Expert: Roger Stokes - 11/19/2004

Question
What are the main differences between Episcopal and Roman Catholic denominations?

Thank you.

Answer
The Episcopal Church is part of a denomination that is called the Anglican Communion and that point is important in answering the question I think you are really asking.  Back in the sixteenth century Henry VIII rejected the authority of the Pope over the Church in England.  When his daughter Mary came to the throne that authority was reasserted but then the final split came under her half-sister Elizabeth.  In all of this it is important to remember that the reasons were essentially political rather than over the content of doctrine, what was believed - though distinctions were drawn to justify what had happened and to provide a theoretical base for the future.

As members of the Church of England spread around the world they wanted to be able to continue to worship in their own tradition and language.  (At that time the Roman Catholic services were in Latin and that remained the case until about forty years ago.)  However the split from Rome rested on the principle that the Church in a particular country should be self-governing.  This meant that when the number of members in a particular country was large enough to form a coherent Church structure they should be allowed to do so rather than remaining under the ultimate authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the leader of the Church of England.  Thus, over time, the idea of a Communion of independent geographically based Churches whose members and ministers were recognized by other members of the Communion developed.  

That brings us to the crucial difference between the denominations.  The Pope has juridical authority over the Roman Catholic Church, and some smaller Churches mostly in Eastern Europe.  His decisions are binding on them.  While the Archbishop of Canterbury is recognized as the spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion he has no authority outside the Church of England and a few small dioceses which are not part of another larger Anglican Church.  That can be a bit messy at times but true strength (as in buildings and trees) comes from allowing a bit of flexibility within bounds to respond to external pressures.  What we are seeing at present are differences over what are the acceptable bounds, and the problem of not having an international body which can stipulate and enforce those bounds.

Another essential point of difference is that the Episcopal Church, and the Anglican Communion generally, is not so rigidly hierarchical as is the Roman Catholic Church.  That Church has a Code of Canon Law which applies throughout the world and includes one Canon which stipulates that the pope has absolute and universal power.  He is an absolute monarch.  That power is mediated through various other people at the Vatican who supervise the work of the national Episcopal Conferences (gatherings of bishops) and who recommend to the Pope who should be appointed as bishops.  That power is then mediated through the Episcopal Conferences and the bishops of the various dioceses to the parish priests.  Any lay involvement, and to a large extent the involvement of clergy, is purely advisory.  In the Episcopal Church bishops are elected by the clergy and lay representatives of the diocese seeking a new bishop, this election later being confirmed by the bishops and dioceses of the national Church before it takes effect.  On other matters the clergy and laity also have a legislative function rather than merely advisory and decisions are taken at what is deemed to be the most appropriate level.  

On matters of doctrine the Episcopal Church also allows a greater diversity of views.  What is essential is contained within a formal statement of belief called the Nicene Creed and there are various other points of detail over Church order and who can do what with what permissions.  Compared with that the Roman Catholic Church has a very substantial Catechism of the Catholic Church which specifies what should be believed and explanations of reasons why that particular bit of belief is true.

In brief, the Roman Catholic Church has a very hierarchical structure which seeks to micro-manage within tight bounds.  The Episcopal Church, like other parts of the Anglican Communion, has a much more open structure with clergy and lay-people playing a determining role at all levels that allows greater freedom to adapt to local circumstances.