Anglo Catholic
The term 'Anglo-Catholicism is used to designate persons, communities, movements, ideas, customs and practices which, while existing within the Anglican Church , emphasize continuity with the traditional Catholic. Since the Reformation in England in the sixteenth century , some Anglicans have always considered very close to the doctrine and practices of Roman Catholicism, forming the component "High Church" ( High Church ) of Anglicanism. However, the current Anglo-Catholicism, regarded as a distinct branch within Anglicanism, developed in the Victorian era , influenced by the ideas of the Oxford Movement. It forms a good part but not all, of the High Church movement today.
Summary |
Background
The Anglo-Catholic movement emphasizes the historical continuity between the Church of England (and the churches that are derived) and branches Orthodox and Catholic Christianity , through the apostolic succession. Also, he defends the importance of the episcopacy and sacraments. According to The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church the existence of such a flow of ideas back to the Elizabethan era. It developed under the Stuarts , the seventeenth century and again in the nineteenth century with the Oxford Movement, or Tractarian.
Indeed, in the early nineteenth century, various facts triggered doubts among some Anglican clergymen, including the decline of clerical life, and the rise of a theological laxity. In 1833, the project to abolish the episcopal hierarchy in Ireland led the sermon on "National Apostasy" (National Apostasy), delivered by John Keble , in the church of Oxford University , generally considered the point departure of the Oxford Movement. The main goal of the movement was then to restore the principles of the High Anglican Church (High Church) to defend the divine origins of the Church of England, its place in the apostolic succession , and the Book of Common Prayer , conisidr as a "rule of faith." For this purpose were written and published the Tracts for the Times, John Henry Newman.
Key members of the Oxford Movement were John Keble, John Henry Newman and Edward Bouverie Pusey. Soon, the movement spread its influence, but he was attacked by Anglicans Latitudinarians, within the University as of the episcopate. Gradually, a branch within it turned to a return to Catholicism Roman. There followed a number of conversions to Catholicism. But the majority of supporters remained in the Church of England, and despite the hostility of the press and the British government, the movement spread further. His influence in the liturgy and the sacred ritual in the social sphere (charities), and the restoration of religious life within the Church of England and in other member churches of the Anglican Communion.
Practices and beliefs
The Anglo-Catholics are distinguished primarily by their liturgical practices. Many features typically found in their Catholic liturgy, such as clothing and ornaments used, the use of incense and candles, as well as devotion to the Virgin Mary. The Anglo-Catholic liturgical practices (sometimes called, incorrectly, "ritualism") were the source of many controversies in the nineteenth century, particularly in England, where Parliament was even sought to prohibit certain.
But many "innovations" Anglo-Catholic (in fact, rather return to previous practices abandoned) were finally imposed in most Anglican "means."
In addition, the liturgical movement , triggered by an Anglican religious, Dom Gregory Dix , in his book The Shape of the Liturgy, influenced the simplification and standardization of liturgical the Catholic Church after Vatican II , as well as that implemented in the Lutheran communities , as well as the Old Catholic Church , leading to a unification of Christian liturgies of the West, with some differences.
Within the Church of England and in other members of the Anglican Communion, Anglo-Catholic practices were widespread, although the Anglo-Catholic theology seems to decline.
In fact, Anglo-Catholic beliefs are the subject of much debate among those who identify themselves. In theology, like most Orthodox churches and the Old Catholics and Lutherans, the Anglo-Catholics generally agree on the rule (the "canon") of St. Vincent of Lerins. This statement justifies the divine character of Catholic doctrine and apostolic of the undivided Church, "Is this truly Catholic who has been believed everywhere, always and by all of us. "
The Thirty-Nine Articles of Anglicanism founders separate some parts of the Anglican doctrine of Catholicism. But as they are sufficiently vague to allow a wide margin of interpretation, Anglo-Catholics say they are compatible with Catholic beliefs and practices, even if they do not like the tone of articles himself. Thus, the Anglo-Catholic priests, like Catholics, believe the confession and the anointing of the sick as sacraments , while most Anglicans consider them only as optional sacramental rites (an Anglican aphorism regarding the private confession states that "everyone can, nobody is obliged, some should")
Anglicans share with the Catholic belief in the sacramental character of the priesthood, the sacrificial character of the Mass , as well as the Real Presence in the Eucharist , but the Anglo-Catholics insist particularly on those points, to counter some Protestants Evangelicals who defend the Mass by the laity. Some Anglo-Catholics are in favor of celibacy for priests, and deny access of women to the priesthood. However, in recent years, many have accepted the ordination of women.
In fact, it is difficult today to identify a unique Anglo-Catholic doctrine.
Diversity of contemporary Anglo-Catholicism
Anglo-Catholic parishes are traditionally associated with charitable toward the poor, and some left-wing political tendencies, so much so that sometimes called the Anglo-Catholic "sacramental socialists" (sacramental socialists).
In several places, the Anglo-Catholic parishes have also welcomed the faithful homosexuals, and were taken to defend the priestly ordination of these, single or not. Many Anglo-Catholics have also encouraged a "liberal" religious group, as the use of liturgical translations renovated. These theories include liberal movement represented by Affirming Catholicism , including the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams is a prominent member.
But, unlike some Anglo-Catholics have reacted strongly against these trends. The association Forward in Faith groups and individuals and communities opposed to the ordination of women and the evolution of traditional doctrines on homosexuality and scripture. On matters of morality, these Anglo-Catholics have come together evangelicals, while in the nineteenth century, the Anglo-Catholic movement was born in opposition to Protestantism and the secularization of the Church of England.
Finally, most communities gathered in the conservative movement Continuing Anglican Movement ( Movement continued Anglican ), breaking with the Anglican Communion, identify themselves as Anglo-Catholics.
The disparity of doctrinal positions was unearthed in 1992, following a study of more or less support among the clergy to the essential elements of the Anglican faith (such as the Resurrection or the Virgin Birth of Christ) Attitude towards the Catholic Church According to the Episcopal Bishop Clarence Pope , who was received into the Roman Catholic Church in 2007, the Anglo-Catholic movement has completely diluted the political correctness and no longer exists today in substance . A minority of Anglo-Catholics consider themselves to be under the authority of the pope , even if not in full communion with Rome. Many Anglo-Catholics expect this trend to an eventual reunification with the Catholic Apostolic and Roman. In November 2009, published by Pope Benedict XVI 's apostolic constitution of Anglicanorum Ctibus , designed to accommodate and integrate the institutions and groups within the Anglican Catholic Church, has been commented by some Anglo-Catholic groups, including members of Forward in Faith. Thus, the president of the group, Bishop Broadhurst , said he was very impressed by the generosity of the papal proposal and stressed that "what Rome has to offer is exactly what the Church of England denied us . 8 November 2010, the same bishop, and four other Anglo-Catholic bishops, have announced their resignation from the Church of England to enter into full communion with Rome and join the future ordinariate of England and Wales Wales . References
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