what is the difference between Catholics and Episcopalians?
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Robin Williams jokes that Espiscopalians have "all the ceremony, half the guilt." Now the rest of the world calls them Anglicans, and I will for the remainder of my answer.\n\nOne of the differences between the Catholics and Anglicans is the rite used for the Mass. Roman Catholics use a rite called the "Novis Ordo", a modified form of the Latin liturgy it created in the aftermath of Vatican II. The Anglicans, on the other hand, use a rite derived from the Book of Common Prayer.\n\nSee: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Common_Prayer\n\n(Some Catholic parishes use a modified form of this called the Anglican use, if the parish is one that at some point belonged to the Church of England.)\n\nIn terms of beliefs, there are not too many differences between Catholics and Anglicans. What differences there are is contained in a treatise the Anglicans have called "the Thirty Nine articles" - though not all of them are differences, some of them are areas of specific agreement, in fact.\n\nOne of the important differences in terms of hierarchy is that Anglican bishops are absolute rulers of their diocese. While Catholics believe their bishops are sovereign over their local churches, that authority is to be defered to the authority of the Pope, Peter's sucessor.\n\nAnglicans do accept in theory the idea that the Papacy perhaps should hold some weight. But their view of the local bishop's power is that it is basically absolute: that any "chief bishop" who is the head of a communion (in the case of the Anglicans, that is the Archbishop of Canterbury) is more of a figurehead, primus interpares (a "first among equals.")\n\nAnother difference is that Anglicans dropped the traditional Latin discipline of priestly and episcopal (bishop's) celibacy.\n\nIn the US Episcopal church, there is a consensus that women may also be ordained to the priesthood and episcopacy, as well as non-celibate homosexuals. The Catholics do not share this view.
11095
As catholics, I think we celebrate a few more holy days, as we believe in the communion of saints.  I don't think the protestants do, but I could be wrong.  This month, we celebrated Saint Nicholas' feast day, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and are observing several advent traditions/customs.  Other than that, I can't think of any obvious way you'd notice a difference.  Maybe in the crosses we hang on our walls.  Catholics will have crucifix, with Jesus on it.  Protestants, I think, are more likely to have a plain cross.
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Like the answerer above me, I too went through the RCIA and none of my immediate family is Catholic. In fact, my mother is still very much against religion and against Christianity in particular.\n\nIf you are baptized, confirmed, and believe in the authority given by Jesus to the Church, and to the office of the Pope in particular, and therefore fully accept all dogma and doctrine that the Magisterium of the Church teaches then you are a true Catholic.\n\nCatholic means universal. So Catholic Church means universal Church. To be Catholic means being of one mind and one faith in communion with the Church which is the body of Christ. \n\nIf one insists on following their own individual beliefs apart from the dogma or doctrine of the Church then they are not Catholic because they are isolating themselves from the universal family of the Church. They are not universal, so they are not Catholic.
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Many Christians DO NOT acknowledge that Catholicism is a division of Christianity but in fact it is. There once was a time when Catholics practiced the oneness of God.... later adding the trinity to its doctrine created a separation in the church. Out of that division came Protestant, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist,  Pentecostal, Apostolic, Seventh Day Adventist, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormon etc...All are Christian nonetheless. \n\nTo say, "I'm Christian" is a unbiased, unprejudiced title; or general and safe to say. \n\nHowever, to say, "I am Catholic" is like saying United Kingdom is NOT a part of Europe because they want to be different from the rest of Europe, and they think they are better than everybody else. They look like the oddball in the group (out-casted). \n\nChristianity has dissected into so many entities over the past  centuries, one would have to be a true religious scholar in order to define all the various types of Christianity.
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Anglicans believe it is merely symbolic where as Roman Catholics believe they are actually consuming the body and blood of Christ. Go ahead and compare!\n\nRoman Catholic: \nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucharist_%28Catholic_Church%29\nhttp://catholic-resources.org/ChurchDocs/Mass.htm\n\nAnglican: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglican_Eucharistic_theology
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If you are Episcopalian, you believe in the Via Media, or the "Middle Way" between Catholicism and Protestantism. Episcopal tradition rests on Scripture, Tradition, and Reason. For that reason, we tend to not rely on dogma, and generally accept a wide array of opinions. \n\nWhile there is a catechism, it is not nearly as exhaustive or detailed as that of the Catholic church. \n\nIn short, I think the best way to think of the Episcopal faith is as an ongoing quest for understanding, rather than a rigid set of precepts.
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The Russian Orthodox Church is one of the Eastern Orthodox Churches.\n\nEastern Orthodox and Roman Catholics separated from one another in 1054. There are very few theological differences. The main difference is that the Eastern Orthodox Churches ( http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11329a.htm ) use the Byzantine Rite ( http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04312d.htm ) and the Roman Catholic Church use the Roman or Latin Rite.\n\nPope John Paul II said of the Eastern Orthodox Churches in Orientale Lumen, "A particularly close link already binds us. We have almost everything in common." (see http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_02051995_orientale-lumen_en.html )
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episcopalians and lutherans also do it
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Roman Catholicism is a denomination of Christianity.\n\nArguably, a religion *is* a way to come to God.
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A pastor is a shepherd of the people\nA Priest is Catholic\nA minister is Protestant\nA Preacher is evangelistic as opposed to teacher
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body of Christ.\nthe catholic religion believes the wafer actually becomes the body of Christ whereas protestants believe it is representative of same.\ntransubstantiation vs consubstantiation.\ni think i remember that corectly.
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Most Roman Catholics tend to be pretty conservative - I definitely am!!  You might want to read the Catechism of the Catholic Church for more information.
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Catholics have more fun.  Especially alcoholic ones.  That's the whole point of Catholisism.  Pain old deubochery is good for peoples souls and Okay at St. Peters.  God don't want no prude...period.
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Actually, the Catholic Church was the ONLY Christian church for many many years. Now, as different groups have disagreed with the teachings of the Catholic leaders, some have broken away and founded new religions.\n\nA CHRISTIAN is someone who believes that God became a human being (Jesus of Nazareth), and saves us from the consequences of our sins by dying on a cross.\n\nCATHOLICS believe exactly that. We also believe that the apostles were given the responsibility and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead Christians in faith - and that the bishops carry on that responsibility (and receive that guidance) still today.\n\nIn other words, Catholics ARE Christians. But there are other kinds of Christians as well (Orthodox, Schismatics, Christian/cults, and Protestants).
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Catholics are merley one of the many christian denominations.  actually the first one. And with the Orthodox church the only ones for 1500 years.
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Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholics separated from one another in 1054. There are very few theological differences. The main difference is that the Eastern Orthodox Churches follow the Byzantine Rite and the Roman Catholic Church follows the Roman or Latin Rite.\n\nPope John Paul II said of the Eastern Orthodox Churches in Orientale Lumen, "A particularly close link already binds us. We have almost everything in common."
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Other people dont understand the question. Its more like this....\n"Whats the difference between Catholics and (Protestant) Christians?"\n\nCatholics pray to Mary and the Saints even though Jesus said the only way to the Father is through Him. (Catholics also use priests as a link between God and man, therefor replacing Jesus' role.)\n\nCatholics think that the bread and wine is the literal body and blood of Jesus Christ being sacrificed over and over again every week even though Jesus died ONCE so that all sins would be forgiven.\n\nCatholics have statues of Mary, Joseph, Jesus, and the saints despite the second commandment saying that we shall not have any image of that which is in heaven or on earth.\n\nCatholics deal with the last problem by leaving out that commandment and splitting the last one (thou shalt not covet) into two parts...thou shalt not covet thy neighbors wife and thou shalt not covet thy neighbors possessions.\n\nCatholics have added books to the Bible that were viewed as erroneous for hundreds of years.\n\nThere are more but those are a few.\n\nProtestants are called Protestants because they are protesting the errors of the Catholic Church.\n\njudge by ur self