In this first episode of St. Mary's Formation Podcast, Rev. Robin and Rev. Don reflect on formation, confirmation, reception into the Episcopal Church, and reaffirmation.
I would like to add a couple points of difference between the Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches - If you are divorced and remarried without an annulment, in the Catholic Church, you are not supposed to receive communion and you cannot serve in any way other than as a lay person or lay minister (e.g., you cannot become a Eucharistic minister or visiting minister) whereas in he Episcopal church everyone is allowed to receive communion - all are called to the table and all can participate in ministry at every level. Also, in terms of LGBTQ? which is openly accepted in the Episcopal church, in the Catholic church they really are not and their marriages cannot be blessed by a priest. The pope has allowed the blessing of the individuals as any individual or object is blessed, but the marriage itself is not blessed. Also, gay/lesbian sex is a sin, not because it is between queer people even if they are married but because it is sex outside of marriage as the Catholic church does not recognize lesbian or gay marriage and so it is sex outside of marriage which is sinful for every Catholic. One last thing, married people can become priests which is not allowed in the Catholic Church. Thank you for this wonderful podcast!
