" ANGLO CATHOLIC LOOKING PARISH" you might have a considerable number of Reformed and Evangelical because that attend because that is the only Espiscopla Church in town. This was one reason I could never go Anglican.
Intentional Disciples has a good piece on the factions at Whither Anglicanism? Catholic? Evangelical? Orthodox?
The Vatican is under no illusion any of these reformed and Evangelicals are coming over . They realize they are not the Catholic branch.
All these branches for the most part have been in a common alliance against the forces in the Anglican communion that are turning the Nicene Creed on its head.
Beyond that? This is one overlooked reason why Rome is doing what is doing. In the basic splinter groups and reform groups one gets an impression that Anglo Catholics are not exactly going to be welcome. There are intense theological differences that well cannot be papered over.
Will a ton of Anglo Catholic come over? I have my doubts but the numbers are NOT the issue in Rome's view.
No comments:
Post a Comment