Comparative Essay: Compare And Contrast Anglicanism And Catholicism

Compare and contrast Anglicanism and Catholicism

Rahul Kheraj

There are many differences and similarities between Anglicanism and Catholicism. Anglicanism was derived from Catholicism and its principle ideas are similar to catholic beliefs. However, some ideas, such as the separation of church and state, differentiates Anglicanism from Catholicism. The fundamental reason for the Anglican split was caused by King Henry VIII in the 16th century; His wish to divorce Catherine of Aragon was denied by the pope and he seized action by establishing the Church of England. Mary of Tudor, however, restored Catholicism in England, and she persecuted Anglicans. In 1558, Elizabeth I reversed Mary’s policies and reestablished the Church of England1. Elizabeth’s Act of supremacy caused turmoil against Catholic Spain in 1585 causing an Anglo-Spanish war2. The split in religion within England led to a shift between the kings court and the parliament, leading to a civil war. When Charles I married a Catholic, Henrietta Maria, he upset the Anglicans in England causing riots and eventually a civil war in 16423. Decades of religious turmoil and wars led to a larger shift between the two religions. The

When Henry VIII established the Church of England, the fundamental change was the separation of church and state. This allowed England to take full control of their economy and getting rid of the pope. The Church of England is led by the King or Queen rather than a pope. Anglicanism also had more religious freedoms. For example, Anglicanism allows divorce, and recently women priesthood. The simplicity of Anglicanism appealed to a lot of England but the remaining Catholics rebelled and protested against the government7. The Catholic faith is surrounded around saints and the pope while Anglicanism is centered around the holy spirit and nation