Grace Thompson
Catholicism is a broad church, and there are many denominations of Christianity that share similarities with it. The closest are arguably Anglicanism, Episcopalian Christians (in the American branch of Anglicanism), and Lutheranism. Anglicanism and Episcopalianism maintain a bishop-centric style of governance, and the Bishop is the sign of the unity of the diocese and the communion worldwide. Lutheranism is similar in worship structure, but its congregations are more congregation-centric. Anglicanism and Episcopalianism also share many similarities with Catholicism, including Marian doctrines and prayers to saints. The Eastern Orthodox Church was historically the same as the Roman Catholic Church, and they still share many similarities, such as accepting all of the first seven ecumenical councils.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Worship style | Anglicanism or Lutheranism |
| Worship structure | Anglican/Episcopalian |
| Beliefs | Jesus Christ is present in the Catholic Eucharist |
| Marian doctrines | |
| Prayers to saints | |
| Saints are important but not prayed to | |
| Confess only to God | |
| No need to believe everything the Pope says | |
| Pope is not considered to have direct contact with God | |
| No need to agree with the Catholic Church's stance on abortion and homosexuality | |
| Similar to Catholicism - Aristotle + William of Ockham = Lutheranism | |
| Assyrian Church of the East |
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What You'll Learn
Anglicanism
One key aspect of Anglicanism is its recognition of leadership. Unlike Catholics, who firmly uphold the authority of the Pope, Anglicans are part of a ""communion" of churches and do not have a central authority figure. The Archbishop of Canterbury is considered the "first among equals," and the English monarch holds a symbolic role. This lack of central authority allows for a diversity of beliefs and practices within Anglicanism, with some churches adopting more Catholic traditions while others lean towards Protestantism.
Another notable difference between Anglicanism and Catholicism lies in their approaches to ordination. Many Anglican churches ordain both men and women as priests, while the Catholic Church affirms that only men can receive the sacrament of Holy Orders. Anglicanism also exhibits more flexibility in its teachings on divorce, marriage, and other moral issues.
In terms of theological foundations, Anglicanism draws from the Scriptures, the Gospels, the traditions of the Apostolic Church, the historical episcopate, the early Church Fathers, and the first four ecumenical councils. The Book of Common Prayer, unique to Anglicanism, has been used for centuries and reflects the distinctiveness of Anglican worship and theology.
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Lutheranism
The two denominations share common ground in their worship structures, with both believing in the Holy Trinity, using the Bible as their holy text, and gathering together to worship in the form of Mass. Lutheranism emerged from Catholicism, and as such, some Catholic customs were retained, such as the wearing of vestments, having an altar, and the use of candles and statues. Lutheranism also places a particular emphasis on the Eucharist, or Lord's Supper, and retains many of the liturgical practices and sacramental teachings of the pre-Reformation Western Church.
However, Lutheranism emerged as a rejection of certain Roman Catholic traditions, which it saw as having "no foundation in Scripture, and [being] used as sources of doctrines—placed on the same level as the doctrines clearly taught in Scripture." Lutherans believe that Scripture alone holds authority in determining doctrine, and that the Bible contains everything a person needs to know to achieve salvation. This is a key difference from Catholicism, which believes in three sources of authority: Scripture, tradition, and magisterium (the teaching authority of the Church as an institution, led by figures such as bishops, cardinals, and the Pope).
Another key difference is in their views on the Pope. Lutherans do not generally believe that the Pope has any kind of divine authority, and do not give authority to pronouncements or declarations made by him.
Other differences include the number of sacraments recognised by each denomination, with Catholicism recognising seven, and Lutheranism recognising two or three, depending on the source. Their views on the sacrament of Baptism also differ, with Catholics seeing it as the forgiveness of sins, while Lutherans view it as giving an individual the faith they need for salvation. Finally, while both denominations believe in saints, Lutherans generally do not pray to them, as they believe this makes saints seem more benevolent or accessible than Christ.
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Eastern Orthodox Churches
Eastern Orthodox Christians believe in the Trinity, or three distinct divine persons (hypostases) without overlap, who each fully share in one divine essence (ousia). These three persons are typically distinguished by their relation to each other. They understand the death and resurrection of Jesus to be real historical events, as described in the gospels of the New Testament. Through baptism, Eastern Orthodox Christians enter a new life of salvation through repentance, with the purpose of sharing in the life of God through the work of the Holy Spirit. They believe that when a person dies, the soul is temporarily separated from the body and is ultimately escorted either to paradise or the darkness of Hades, following the Temporary Judgment. They do not accept the doctrine of Purgatory, which is held by Catholicism.
The Eastern Orthodox Church is defined as the Eastern Christians that recognize the seven ecumenical councils and are usually in communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Patriarchate of Alexandria, the Patriarchate of Antioch, and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. These churches are defined by their adherence to the dogmatic definitions of the seven ecumenical councils and their rejection of papal immediate and universal supremacy. The official name of the Eastern Orthodox Church is the "Orthodox Catholic Church".
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Episcopalian Christians
Episcopalians believe in and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection they believe saved the world. They also believe that God loves everyone without exception. The Episcopal Church embraces a legacy of inclusion, with people of all genders and sexual orientations serving as bishops, priests, and deacons. Laypeople and clergy work together in leadership and governance.
The Episcopal Church has a sacramental understanding of worship. Episcopalians believe that sacraments are material things that God uses to act in human lives. Baptism and the Eucharist are the "two great sacraments of the Gospel", with Confirmation, ordination, holy matrimony, reconciliation of a penitent, and unction identified as "sacramental rites". The Eucharist or Holy Communion is "the principal act of Christian worship on the Lord's Day". Episcopalians also have a catechism, used at baptisms and on Easter and other special occasions, which opens with a question-and-answer version of the Apostles' Creed.
Historically, members of the Episcopal Church have played leadership roles in many aspects of American life, including politics, business, science, the arts, and education. About three-quarters of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were affiliated with the Episcopal Church, and over a quarter of all Presidents of the United States have been Episcopalians. The Episcopal Church has also been associated with old money in the United States, with many wealthy and affluent American families being Episcopalians.
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Assyrian Church of the East
The Assyrian Church of the East (ACOE), also known as the Church of the East and officially recognised as the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East, is an Eastern Syriac Christian denomination. It follows the traditional Christology and ecclesiology of the historical Church of the East. The Assyrian Church of the East is headquartered in Erbil, Iraq, with its original area spanning southeastern Turkey, northeastern Syria, northwestern Iran, and parts of ancient Assyria.
The Assyrian Church of the East traces its origins to the Church of the East, which developed in the regions of Assyria, Babylonia, and Persia during the first century AD. It is an apostolic church founded by Thomas the Apostle, Addai of Edessa, and Bartholomew the Apostle. The Church of the East was officially established in 280 under the Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Papa bar Gaggai of Seleucia-Ctesiphon. It renounced all ties with the see of Antioch in 410 and expanded eastward, establishing communities along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and in Afghanistan and south-central Asia.
The Assyrian Church of the East considers itself the continuation of the Church of the East and is not in communion with the Catholic, Oriental Orthodox, or Eastern Orthodox churches. The Church of the East experienced a tumultuous period from the 16th to the 19th century, marked by splits and mergers, resulting in the formation of rival branches and patriarchal lines. During this time, the issue of union with the Catholic Church was a significant point of contention. The faction of the Church of the East that entered into full communion with the Holy See became the Chaldean Catholic Church, which reunited with the Assyrian Church of the East in 1995.
The Assyrian Church of the East maintains the traditional episcopal structure, headed by the Catholicos-Patriarch. Its main liturgical language is Classical Syriac, an Eastern Aramaic dialect. The sacred rites of the church include the pre-431 rite of Addai and Mari, and its teachings are documented in Aramaic using the Nestorian Syriac script. The church affirms the divinity of Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Son of Man, united in one Sonship.
The Assyrian Church of the East has a widespread presence, with centres in Iraq, Iran, Syria, India, North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. It has multiple archdioceses and dioceses across these regions. The Assyrian Church has a long history, having been represented at the Council of Nicea in 325 and facing various persecutions, including under the Muslim conquest in the 7th century.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several Christian denominations that share similarities with Catholicism. These include Anglicanism, Episcopalian Christians (in the American branch of Anglicanism), Eastern Orthodox Churches, and the Latin and Eastern Catholic Churches.
Anglicans maintain a bishop-centric style of governance, with the Bishop being a sign of unity for the diocese and the worldwide communion. They also have marian doctrines and prayers to saints.
The Eastern Orthodox Churches were historically the same as the Roman Catholic Church. Differences arose regarding papal authority and dominance, leading to a permanent split during the Crusades.
Catholicism falls under the umbrella of Western Christianity, whereas Protestantism is one of the six main groups of Christianity, the others being the Church of the East, Oriental Orthodoxy, Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and Restorationism.
Yes, it is possible to disagree with the Pope and still be Catholic. Catholicism is about believing in Jesus Christ's presence in the Catholic Eucharist, and this does not depend on agreeing with everything the Pope says.
