Sarah Mitchell
Catholicism is a broad term that encompasses various denominations within Christianity that describe themselves as Catholic, in accordance with the Four Marks of the Church expressed in the Nicene Creed. While the Catholic Church, led by the Pope in Rome, is the most well-known Catholic denomination, there are several other Christian denominations that share similarities with Catholicism. These include the Latin and Eastern Catholic Churches recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, as well as the Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Oriental Orthodox Church, and the Assyrian Church of the East. Within Protestantism, Anglicanism or Episcopalian Christianity, and Lutheranism also share some similarities with Catholicism in terms of worship structure and certain beliefs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Worship Style | Anglicanism, Lutheranism |
| Episcopalians | |
| Eastern Orthodox | |
| Old Catholic | |
| Methodists | |
| Protestants | |
| Orthodox | |
| Greek Orthodox | |
| Russian Orthodox | |
| Episcopal Church | |
| Anglican/Episcopalian | |
| Eastern Catholic Churches | |
| Latin Catholic Churches |
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What You'll Learn
Anglicanism
Anglicans value their place in a global communion of churches, their rich history of faith and practice, and a deep commitment to the authority of Scripture and the gospel of Jesus Christ. The word "Anglican" means "of England," and as British Christians spread their faith around the world, churches were established on every continent and in many nations.
The Anglican Communion now consists of 38 self-governing provinces around the world, in 164 countries, with tens of millions of members. Anglicanism prizes traditional worship and structure but operates with autonomy and flexibility in different locales. It has a creed, the Thirty-nine Articles, but allows for divergent interpretations. Thus, Anglicans see themselves as possessing a cluster of historic pieties and procedural loyalties but few firm rules.
Anglican liturgy, or the structural form used to facilitate worship, is a blend of traditional and informal elements to accommodate a variety of worshippers. The Book of Common Prayer, a compilation of the church's liturgical forms originally issued in 1549, represents the faith's independence from Rome and is central to Anglican identity. It derives from ancient English spirituality and embodies the uniqueness of Anglican Christianity.
The Oxford Movement within Anglicanism sought to reassert Catholic identity and practice, while figures like the Bishop of Liverpool, J. C. Ryle, emphasized a distinctly Reformed identity for the Church of England. Anglicanism also has religious orders and communities, with the first organized religious order, the Society of the Most Holy Trinity, established in 1848.
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Episcopalian Christianity
The Episcopal Church is particularly prominent in the United States, with a rich history of leadership in American society. Many of the country's founding fathers and presidents have been Episcopalians, and the church has had a strong influence in various fields, including politics, business, science, the arts, and education.
In terms of beliefs and practices, Episcopalians embrace a legacy of inclusion, welcoming people of all genders and sexual orientations into leadership and governance roles. They maintain a bishop-centric organisational structure, which is reflected in their name, derived from the Greek 'episkopos', meaning 'overseer'.
The Episcopal Church also places significant emphasis on the Book of Common Prayer, which serves as a devotional and teaching resource, as well as a symbol of unity for its members. This book contains catechisms, creeds, and explanations of sacraments and their importance in Christian life.
In recent decades, the Episcopal Church has pursued a more liberal Christian course, with a wide spectrum of political ideologies represented within its congregation. This shift has been reflected in its stance on social issues, such as the inclusion of women and LGBTQ+ individuals in church leadership, and its involvement in social justice movements.
With its roots in Anglicanism and shared sacraments with Catholicism, the Episcopal Church offers a close resemblance to Catholic traditions while allowing for a more inclusive and progressive interpretation of Christian faith and practice.
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Lutheranism
Another key difference lies in their beliefs about salvation. Lutherans maintain that salvation comes through faith alone in Jesus Christ, while Catholics believe that faith must be accompanied by good works to achieve salvation. Lutheranism also practices only two sacraments, compared to seven in Catholicism, and they reject many elements of Catholic sacraments, such as the doctrine of transubstantiation.
In terms of worship style, Lutheranism is similar to Catholicism and Anglicanism. Lutherans have retained some Roman Catholic customs, such as wearing vestments, having an altar, and using candles and statues. They also practice infant baptism and the baptism of believing adults, although this is done by sprinkling or pouring water rather than immersion.
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Eastern Orthodox
The Eastern Orthodox Church, officially the Orthodox Catholic Church, is one of the three major doctrinal and jurisdictional groups of Christianity, with approximately 230 million baptised members. It is also referred to as the Greek Orthodox Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church is a separate tradition from the churches of the so-called Oriental Orthodox Communion, including the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Ethiopian Tewahedo Orthodox Church, and the Coptic Orthodox Church, among others.
The Eastern Orthodox Church operates as a communion of autocephalous churches, each governed by its bishops via local synods. There is no central doctrinal or governmental authority analogous to the pope of the Catholic Church. However, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople is recognised as primus inter pares ('first among equals'), a title held by the patriarch of Rome prior to 1054. The various autocephalous and autonomous synods of the Eastern Orthodox Church are distinct in terms of administration and local culture, but they generally exist in full communion with one another.
The Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church have been in a state of official schism from one another since the East–West Schism of 1054. This schism was caused by historical, linguistic, and theological differences between the Western and Eastern churches. The main theological differences include the papal primacy and the filioque clause. The Ravenna Document, issued in 2007, acknowledged that both churches accept the Bishop of Rome's primacy, but differences remain over how it is exercised and its scriptural and theological foundations.
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Independent Catholicism
The history of Independent Catholicism can be traced back to the (First) Vatican Council in 1870, when many Austro-Hungarian, German, and Swiss Catholics rejected the assertions of universal jurisdiction of the pope and the declaration of papal infallibility. Inspired by the earlier acts of the Church of Utrecht, these individuals decided to form their own churches, independent of Rome. The bishops of these churches were sometimes referred to as autocephalous or self-governing, and they continued to claim apostolic succession, sharing valid lines of succession with the priests and deacons they ordained.
One key figure in the development of Independent Catholicism in North America was Joseph René Vilatte, an Old Catholic priest from Switzerland. In 1892, Vilatte traveled to India, where he was consecrated by Mar Julius I of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. He later founded the American Catholic Church, which no longer exists. Vilatte consecrated a number of men who became the episcopal ancestors of a wide variety of descendants in North America.
Today, Independent Catholic churches can be found in various parts of the world, and some have joined larger organizations such as the International Council of Community Churches based in the United States. These churches often emphasize their ties to the larger Christian tradition and their continuity of faith and ministry with mainstream churches like the Catholic Church or Lutheran Churches. They may also have their interpretations of scriptures and their own set of sacraments.
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Frequently asked questions
Anglicanism, Episcopalian Christianity, and Orthodox Christianity are the closest religions to Catholicism.
Orthodox Christianity is not Roman or Protestant. It is its own separate entity.
Anglicanism is a form of Protestantism that maintains a bishop-centric style of governance.
