Anglican sexual ethics?

Discussion in 'Philosophy, Truth, and Ethics' started by niccolo25, Dec 21, 2015.

  1. niccolo25

    niccolo25 New Member

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    Do you expose myself Anglican sexual ethics?
    I would like to know the moral evaluation about premarital cohabitation, premarital sex, homosexual couples, divorce and remarriage and contraception.
    Thank you.
    (I am a Roman Catholic)
     
  2. anglican74

    anglican74 Well-Known Member Anglican

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    Right now the Anglican world is in a bit of theological tumult due to the liberalism of the last thirty years. The liberal churches (mostly in the West) will allow these things, while the traditional Anglicans, faithful to Anglican tradition, who are the majority around the world, will consider these things a sin.

    The United States has a strong resurgence of conservative Anglicans, in the many Continuing jurisdictions, and in ACNA. They in the West would affirm the traditional Anglican perspective in contrast to the liberals.
     
    Last edited: Dec 21, 2015
  3. niccolo25

    niccolo25 New Member

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    Is not the contraception licit for the couple after the Lambeth Conference of 1930?
     
  4. anglican74

    anglican74 Well-Known Member Anglican

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    For a married couple and in limited circumstance that is correct. However that applied largely to the Episcopal Church, as well as England and Canada, the three predominant representatives at the Conference in 1930. However, today most of the world's Anglican Churches are far bigger than these. Their canons are not juridically dependent on England, far less on the Episcopal Church. Unless they pass a canon today ratifying the 1930 decision as their own, the relevance of this allowance to them is questionable.
     
    Last edited: Dec 21, 2015
  5. niccolo25

    niccolo25 New Member

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    Hasn't the Episcopal Church rules of sexual morality?
     
  6. Lowly Layman

    Lowly Layman Well-Known Member

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  7. Lowly Layman

    Lowly Layman Well-Known Member

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    Niccolo, you've asked a number of extremely good questions about the Anglican position on a number of moral/practical issues. This highlights a key difference between the RCC and the AC. Anglicans don't view the teaching authority of the church in the same way as the Roman Church does. While the good catholic looks to the magesterial authority of the Pope and the Clergy to define the "position" of the Catholic church, the good anglican looks to the primary source of all doctrine and morals: the Bible.

    The Articles of Religion summarize this view of authority:


    "6. Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation.
    Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those canonical Books of the Old and New Testament, of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church."

    When an anglican needs to find the church's position on a given topic, he grabs his bible and asks "what sayeth the Scriptures?"

    If the scriptures are unclear, he turns to the apostolic tradition of the church, especially as it was preserved in the church fathers and godly councils the first 5 centuries. This is not an authority that is binding on an anglican if it is not based on or drawn from scripture, but should be treated with respect and deference as if it were the advice from our elder brothers and sisters, for that is what it is.

    If there is still no clarity on a topic, an anglican is expected, as part of his liberty as a christian, to use his god-given reason to sort out the matter, so long as it doesn't conflict with scripture.

    Because Anglicans look to scripture first and foremost, the church doesn't always speak on every topic, and even when it does, its voice is only advisory. Add to that the Anglican understanding of the episcopacy and the National church system, which respects the liberty of churches and dioceses to handle their own affairs without undue meddling, and you get the most anglican answer one can have on questions of morality: "it depends". It depends on where you are and what the circumstances of your situation are. Most people's life issues are extremely complex and nuanced.

    As far as sexual rules go. All anglican churches are united in keeping children fron being sexually exploited, abused, or harrassed. Anglican churches are united in declaring the biblical stance that adultery is a grave sin as is divorce. Grave but forgivable. All anglican churches are united in teaching that clerics must operate with the highest degree of integrity and should never use their office to harrass , exploit, or abuse those under their care. The Episcopal Church is no exception. What the EC has done, as have a few others, is loosen it's historic stance on homosexuality, at least among homosexuals who are in committed monogamous relationships. As you are no doubt aware, this has caused a great rift in not only the EC but across the Anglican Communion.

    So, in answer to your question, the EC does have rules regarding sexuality, but they are not going to be the same as other provinces.
     
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