Catholic vs Episcopal
The Catholic Church forms the foundation of the Christian faith, which is divided into various denominations. As the largest single religion in the world, Christianity has over 2.2 billion followers worldwide, and many schisms have occurred, starting with the Eastern Orthodox in 1054 AD and the split caused by the reform movement in Germany and France in the 16th century, resulting in the formation of Protestantism. Many Catholics worldwide may not have heard about the Episcopal Church, let alone the differences between Catholic and Episcopal. The Episcopal Church is mainly found in the United States and is often considered the American Catholic Church. This article will highlight the many differences between the Catholic and Episcopal Churches.
The Roman Catholic Church is genuinely the Catholic Church and is one of the oldest religious institutions globally, with millions of members worldwide. The Catholic Church believes that Jesus was God’s son who took birth in human form to free human beings and show them the path to salvation. His life, sufferings, and sacrifice are explained in the Bible, considered the most sacred scripture by Catholics.
The declaration of Henry VII in the 16th century, breaking away from Rome’s authority, led to the development of the Anglican Church in many parts of the world. Henry VII initially led the Anglican Church, which later became influenced by Lutheran and Calvinist doctrines. The Episcopal Church is an Anglican Church found in the US, with a strong following in the country and nearly two million members. Married and female priests can be found in this Church, making it different from the Catholic Church, where only male priests are allowed, and marriage is strictly prohibited. The Church is also known as the Protestant Episcopal Church in the US. There are so many similarities between the Catholic and Episcopal Churches that outsiders may hardly notice a difference between them.
Key Takeaways
- Catholics believe that faith in Christ alone is not sufficient for justification and that a person needs good deeds in addition to faith to achieve salvation. In contrast, Episcopalians believe that faith alone is sufficient for salvation.
- Episcopalians believe that God’s revelations are contained in the Bible and that the scripture has everything humanity needs for salvation. However, Catholics place equal importance on traditions and feel that the Bible alone is not sufficient for their salvation.
- Catholics believe in Papal authority and his infallibility. Episcopalians reject the idea that the Pope is supreme after Jesus, as nothing to this effect is mentioned in the Bible. There is also a difference in opinion on purgatory between the two, as Catholics believe that one must wait until cleared of all sins to enter heaven, while Episcopalians reject this idea altogether due to the lack of biblical basis.
