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Why the Episcopal Church Is (And Isn't) Catholic Lite

It's both a catchy joke and and apt description-Catholic Lite.

Comedian Robin Williams (an Episcopalian) popularized this term in an interview when, referring to a beer commercial, he described Catholic Lite as "same rituals, half the guilt." like all jokes, there's a nugget of truth in there, and one we're rather proud of.

The Episcopal Church is a proud descendant of the Church of England, which was rooted in the Roman Catholic Church. A variety of factors led to this split some 500 years ago, and it's one that we're still working to heal. But we are indebted and appreciative of the many rituals, traditions, and ways of believing in Christ that have come to us through our Catholic roots.

And like the Roman Catholic Church, the Episcopal Church has changed and evolved. We have come down on the same side of most issues, and on different sides of others. We are perceived as being less strict, allowing priest to marry and non-Episcopalians to take Holy Communion, and publicly allowing a wider breadth of acceptable belief and practices than one might find in a Roman Catholic Church.

However, the idea that being an Episcopalian lacks rigor and demand is the down side of Williams' description. There is nothing "lite" about being a Christian, no matter what denomination one might choose. Episcopalians promise in their baptism to pray, take communion, and to spread the Gospel just like most other Christians.

The Episcopal Handbook (Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing, 2008) pp.79 and 80.

Clergy

The Rev. Charles Davidson

Vestry Members

Carol Anderson, Cyrus Aimey (Junior Warden), Veronica Airey-Wilson, Joyce Asiedu, Walter Benjamin (Senior Warden, Nora Brown, Terry Brown (Treasurer), Marie Brown-Harvey (Secretary),Evelyn Green, Shannon Holder, Bates Lyons, Joe Noel, Peter Marsele Terrie Thomas, Herbert Bowen (Hon)

Music

Rochelle Holder - Youth Choir

Nathaniel Baker - Music Director/Organist

Rector Emeritus

Canon Cyril Burke

Email

monicahartford@gmail.com