Why is Anglicanism typically less guilt-ridden than Roman Catholicism?

You're right, we all can do the same thing alone with God, but the sacrament of reconciliation is meant to make the whole thing easier. When we're going to God on our own it's easy to let pride creep in, "what I did isn't so bad, after all, Billy Bob did something so much worse". It's hard to be prideful when we're speaking our sins aloud and in front of someone else. It brings our baggage to light and the other person (the priest) is able to help us see our baggage for what it is and let it go (which is really hard when we've become attached to it). All that said, I certainly can understand why it's difficult for many and could even be a stumbling block given their experiences.

 

That's a hard one to answer. My initial feeling would be improper catechesis but I think it goes deeper than that. If you look at the early church you see Christians; lay, religious, and clergy bringing their sins and struggles to spiritual fathers who worked with them for years. You see the same thing continued in the Eastern Churches. I think the real problem came in when the west shifted away from the confessor walking alongside you and building a relationship. Now it's just going to any priest, stand in line with people staring at you, go in the box, list your sins, get a few prayers to say, run and try not to make eye contact with anyone. Everything has become so rushed that you miss the personal, healing element, and then it devolves into the negative experience that so many have faced.

I don't know what the fix is other than time, proper formation for new priests, and re-training for the old priests. I have seen a shift where more and more Roman Catholic Diocese are teaching their seminarians the "spiritual father" / Spiritual director approach to confessions. I've also seen a lot of priests that are moving that way on their own.

 

That sounds like an approach characteristic of Romans... very efficient, like an aqueduct, or a well-paved road, or a town build on a very rational grid of streets.

For my own part, I find the same Roman efficiency at work in what I guess you'd call its legalism. Legalism provokes anxiety, too. At the end of the day it isn't so much the theology of Rome's teaching, so much as its regimental discipline that trips me up. I don't care much to live in a completely rational city built on a grid. I want to live in the Cotswalds.

 

I suffer from anxiety and I often have those thoughts myself from time to time. I think making a general life confession would be a horrible thing for me. I take solace in the Anglican tradition for that reason. I could easily see myself at different times in my life being those guys you run across.

 

There is a huge difference between how RCs view confession and how Anglicans and Protestants view it. I definitely understand why devout RCs go to confession frequently. But I also understand why Anglicans seek to make auricular confession very seldom. My previous answer was from the latter perspective.

 

Sincerity isn't something one can just summon up. It is something which is either there, in the heart or not but can be faked. Confession should normally be a personal and private prayer session between just the individual sinner and God The Holy Spirit. If anyone lacks the faith to believe that is 'enough' then by all means take the matter to another person qualified to convince you of God's absolution upon being convinced of your own sincerity.

The chances are that a person so unconvinced of God's forgiveness of sin is feeling that way because they are still in an unregenerate state and need to be led to the foot of the cross of the Atonement and kneel before Christ with a humble and a contrite heart. That God will never despise.

In the Church of England Confession is available to all. Usually taking the form of an informal interview and discussion. If the priest or pastor deems it necessary a private, formal service may be arranged and performed. All may, some should, none must.

All should be made aware beforehand however that there are certain instances where it may be necessary for the leadership in the church to report what is said in confession to a relevant authority, especially where others may be or have been, seriously affected by criminal acts. Some crimes should not be 'ignored' or a 'blind eye' turned.
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never heard that missing mass was a grave sin

 

What! Not turn up to get your weekly dose of sin remitting salvation sacrifice from the priest. What could be worse? A whole fortnight away from church? The very idea! Two dozen hail Mary's and as pennance crawl from the confessional all the way down the nave, on your hands and knees you reprobate sinner.
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who are taking to?

me.?


did you not understand?



you enjoy playing the game of always attacking Catholics!?

 

like Orwells sheep bleeting …



all Anglicans goooooooooood ….
all Catholics bääääääääääääääääääd …..

 

this constant attacks on Catholics is like an illness here

 

lots of idiotic prejudices against Catholics


is that your hobby here?

 

As far as I can see, the criticism isn't directed so much at Catholics per se, as it is directed at aspects of Catholicism (Roman). There is no reason why somone can't criticise the RCC if they disagree with the practices there. No one has to agree with that person, but they are entitled to their opinion. And Anglicans are well known to hold a variety of differing opinions, even about their own church! That is obvious here. And it is a good thing IMO.

If you are looking for a forum where Catholics are never criticised, perhaps you should try Phatmass. It is a specifically Roman Catholic forum and there it is considered bad form to criticise Catholics. I am unsure as to why you would spend so much time on an Anglican forum, just to get upset at criticisms of your own church. Maybe you should even start your own forum, where you can post constantly and insist that everyone agree with you?

And as far as missing Mass in the RCC goes, as a former Catholic myself, I was told in no uncertain terms that it was a mortal sin unless one had either a dispensation or a very good reason, such as illness. If you woke up on a rainy morning and just didn't want to get out of bed, and missed it - yup, mortal sin. Sorry, but that's a fact. Even though missing Mass under those conditions didn't mean you wanted to consciously separate from God but were just feeling tired or lazy, it was still serious and deliberate. So off to Confession for you and no Communion until that was done. Personally, I don't think God is that petty.

 

Indeed, it's as you say. It's curious how those who criticize Roman Catholicism so much, for example, Seventh-day Adventists, and who label Roman and Catholic practices (in general) as superstitious or "Babylonian," consider it a serious sin to miss church on Saturday, or rather, to worship on Sunday.

 

Fear not Nevis. It was addressed generally to the thread title and is actually ironic, even sarcastic. Not directly addressed to you. Even expressing agreement in an ironic English kind of way, with your previous statement. " never heard that missing mass was a grave sin ".

I appologise for confusion that may have been caused you, by my English sense of humour.
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i agree!

the idea that it is a grave sin for Catholcs to miss Mass is just not right!

 

How many German Catholics go to church on Sunday?

In 2010 it was 12%
In 2022 it was 5%

 

And how many Anglicans go to Church on Sunday?

 

From the Catechism:

2180 The precept of the Church specifies the law of the Lord more precisely: "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass."117 "The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day."118

2181 The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor.119 Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.

2182 Participation in the communal celebration of the Sunday Eucharist is a testimony of belonging and of being faithful to Christ and to his Church. The faithful give witness by this to their communion in faith and charity. Together they testify to God's holiness and their hope of salvation. They strengthen one another under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

2183 "If because of lack of a sacred minister or for other grave cause participation in the celebration of the Eucharist is impossible, it is specially recommended that the faithful take part in the Liturgy of the Word if it is celebrated in the parish church or in another sacred place according to the prescriptions of the diocesan bishop, or engage in prayer for an appropriate amount of time personally or in a family or, as occasion offers, in groups of families."120

For it to rise to the level of "grave sin" one would have to meet a few conditions.

1. One would have to know that missing mass on a Sunday or Holy Day of obligation is sinful.

2. One would have to intentionally miss (without a valid reason).

3. One would have to willingly consent to the action. Forgetting it was Sunday, getting distracted and missing the bus, being prevented from going by a family member, etc, etc. would not meet the condition of willing consent.

In addition to these there are any number of factors that could lessen culpability.

 

See, that's what I don't agree with. It's ok to be forgetful or other reasons but it isn't ok to accept personal responsibility by choosing to miss Mass.

Making it a grave sin to choose NOT to do something is just wrong to me. I choose to go to Mass, when I choose to do so, not out of fear of committing a sin but because I am exercising my own free will. When I was a RC, I would often go to daily Mass, but no matter how many times I did this, it was still a grave sin to miss Sunday Mass on purpose. I know it is in the Catechism, and that is just one reason why I am no longer RC. Too many absolutes and shoulds and should nots. I worship God, not out of fear of retribution, but out of love and gratitude for his mercy and saving grace. I enjoy Mass but I won't be frightened into attending.

I have no problem with others believing and practising the catechism of the RCC, but it just isn't for me.