Tuesday, October 27, 2009

39 Articles of Religion

In the back of the Prayer Book of the Episcopal Church, in the "Historic Documents" section, you will find a copy of the "39 Articles of Religion." While these articles have no formal authority in the Episcopal Church, they do still have formal authority for many other places in the Anglican Communion. Given their historic role in the shaping of Anglicanism, I find the interest of some Anglicans in becoming Roman Catholic rather interesting.

Here are some excerpts to give you an idea of what I speak:

Article XIX. Of the Church
The visible Church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men, in the which the pure Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments be duly ministered according to Christ’s ordinance in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same.
As the Church of Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch have erred; so also the Church of Rome hath erred, not only in their living and manner of ceremonies, but also in matters of Faith.

Article XXII. Of Purgatory
The Romish Doctrine concerning Purgatory, Pardons, Worshipping, and Adoration, as well of Images as of Reliques, and also invocation of Saints, is a fond thing vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the Word of God.

Article XXXVII.
...The Bishop of Rome hath no jurisdiction in this Realm of England…

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