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From: Audrey (adsl-64-171-254-204.dsl.snfc21.pacbell.net)
I was in Agnus Dei, a local Catholic bookstore, the other day, and I noticed something. There were lots of books geared toward Evangelicals and Fundamentalists (some directed to out-and-out conversion; others geared more toward convincing them of the Biblical basis for Catholic doctrine), but there was nothing geared toward those schismatics who are closer in their understanding to Rome. Because I was particularly looking for something that would address the differences and similarities between the Anglican and the Roman POV, I was disappointed to see Anglicanism either ignored entirely or ranked with evangelical Protestantism (which constitutes only a fraction of the Anglican communion). The few references I did see to Anglicanism were either a deferential nod to C.S. Lewis or a clearly naive reference to Henry VIII (naive because the author clearly either doesn't understand or chooses not to consider the fact that the whole Anglican schism was based on a lot more than Henry's desire for an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. FWIW, WE don't consider Henry to be the founder of Anglicanism, or of any other church). This is a sad lack, in my opinion, because, in reality, there's very little that separates most Anglicans from Rome, and most of it these days is simple misunderstanding of certain Roman doctrines (after all, the major bones of contention, such as the buying and selling of indulgences and the Mass in the vernacular, have already long since been addressed). It would take so very little; especially for Anglo-Catholics, who share the same basic Mass, understanding of the Eucharist, vestments and liturgical year; to effect reunification...so why is no one doing it? There are a few issues, such as papal infallibility, purgatory, and the veneration of Mary, that could easily be explained in such a way that they would not be a stumbling block to most Anglicans, but no one seems to be doing it. I did pick up a very good book called "A Biblical Defense of Catholicism", but even that is geared more toward evangelicals (and shows the same naive misunderstanding of Anglicanism, when it deals with it at all). If I'm missing a good book out there, please, someone, direct me to it! Otherwise, I think the church is missing a very good chance (especially given the current turmoil in ECUSA) to bring some Anglicans into the fold. Audrey
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