Key Features and Common Themes: Catholicism vs Anglicanism
The Anglican and Catholic faiths share views of the same nature when it comes to marriage. The Anglican Church believes marriage is a “permanent and lifelong union”. A belief that is reciprocated by the Roman Catholic Church is as follows, “A woman is bound by the law as long as her husband lives, but if her husband dies she is at liberty: let her marry to whom she will" (1 Corinthians 7:39), meaning that in Catholicism marriage is intended to last as long as the two people are alive.
Another area of common ground between the two faiths is marriage is a union between a man and a woman. Whilst beliefs towards homosexuality vary between the two faiths, a gay couple won’t be able to get married in either church. Catholics believe that God wanted Adam and Eve’s marriage to be a model for all marriages; one man and one woman: “When a man shall leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife and they shall be two in one flesh” (Genesis 2:24).
The Roman Catholic Church has specific conditions for a marriage to be considered valid:
- A single man and a single woman who are of age
- Capable of sexual intercourse
- Who intend to live together and have a family, “Increase and multiply” (Genesis 1:28); “The younger should marry, bear children, be mistresses of families.” (1 Timothy 5:14)
- Who intend to be faithful to one another until the death of one of them
- Who are not prohibited by the law of God from marrying, e.g. close relatives
- Must be in the presence of a priest and two witnesses
Similarly, Anglicans believe that marriage is between a single man and woman of age, and share the same beliefs in regards to the main purpose of marriage being to start a family. Anglicans are also prohibited from marrying close relatives.
It is illegal in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Church to commit adultery, “Neither fornicators….. Nor adulterers…. Shall possess the Kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Both faiths also have strict laws around only being able to marry once. However, divorce and remarriage is allowed, but only under very specific circumstances.
Anglicans and Catholics will allow interfaith marriages in their Church, but Catholics have to gain dispensation from the minister witnessing the wedding.
In summary, Catholics and Anglicans both believe that marriage is a lifelong union between a man and a woman, and a union with the main purpose of starting and caring for a family.
Bibliography
Websites
- BBC - Religions - Christianity: Marriage and weddings 2014, accessed 13 October 2016, <http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/ritesrituals/weddings_1.shtml>.
- Catholic Beliefs For Your Marriage 2016, accessed 14 October2016, <http://www.foryourmarriage.org/catholic-marriage/catholic-beliefs/>.
- Roman Catholic Christian teaching on Marriage, accessed 14 October 2016, <http://www.catholicmissionleaflets.org/marriage.htm>.
Images
- Catholic Wedding, jpg, everafterguide, accessed 15 October 2016, <http://img.everafterguide.com/s/upload/images/2016/06/d8928875eb058dea94c8449f9b5716f3.jpg>.
- Marriage Family Life, jpg, Catholic Diocese of Auckland, accessed 15 October 2016, <http://www.aucklandcatholic.org.nz/media/2015/11/MarriageFamilyLIfe-300x300.jpg>.
- Adultery, jpg, accessed 15 October 2016, <http://www.deepertruthblog.com/blogsite/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/adultery.jpg>.