Estranged Catholic Debating Joining Episcopal Or Lutheran Church (beliefs, abortion, euthanasia)

[Mattie Jo]

Originally Posted by franny47

I have been debating about joining the Episcopal or Lutheran Church.After being away from church for many years,I feel God is calling me back.I feel I can never return to the Catholic church because:

1)I do not agree with Papal Infallibility
2)I do not agree with the RCC's closed communion policy
3)I do not feel that that it is a sin to use ABC.

I have been told that number one is a biggie,and that even if I ever returned to the RCC,I would not be able to receive communion.

I consider myself a moderate on most church issues as I am prolife,and liberal socially.

You may always find some problem in any church that you attend; I know I have. There are no churches with with I can agree with everything. I have a friend who is a Mormon and she doesn't believe in everything they teach, and she tells me to "cherry pick." I don't know how to do that, so I am in no religion at the moment even though I know she is correct. If anything I am a Liberal Quaker, but I can't accept all they teach either and there are no Quakers where I live.

[Prairieparson]

To the OP: I speak as a Pastor in the LCMS. How you would be received into a particular LCMS congregation will be totally up to the local Pastor. Some may want you to take a 10 or more week class. (In your case, this would be advisable, just so you understand what we teach, and why) Others will "customize" your instruction. I had one Roman Catholic join our church, and I simply met with her about 4-5 times and went over things. She already knew the commandments and the creed, I just had to explain more fully the full meaning and understand of the Gospel. IE, there is no purgatory, In HIs mercy and love for us, God Just gives us our salvation, it isnt' earned. By faith In Jesus, we are righteous before God today, but not because of our works, but because by faith in Jesus Christ, we are forgiven of our sins, and stand righteous before God.

Just so you know, those kinds of things you will not hear from most ELCA or Episcopalian pastors. Most of the clergy in these churches have be taught that Jesus is not God, that Jesus death did not attone for sins, that Jesus did not rise, that the doctrine of the Trinity is a myth.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by franny47

I have been debating about joining the Episcopal or Lutheran Church.After being away from church for many years,I feel God is calling me back.I feel I can never return to the Catholic church because:

1)I do not agree with Papal Infallibility.

You might feel most at home in the Orthodox Church. They don't agree with Infallibility of Pope or Patriarch, and there are similarities in the ritual that you might appreciate. It can't hurt to check it out.

[Julian658]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

You might feel most at home in the Orthodox Church. They don't agree with Infallibility of Pope or Patriarch, and there are similarities in the ritual that you might appreciate. It can't hurt to check it out.

Folks that don't agree with Papal infallibility are simply looking for a reason to deny the RCC.

Ex-cathedra pronouncements by the Pope are so extremely rare that it should not be an issue.

The exercise of infallibility takes several forms (see Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 890-891, citing Lumen Gentium, 25). One form is exercised by the Pope when speaking ex cathedra (literally, “from the chair” of St. Peter, in his authority as pope) on matters of faith or morals, even if he does so without the support of the bishops. This is an exercise of the Extraordinary Magisterium of the Church. While the pope has always held the power to exercise the Extraordinary Magisterium by speaking ex cathedra, the actual occurrence of an ex cathedra statement is quite rare. It is generally understood to have only occurred twice: Pope Pius IX’s definition of the dogma of Mary’s Immaculate Conception in 1854 and Pope Pius XII’s definition of the dogma of Mary’s Assumption in 1950. In both of these cases, the Pope was not teaching something new. Rather, he was confirming and clarifying something that the Church had already believed as part of God’s revelation.

The Pope and Infallibility | Catholic Exchange

[sarah888]

Originally Posted by franny47

I have been debating about joining the Episcopal or Lutheran Church.After being away from church for many years,I feel God is calling me back.I feel I can never return to the Catholic church because:

1)I do not agree with Papal Infallibility
2)I do not agree with the RCC's closed communion policy
3)I do not feel that that it is a sin to use ABC.

I have been told that number one is a biggie,and that even if I ever returned to the RCC,I would not be able to receive communion.

I consider myself a moderate on most church issues as I am prolife,and liberal socially.

Before you change your mind read about the Saints this will
help you with your choice.

There is no such thing as Papal Infallibility we as Catholics do NOT profess this.
what is ABC..?? Sorry.

St Pio.. Padre Pio.. Read on him before you make a choice.

Sarah...

[sarah888]

Pope is only infallible when teaching on matters of doctrine with the
RCC

Catholics do not believe that the Pope is impeccable.

Sarah

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by franny47

I have been debating about joining the Episcopal or Lutheran Church.After being away from church for many years,I feel God is calling me back.I feel I can never return to the Catholic church because:

1)I do not agree with Papal Infallibility
2)I do not agree with the RCC's closed communion policy
3)I do not feel that that it is a sin to use ABC.

I have been told that number one is a biggie,and that even if I ever returned to the RCC,I would not be able to receive communion.

I consider myself a moderate on most church issues as I am prolife,and liberal socially.

My mom was a Roman Catholic and dad an Episcopalian. We sorta did both churches for years. When I was 13 I was finally baptised and from then, until 3 years ago we were Epsicopalians. We were married in the church, our kids were all baptised and confirmed and we were very active. I can't tell you how many we know that started out as Roman Catholics and have converted.

Now, after moving to NWA, and being a little disenchanted with the Episcopalian church here we converted to the Lutheran church. I am guessing 30% of those who attend our church are X catholics or their spouses are. I think either of your choices might work. The biggest difference in the two religions: Episcopalian churches are much more liberal overall. I am generalizing. Lutheran chuches, depending on the synod, can be moderate liberal, conservative or over the line conservative. We have chosen the middle path.

Nita

[Julian658]

Originally Posted by sarah888

Pope is only infallible when teaching on matters of doctrine with the
RCC

Catholics do not believe that the Pope is impeccable.

Sarah

The Pope makes errors all the time. Non-catholics are conditioned to put down the infallibility of the Pope, however, it is really a moot point.

In the 2000 years of the RCC the Pope only spoke from ex-cathedra twice and it was all about making the Mariology of the blessed mother legit. It was a mere formality!

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Julian658

If you are a former Catholic I advice the Episcopal Church. They are liberal and they keep a semblance to Catholicism. However, they are not the real deal. IF you can deal with not belonging to the original Christian Church then you should be OK.

But has the Op said anything about wanting a liberal church? The liberalism is what has drivern many away from the faith and into religions like the Lutheran church. In our own church we have a huge number who were Episcopalians and have chosen to leave because of the liberal views. If a person is looking to leave the Catholic church and considers themselves liberal to very liberal you are right, if they consider themselves mildly liberal to conservative the Lutheran church might be a better choice.

Nita

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Nell Plotts

I am an Episcopalian with many Roman Catholic friends. There is congregant and celebrant movement between the denominations. Keep in mind that there is variation within the Episcopal Church, Episcopalians often describe specific parishes as 'high' (services more like the Roman Catholics) or 'low' (akin to Lutheran services).

I don't know how Lutheran Churches are administered but in the Episcopal Church the parish vestry hires (and pays) their priests subject to the consent of the Bishop. Although each parish uses the same book of common prayer there is a lot of variation in its expression.

The two religions are pretty similar, even the creeds. The biggest difference for us has been the book of common prayer. Lutherans use the bible more. And yes, each of our parishes or congregations are a little different.