Posted on 11/07/2005 5:47:15 PM PST by sionnsar
This past year I received an email from someone who said “My wife and I have become Catholic as we could in no way support the ECUSA and the division which has taken place.” As is my practice, I wrote back and said I appreciated hearing from them and asked for their prayers. I also wrote this person back and asked him if he could say more about why he did what he did.
Here is his response to my request–KSH.
“I became an Episcopalian around 1979 when many changes were taking place in the church, but frankly I was not aware of them. It was the music and visual affects rather than theological issues that brought me into the church. Bishop Reeves, whom I later learned was the only dissenting vote for the 1979 prayer book, confirmed me.
In the late 1990’s, I began researching various ‘catholic’ issues such as (1) Apostolic succession, (2) validity of holy orders, and (3) moral authority along with many others. I saw the liturgy being changed by various Priests as they saw fit. The Creed being said, dropped, or changed at whim of the priest. Invalid forms of the blessing were becoming all to frequent. Then came “the convention” that approved an openly/active homosexual to the office of Bishop. This suddenly made me realize that the Episcopal Church was essentially nothing but a protestant church all dressed in Catholic clothing with each church being able to do as they wished. Never had the absence of a single moral authority been more apparent. Morality cannot be subject to a popular vote. It was at that point that I realized that I could not belong to a church that placed political correctness over a theology consistent for two thousand years that did not change with every current trend. I could find only one church that met these criteria. It is precisely at this point in time that I believe the Episcopal Church essentially become theologically insignificant. The church will over time lose young families that cannot accept or explain the actions of that convention to their children. The local Episcopal Church that we belonged to is very fortunate to have a very wealthy congregation. Their budget is growing but their active membership is declining and becoming primarily older.
The Catholic Church we now attend has three English masses each weekend. We usually attend the Saturday evening Mass as a family and sit together and then I play guitar and sing in the 11:00 a.m. Sunday choir. Standing room only, every age and a multitude of ethnicities.”
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. Guitars and hootenanny masses are an abomination unto the Lord. One of the reasons that Bad Catholic Music has been a byword for many years.
The Episcopalians may have rotten theology and no adult leadership, but they DO have good music. Fortunately, our choirmaster is working hard to root out the Glory and Praise dreck and bring back Gregorian chant, Palestrina, and the grand old men of 17th century English church music.
One good thing is that Charles' Wesley's music made it into our hymnals.
We get a lot of the "Chuck and Jack Show" as my Methodist father-in-law used to refer to them. And that's a Good Thing.
Charles was the more orthodox of the two. He disapproved of John's "appointment" of superintendents who soon turned into "bishops."
The Episcopal church there was Charles's living, in 1736. brother John as well as George Whitefield also preached there.
It's a regular stop on the Methodist Island Tour, because there's a Methodist conference center nearby.
The touristas are always SO darned surprised to find an Episcopal service going on in the building . . .
Actually, there is not much difference between some Methodist services and a low Episcopal one. Don't think you will ever see law sleeves, however.
You know what they say,
"Low and lazy, middle and hazy, high and CRAZY."
Yep.
High Church, in the modern sense goes with the Liturgiucal movment that began about the time of the Tractarian Movement. Newman was never much into liturgy. I think that Richard Church was the leader of this. Started with surplices and when from there. Now services are much more elegant than a Catholic mass, Despite the 1979 Prayer book, the language is still much more graceful than our English mass. I declare that the order was out back in 1972 to make the translation of the Latin as flat as possible,
The older translation of the Latin Mass is much better.
I don't like the '79 translation because it's theologically unsound . . . and clunky.
The Anglican Use Rite is the way to go . . . all the benefits of the 1928 BCP and Catholic too!
"Morality cannot be subject to a popular vote."
BTTT!
grew up episcopalian, left as young adult, went non-denominational, still visit episcoplas, folks left them just recntly over the same convention fiasco. The one church in Long beach broke off, and get picketed by the gays. At least they had the balls to stand up for the Bible. The homosexuals have been infiltrating the episcopal church for years, they finally made their way high enogh to come down with the decison that was met. Frankly I am suprised the catholics haven't rolled over yet...they may one day, if the don't get a handle on things now. People take not of what happened to the episcopalians, it could b eyour church next.
I Converted to Roman Catholicism from being an Episcopalian.
It was by far the greatest decision in my life. My wife was already a Roman Catholic.
Roman Catholicism is black and white where the Episcopal church sees everything in grey.
They're not really thinking about aesthetic values at all . . . they are simply approving what they think they OUGHT to approve to be "modern" and "up to date" and "with it."
Their focus is not on whether a particular work of art or literature is beautiful, inspiring, or even well made. They are only concerned with being approved by their friends. The besetting sin of ECUSA has always been a desire to be on the forefront of whatever "movement" is in vogue at the moment.
Exactly where is that written in scripture? I read that idolotry and cross-dressing, sorcery and witchcraft and homosexual behavior are abominations to the Lord. I read that "There are six things which the LORD hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness {who} utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers," but nowhere do I read that music of any sort is an abomination to the Lord. Quite the contrary.
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. (Ps. 98:4)
And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals. (2 Sam. 6:5)
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