What are some similarities between the Catholic and Anglican churches?

Answer 1

As I understand, they both have priests. They also both wear vestments.

When Christianity first came to us, it was not a strong monolithic entity, It was groups of people struggling to find the way to heaven. I.E. The People of God in Ephesus, or where ever? Later when some success came they were known as Churches, 'Particular, Churches,' in a particular place. In Britain it was the ,'Church' and in Rome it was known as the ,Suburbicarian Church of Rome, that is from Rome to the sea in the south and the three large Islands. They were national Churches and were joined together in unity through our membership of Christ!

The Church in Britain was one of the ,'particular churches,' . It became known as the Ecclesia Anglicana , 'The Church of the English,' about the eighth century! By the middle ages the name was either the Church in England or the Church of England!

But, the Church in England retained the Catholic faith and catholic Order and still subscribes to the faith once delivered to the saints,. Hence it is still a Communion of Catholics within the Body of Christ.

Answer 2

There are probably more similarities between Anglicans and Catholics than differences.

Both Angican and Catholic Christians subscribe to the Church's Creeds - statements of belief that were established by the early church to avoid heresies. These creeds include the following beliefs: -

God made heaven and earth at creation

Jesus Christ is the Son of God, begotten of the Father being of one substance with the Father who was also at Creation.

Jesus was incarnate of a Virgin, he suffered, died for our salvation, and on the Third Day rose again, ascending into heaven. He will return one day as judge.

The Holy Spirit is the third member of the Trinity and with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified.

God spoke and still speaks through prophets.

Baptism is one of the sacraments ordained by Christ for the remission of sins

At the end of times, we believe in the resurrection of the dead, and everlasting life.

The Anglican Church, like the Catholic Church, has, as its central liturgy the Holy Communion Service (called the 'mass' in the Catholic Church). It is organised similarly to the Catholic Church, having Bishops and Archbishops, priests and deacons, and, like the Catholic Church, can trace its line of succession through the history of the Anglican Church through its formation from the Catholic Church, to the original 12 apostles.

Despite the many differences, most of which are non-scriptural and peripheral anyway, the main beliefs of the Christian Church through the Creeds are accepted in both Anglican as well as Catholic Churches, and, therefore, both churches are Orthodox in their beliefs.

The Differences include the following:-

Anglicans do not recognise the Pope as the Head of the Church. Most do not accept the transubstantiation of the bread and wine at the mass (Holy Communion) into the actual body and blood of Christ, but regard them as symbolic instead. Anglicans on the whole do not pray to saints, do not regard the Virgin Mary with the same veneration as Catholics, do not require their priests to be celibate, do not believe in the concepts of purgatory or limbo. In the Anglican Church, any visitor who would normally receive Holy Communion in a different church (whether or not it is Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, URC or whatever) are welcome to receive the bread and wine in an Anglican church. In a Catholic Church, one must be a Catholic if one is to be invited to receive. In an Anglican church all receive the bread and wine; in a Catholic Church only the bread is normally received by the members of the congregation.

(Note that non-Catholics are not physically barred from Catholic Communion, although this could occur in some distinct circumstances, such as excommunication.)

Answer 3

Roman Catholic AnswerThe similarities are all external, or at least they were 40 years ago. The Episcopal Church had Bishops, they knelt for much of their service, some of their beliefs were very similar to Catholics. High Church Episcopalians consider themselves Catholics, howbeit not subject to the Roman Pontiff. Beyond that, Episcopals are a protestant church, so despite their outward (at least some of them) similarities, there is no common ground. Those with a genuine Catholic outlook are now coming into the Church through our current Holy Father's gracious grants to them to keep a Liturgy similar to the Episcopal Communion Service.

Both Catholics and Protestants believe in the Trinity. They both believe that Jesus is the God the Son, and that he died for sins. They both believe in heaven and hell. The Catholic Church has the whole truth because the pope is infallible when teaching on matters of Faith and Morals, it's teachings have been revealed by God Himself, not personal interpretation of a bible. (Protestants just broke off from the true Church because they thought it was too difficult to follow Christ's teachings)

Answer 4

• They both believe in god and Jesus and god.

• The both have Christmas and Easter.

• They both have the ten commandments.