You’re saying the solution to the mess of Western Anglicanism is for the Church of England to re-enter full communion with Rome and return to orthodox Catholicism?
As with many people, I’d assumed it was Henry VIII who established the Anglican Church, & as an entity distinct from the Church of Rome.
With a Polish father & Welsh mother, who converted to Roman Catholicism upon marriage in England, I’m very much a traditional Roman Catholic. And I served as an Altar Boy, & learned Latin for that purpose, & for four years in Secondary School at Christian Brothers College in St Kilda, Melbourne. They were good times, & I miss them.
Indeed, my understanding is that you’re correct. Henry VIII ordered that Roman Catholic Churches, Monasteries &c be destroyed, & when priests & monks attempted to defend them, many of those were slaughtered.
A recent documentary I saw suggested that Henry VIII wasn’t necessarily always doing this out of anger at the Pope’s ruling, but to top up the coffers to fund ongoing wars &c: churches & monasteries were looted for gold, silver &c.
There is only one focus for unity, and that is Rome and the Successor of Peter, upon which rock Christ founded the Church. But there is diversity in the unity, and Anglicans will find as much of their theology, their liturgy and even their ecclesiology as possible, made available in the Ordinariates. Making that move was the best decision I ever made.
I came to Anglicanism from traditional Protestantism when my Catholic husband and I were looking for a church we could attend together. In the early 90s, in the U.S., it was still Episcopal but broke away after the Gene Robinson debacle in 2003. I’m now in a faithful, traditional small church in ACNA. No women priests here!
Seven years ago my sister converted to Catholicism, so I have spent a lot of time studying Roman Catholic doctrine and teachings. You could even call me an Anglo Catholic. But however much I recognize Catholics and Orthodox as my brothers and sisters in Christ, I don’t see how Anglicans could ever re-unite with the Roman Catholics because of their insistence on treating extra-Biblical doctrines such as those concerning Mary, priestly celibacy, and papal infallibility as required beliefs. My husband, a cradle Catholic, doesn’t believe those things, but when you convert to Catholicism, you have to accept everything they teach. I can’t do that, nor can I put tradition on the same level as the Biblical record.
I agree that there is only one true Church but believe it to be a spiritual reality rather than a physical one.
Father, have you ever prayerfully considered joining the Ordinariate someday? I truly believe it could be a great gift, not only to the Ordinariate, but to the whole Church, to have you there, using your pastoral gifts to preach Christ and foster a deeper unity among apostolic Christians within the heart of the Roman Catholic Church. You could help preserve and expand the richness of the Anglo-Catholic heritage while guiding us to rediscover and restore the beauty of our Western liturgical tradition. It would be a blessing for so many of us to see your witness in that mission.
I was raised Church of England but im so disillusioned with it as a Christian i no longer attend. Where do i go? Am i expecting too much from my Church? It has moved away so much from the teachings i dont feel comfortable there anymore and i find myself adrift. I have even considered maybe Catholicism is the answer. I am open to others who may have experienced the same.
Totally agree with you Joan, the church left me so I started listening to The Bible in a Year podcast by Fr Mike Schmitz. It is amazing the things I have learned, for example I had to buy a new Bible because Matin Luther took 6 books out of the Bible.
We are now reading Tobit! I have found so much solace in this podcast.
Hi Dale, I am on the path to faith. I initially bought a NKJV Bible but then started to simultaneously listen to the Augustine Institute’s ‘Bible in a Year’ readings on their free Amen App, which uses ESV-CE. I’ve almost completely finished both versions & have an appointment at my local Catholic parish next week to begin the process of becoming a member of the Catholic faith. I’ve never felt such peace. 🙏
I too am in a similar position. I can’t return to Rome, and evangelical churches showcase services that are more suited to a talent quest. I believe Luther’s sola fide was a game changer, that cut through the CC emphasis on works and indulgences. As to Calvin’s argument, I disagree with his premise.
What an extraordinary article with which I heartily disagree. Christians do not necessarily agree on interpretations of Scripture, nor matters of doctrine nor preferred style of worship. But we are agreed on the essential reality of God, the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ and need to respect our differences. The strength of different denominations is that we can find one which suits us. I attend an Anglican church without agreeing with everything that the Anglican Church says and does. It doesn't matter because we are all Christians. What we need is people, Roman Catholics in particular, ceasing to say that theirs is the one true Church and that everybody else is in error. We will not know for sure until after we leave this life.
Thank you, Father, so much for this. As a neophyte (converted in 2023), I hunger and thirst for knowledge and deeper understanding of my Catholic faith. You may not be amazed by this, but it is incredibly difficult to find clergy willing to teach and guide me toward this. It's hard to do it alone, but I'm doing my best. Your words and scholarship help me. You are in my prayers, Father. 🙏🏻❤️✝️
I don't mean to cast aspersions on the clergy as a whole, I have great respect for priests. The problem, in my admittedly limited experience, is more the general atmosphere regarding catechization. I keep getting referred to Apps and websites, "go online". It's disheartening. Especially when one gets a homily about how we need to get off our devices, yet the bulletin is full of ads for online (website) teaching, prayer life, etc. 🙁
The Church (Catholic) still existed after Henry split. In priest holes, the hearts of holy women, in dungeons and on the gallows.
St Edmund Campion pray for us.
Come home man +
The West and the Church will live or die based on whether we choose Jesus vs the many faced enemy: secularist humanism/neo-marxism/neo-paganism/Islam.
You’re saying the solution to the mess of Western Anglicanism is for the Church of England to re-enter full communion with Rome and return to orthodox Catholicism?
Yes.
Maybe it needs to return to its original, Celtic roots, which predates the Roman Church in Britain.
Fascinating history & context. Thanks Father.
As with many people, I’d assumed it was Henry VIII who established the Anglican Church, & as an entity distinct from the Church of Rome.
With a Polish father & Welsh mother, who converted to Roman Catholicism upon marriage in England, I’m very much a traditional Roman Catholic. And I served as an Altar Boy, & learned Latin for that purpose, & for four years in Secondary School at Christian Brothers College in St Kilda, Melbourne. They were good times, & I miss them.
✝️🙏
But as for ‘priestesses’ & ‘bishopesses’……..
Didn't he, though? I'm truly curious. Didn't the Catholic Church in England face horrible persecution from at least the early 1500s?
Good question.
Indeed, my understanding is that you’re correct. Henry VIII ordered that Roman Catholic Churches, Monasteries &c be destroyed, & when priests & monks attempted to defend them, many of those were slaughtered.
A recent documentary I saw suggested that Henry VIII wasn’t necessarily always doing this out of anger at the Pope’s ruling, but to top up the coffers to fund ongoing wars &c: churches & monasteries were looted for gold, silver &c.
I’ll need to do more research.
There is only one focus for unity, and that is Rome and the Successor of Peter, upon which rock Christ founded the Church. But there is diversity in the unity, and Anglicans will find as much of their theology, their liturgy and even their ecclesiology as possible, made available in the Ordinariates. Making that move was the best decision I ever made.
This was a very helpful historical lesson.
I came to Anglicanism from traditional Protestantism when my Catholic husband and I were looking for a church we could attend together. In the early 90s, in the U.S., it was still Episcopal but broke away after the Gene Robinson debacle in 2003. I’m now in a faithful, traditional small church in ACNA. No women priests here!
Seven years ago my sister converted to Catholicism, so I have spent a lot of time studying Roman Catholic doctrine and teachings. You could even call me an Anglo Catholic. But however much I recognize Catholics and Orthodox as my brothers and sisters in Christ, I don’t see how Anglicans could ever re-unite with the Roman Catholics because of their insistence on treating extra-Biblical doctrines such as those concerning Mary, priestly celibacy, and papal infallibility as required beliefs. My husband, a cradle Catholic, doesn’t believe those things, but when you convert to Catholicism, you have to accept everything they teach. I can’t do that, nor can I put tradition on the same level as the Biblical record.
I agree that there is only one true Church but believe it to be a spiritual reality rather than a physical one.
Thank you for sharing your take. Genuinely interesting. 👍
I have the exact same struggles as you. It’s some of the extra-Biblical dogmas I struggle with
Lovely and yes on all counts.
Father, have you ever prayerfully considered joining the Ordinariate someday? I truly believe it could be a great gift, not only to the Ordinariate, but to the whole Church, to have you there, using your pastoral gifts to preach Christ and foster a deeper unity among apostolic Christians within the heart of the Roman Catholic Church. You could help preserve and expand the richness of the Anglo-Catholic heritage while guiding us to rediscover and restore the beauty of our Western liturgical tradition. It would be a blessing for so many of us to see your witness in that mission.
A great piece. Thank you
Great article Fr. Calvin ‼️
That was excellent Fr. and very informative.
I was raised Church of England but im so disillusioned with it as a Christian i no longer attend. Where do i go? Am i expecting too much from my Church? It has moved away so much from the teachings i dont feel comfortable there anymore and i find myself adrift. I have even considered maybe Catholicism is the answer. I am open to others who may have experienced the same.
Totally agree with you Joan, the church left me so I started listening to The Bible in a Year podcast by Fr Mike Schmitz. It is amazing the things I have learned, for example I had to buy a new Bible because Matin Luther took 6 books out of the Bible.
We are now reading Tobit! I have found so much solace in this podcast.
Thank you Dale, i will check it out!
Hi Dale, I am on the path to faith. I initially bought a NKJV Bible but then started to simultaneously listen to the Augustine Institute’s ‘Bible in a Year’ readings on their free Amen App, which uses ESV-CE. I’ve almost completely finished both versions & have an appointment at my local Catholic parish next week to begin the process of becoming a member of the Catholic faith. I’ve never felt such peace. 🙏
If they were "taken out" by inspiration of the Spirit they are not meant to be there ordained as "Holy Scripture".
I too am in a similar position. I can’t return to Rome, and evangelical churches showcase services that are more suited to a talent quest. I believe Luther’s sola fide was a game changer, that cut through the CC emphasis on works and indulgences. As to Calvin’s argument, I disagree with his premise.
What an extraordinary article with which I heartily disagree. Christians do not necessarily agree on interpretations of Scripture, nor matters of doctrine nor preferred style of worship. But we are agreed on the essential reality of God, the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ and need to respect our differences. The strength of different denominations is that we can find one which suits us. I attend an Anglican church without agreeing with everything that the Anglican Church says and does. It doesn't matter because we are all Christians. What we need is people, Roman Catholics in particular, ceasing to say that theirs is the one true Church and that everybody else is in error. We will not know for sure until after we leave this life.
We know the one true Gospel which is all we need know but I'm with you and so agree - we are all one body in Christ - that must be the focus.
We must be gentle with our Catholic brethren. They are beset with invincible ignorance.
Yes.
Well written
Thank you, Luke!
Thank you, Father, so much for this. As a neophyte (converted in 2023), I hunger and thirst for knowledge and deeper understanding of my Catholic faith. You may not be amazed by this, but it is incredibly difficult to find clergy willing to teach and guide me toward this. It's hard to do it alone, but I'm doing my best. Your words and scholarship help me. You are in my prayers, Father. 🙏🏻❤️✝️
And you in mine 🙏
I don't mean to cast aspersions on the clergy as a whole, I have great respect for priests. The problem, in my admittedly limited experience, is more the general atmosphere regarding catechization. I keep getting referred to Apps and websites, "go online". It's disheartening. Especially when one gets a homily about how we need to get off our devices, yet the bulletin is full of ads for online (website) teaching, prayer life, etc. 🙁
Perhaps Anglicanism has lost its authority because it has ceased to be a church for, as you state in the case of Henry, "political reasons."
God's will is not an accident, even at birth.
Amen