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Roman Catholic Religion

Roman Catholic Religion questions and answers

Find more information on the Roman Catholic Religion @ The Adherents Religion Website.

Q: What is the role of a Godmother in the Roman Catholic religion?
My Husband and I recently had a baby He is Roman Catholic and I am Buddhist. He persists that we baptize our child, and I am trying to understand, but what is the purpose/role of a Godmother and Godfather in the Catholic religion? HELP!!!

A: The role of the godfather and/or godmother is very important. They must be firm Catholic believers, able and ready to help the newly baptized—child or adult—on the road of Christian life. To ensure this, a godparent must be at least 16 years old (for maturity's sake), fully initiated (having received Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist), be someone other than the legal parents, and one who leads a life in harmony with the Church. With love in Christ.

Q: When was the establishment of the Roman Catholic Religion?
Please do not post any links from Wikipedia. And does anybody know where you can find artifacts for the Han Empire? Mayan Empire?

A: On Pentecost 33 C.E. Although the Church was not called Christian for 20 or 30 years (according to Acts 11:26 "it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians"). And was not called Catholic for about 70 years. The Church has referred to itself as the “Catholic Church” at least since 107 C.E. (about 10 years after the last book of the New Testament was written), when the Greek term "Katholikos" (meaning universal) appears in the Letter of St. Ignatius of Antioch to the Smyrnaeans: "Wherever the bishop appear, there let the multitude be; even as wherever Christ Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church." http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/ignatius-smyrnaeans-hoole.html We do not know how long they had been using the term "Catholic" before it was included in this letter. All of this was long before the Council of Nicea and the Nicene Creed from 325 C.E. which states, "We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church." http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07644a.htm With love in Christ.

Q: Is it true that Roman catholic religion is the poorest religion?
Historically adherents to Catholicsm are poor because it is in their teaching that only in poverty and suffering they will find salvation. That is why the people are poor and the church is the wealthiest in the world.

A: The Church is not against the aquisition of personal wealth. However, the Church does teach that those who are better off have an obligation to contribute to helping the well-being of those who are not so lucky. Catholics are amongst the most charitable people in the world. Catholic Charities raises more money than any other charity in the world. This is because a) Catholics are not opposed to the aquisition of wealth, and B) many donate some of that wealth to the Church and it's charities - thus empowering it with the financial means to help as many people as possible. If all Catholics were as poor as you are attempting to insinuate, they would have nothing to donate to the Church and the Church itself would then be poor as well. Now, let's say - strictly for the sake of argument - that all Catholics were poor, and that this was because of a Catholic's will to give up their riches to become more Christ-like. What's wrong with that? There are two kinds of poverty in this world. One is a sin, the other is not. Being financially poor is not a sin. Being spiritually poor is a sin.

Q: Are the Coptic Orthodox And The Roman Catholic Religion ALMOST the same?
What are the ways in which they arent?

A: There is quite a few ways they differ- the Copts are a lot Closer to the Eastern Orthodox than the Roman Catholics. I'll give you a numbered list. 1. Episcopacy- the Cotpic Pope is just an other Bishop he just merily has the honnor of presiding over meetings of other Coptic Bishops and his name gets listed first. Beore Constantinople was built Alexandira was the second Patriarchate since it was the second largest city in the Empire. Antioch can claim Petarian sucession. So the Petrine doctrine is a Roman Catholic invention. 2. Copts like other Orthodox ordain married men to the preisthood their Bishops like the Eastern Orhtodox are chosen from Monk priests. 3. Sin- there is no concept of venial and mortal sin like there is in the Catholic Church. 4. Original sin- historic western theoligy from Agustine says man is born damned Orthdox say we damn our selves from our own actions. 5. view of sin- sin is viewed not just interms of breaking a law but as an infection so there are involintary sins we aren't damned for but lead to volentary sin. 6. The blessed virgin- there is no doctrine of immacualte conception and like wise both eastern and orietnal orhtodox are clear she died. 7. divorce- thge Copts allow divorce in the case of adultury where catholics only have anulments. 8. Purgatory- Orthodox call this a herasy the reason Orthodox pray for the dead is the judgement has not happneed 9. the reason for Christ's death Eastern Chrsitianity view it and the resurstion as unitiing the devine and human natures and destroying death not Chrsit taking punishment for us. 10. the Nature of Christ- the Copts have been schismatic since the 5th century. They are miaphysties vieing the union of the human and devine natures in the one person of Christ as forming a composite nature. Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholics beleive simularly but just don't use the description.The indivudals who fought against at least two of the 3 herasies the first 3 eccumincal councils were called to condemn were Copts. the 5th century Schism in reality had its roots in politics.Saint Athenasius and Cyril. Alexandiria felt like they were getting smashed and smuthered by the second Rome- Constantiople these fealings resulted in both Constantiople and Alexandria taking any differnce and multipling them until you had the 4th eccumincal council the schsism got worse after the Muslim invasion- since the Muslims wanted to keep the Christians from unitiing and over throwing them.

Q: How did Roman Catholic Religion start? And Why?


A: The Church started on Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles. + Catholic + The Catholic Church has referred to itself as the “Catholic Church” at least since 107 AD, when the term appears in the Letter of St. Ignatius of Antioch to the Smyrnaeans: "Wherever the bishop appear, there let the multitude be; even as wherever Christ Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church." http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/ignatius-smyrnaeans-hoole.html All of this was long before the Council of Nicea and the Nicene Creed from 325 A.D. which states, "We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church." + Roman + The term "Roman" Catholic is rather recent. The new Anglican Church in England started using the term “Roman” in the 1500s as one of many ways of demeaning and demonizing Catholics. Catholics accepted this late coming adjective without too much protest. Today “Catholic” and “Roman Catholic” are interchangeable terms. Both terms are even used in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. To add a little more confusion, some apply the term “Roman Catholic Church” only to the Latin Rite Catholic Church, excluding the Eastern Rite Catholic Churches that are in full communion with the Pope, and are part of the same Church, under the Pope. The term “Roman” neither increases nor decreases the faith, hope and love of the Catholic Church. + With love in Christ.

Q: What are your thoughts on the roman catholic religion? True or False,do they qualify as false teachers?
There are many contradictions when you look at the rc religion. The Bible tells us the truth and the rc's seem to teach some things that are not found in the Bible, or something opposite is found. Example; The Bible never states that Mary was without sin, read Luke chapter 1 and discover that she needed a savior too. The Bible never teaches that Peter was the head of the church headquartered in Rome. The fact is Peter never even visited Rome. The Bible never tells us to pray to saints. It does tell us that there is one Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus. The Bible never teaches that there is a place called purgatory. It does tell us that it has been appointed to everyone once to die, and than the judgement (no stops in between). So what are your thoughts about the roman catholic religion???

A: roman catholicism is not a religion; but a denomination of christianity and serves a uselful purpose

Q: Learning about the Roman Catholic religion?
I am (obviously) not Roman Catholic, and do not believe in God/many of their viewpoints. However, the religion has always fascinated me. I also have to have a measure of respect for a religion that was able to last through all these years. So, are there any good books (other than the bible) or places online to learn about it? I have friends that are Roman Catholic but am fearful of asking them about it in case it sparks another religious/political debate.

A: The Catholic Answers website is the best place for this http://www.catholic.com/ Edit: I'm not sure the Catechism of the Catholic Church is the best starting point. It's a little heady, vague, and verbose. Guaranteed to put you to sleep.

Q: How did the Roman-Catholic religion begin?
If it didn't exist prior to Jesus' death, and the Romans were the ones who killed him, why they it became a religion with so many followers?

A: The Christian church began on Pentecost (after Jesus ascended to heaven) when God sent the Holy Spirit to the Apostles and disciples. When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. (Acts 2:1-4) The Church has referred to itself as the “Catholic Church” at least since 107 C.E. (about 10 years after the last book of the New Testament was written), when the Greek term "Katholikos" (meaning universal) appears in the Letter of St. Ignatius of Antioch to the Smyrnaeans: "Wherever the bishop appear, there let the multitude be; even as wherever Christ Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church." http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/ignatius-smyrnaeans-hoole.html We do not know how long they had been using the term "Catholic" before it was included in this letter. All of this was long before the Council of Nicea and the Nicene Creed from 325 C.E. which states, "We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church." http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07644a.htm With love in Christ.

Q: When did the Roman Catholic Religion begin or start and by whom?


A: Well, that depends on who you ask and what qualifies as "start." :) Jesus told Peter he was to be "the rock" on which he (Jesus) would build his church. Catholics take that to refer to Peter as the head of the church - then they see Peter as the Bishop of the Church in Rome, which would make him the first Pope. They see each successive Bishop of Rome as being Pope, as well, in a line of succession from Peter. So, you could point to Pentecost (when the Holy Spirit comes down on the Apostles in Acts), as the start of the church itself. Or, you could see it, in a way, as being when Jesus named Peter. As to the history, we know Bishops of Rome were pretty powerful at least as early as the 2nd century, but we really don't have evidence of them being considered the universal head of the church (ie-the Pope) until the 3rd or 4th century.

Q: Why are the 10commandments changed in the Roman Catholic religion?
I was just wondering why are the 10 commandments changed in the roman catholic religion? also does anyone know why we celebrate Sunday as been the Sabboth day? Could anyone shed some light on this for me as it's rather confusing, many thanks!

A: The truth, of course, is that the Catholic Church did not and could not change the Ten Commandments. Latin Catholics and Protestants simply list them differently. It is incredible that such a pernicious lie could be so easily spread and believed, especially since the truth could easily be determined by just looking into the matter. But the rumor lives. Most common Protestant listing: Thou shalt have no other gods before me Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy Honour thy father and thy mother Thou shalt not kill Thou shalt not commit adultery Thou shalt not steal Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour Thou shalt not covet Latin Catholic listing: Thou shalt not have other gods besides Me Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain Remember to keep holy the Lord’s day Honor thy father and thy mother Thou shalt not murder Thou shalt not commit adultery Thou shalt not steal Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods The Old Testament was around long before the time of the Apostles, and the Decalogue, which is found in three different places in the Bible (Exodus 20 and Exodous 34 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21), has not been changed by the Catholic Church. Chapter and verse divisions are a medieval invention, however, and numbering systems of the Ten Words (Commandments), the manner in which they are grouped, and the "short-hand" used for them, vary among various religious groups. Exodus 20 is the version most often referred to when one speaks of the Ten Commandments, so it will be our reference point here. Here's how the relevant portion of Exodus 20 reads: 2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. 7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. 12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 13 Thou shalt not kill. 1 14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. 15 Thou shalt not steal. 16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. So we have 16 verses and Ten Commandments (this we know because of Exodus 34:28 and Deuteronomy 4:13 which speak of the "Ten Words" of God). How to group these verses and Commands? When the Commandments are listed, they are often listed in short-hand form, such that, for ex., verses 8, 9, 10 and 11 concerning the Sabbath become simply "Remember the Sabbath and to keep it holy." Because Latin Catholics group 3, 4, 5 and 6 together as all pertaining to the concept "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me," we are accused of having "dropped" the commandment against idols. That Eastern Catholics list the Commandments differently never enters the equation for people who think this way; they are simply against those they probably call the "Romish popers" and that's that (I hope it doesn't bother them that Jews would accuse them of totally forgetting the First Commandment, or that Latin Catholics could accuse some Protestants of skipping lightly over the commandments against lust. Bottom line: chapter and verse numbering in the Bible came about in the Middle Ages the Catholic Church (which includes Eastern Catholics, too) has two different numbering systems for the Commandments given, one agreeing with the most common Protestant enumeration; the Latin Church's numbering is the most common in the Catholic Church and is the one referred to by Protestants who, ignoring Eastern Catholic Churches, accuse the Catholic Church of having dropped a Commandment; no Commandment has been dropped, in any case, but the Latin Church's shorthand for the Commandments looks different than the typical Protestant version because of how the Commandments are grouped; everyone knows how to find Exodus 20 in the Bible, and we don't care how they are grouped together; we only care that they are understood and obeyed -- not because we are under the Old Testament Moral and Ceremonial Law with its legalism and non-salvific ritual (we aren't!), but because we are to obey God as children of the New Covenant, whose moral law includes the Two Great Commandments (to love God and to love our neighbor) which surpass the Decalogue, and whose Sacraments surpass empty ritual, being media of grace.

Q: Roman Catholic religion - why did they omit 2nd commandment ?
What is their reasoning ? They took out the 2nd commandment on idolatry, making a graven image, and 'split' the 10th commandment in two, so the total would still be 10. I do not have an axe to grind - I really am curious as to their logic/reasoning. I was raised in the Roman Catholic religion, and was always taught the 'cathollic version'

A: chapter and verse numbering in the Bible came about in the Middle Ages the Catholic Church (which includes Eastern Catholics, too) has two different numbering systems for the Commandments given, one agreeing with the most common Protestant enumeration; the Latin Church's numbering is the most common in the Catholic Church and is the one referred to by Protestants who, ignoring Eastern Catholic Churches, accuse the Catholic Church of having dropped a Commandment; no Commandment has been dropped, in any case, but the Latin Church's shorthand for the Commandments looks different than the typical Protestant version because of how the Commandments are grouped; everyone knows how to find Exodus 20 in the Bible, anyway -- even us stoopid Latin Catholics; and we don't care how they are grouped together; we only care that they are understood and obeyed -- not because we are under the Old Testament Moral and Ceremonial Law with its legalism and non-salvific ritual (we aren't!), but because we are to obey God as children of the New Covenant, whose moral law includes the Two Great Commandments (to love God and to love our neighbor) which surpass the Decalogue, and whose Sacraments surpass empty ritual, being media of grace.

Q: What's the point of the Roman Catholic religion if scientists keep disproving the Bible?
Why do scientists want to disprove the Bible? We know scientists will disprove the fact that Jesus rose from the dead, which is the main belief of the Roman Catholic. There's no meaning in my religion (Roman Catholic) if scientists disprove that fact. Next thing after that, there will be no religion because I believe there will be a World War III. Let's say the scientists are Roman Catholic. Why can't they just follow their religion instead of using science to break us all apart? I understand it's their choice and that their conscience tells them to stick with it, and I also understand you can't force them to not stick with their choice, but it's a stupid choice, and all the Roman Catholics that could've asked this same question on Yahoo or are devout christians would probably want to commit suicide if they heard any more science disproving beliefs from the Catholic religion itself, not just the Roman Catholics. WHERE ARE SCIENTISTS GETTING THE IDEA TO DISPROVE THE BELIEFS OF CHRISTIAN

A: Your statement is much bigger than just the Roman Catholic Church. It is a dilemma of all Christians. The point for me is that the scientists don't know everything. In fact they are wrong on some points. They cannot disprove the resurrection. They cannot disprove the plagues of Egypt or the flood of Noah. They can put forth ideas, theories, postulate answers but they cannot prove nor disprove one way or the other. Most of us exercise faith on the scriptures and feel within our beings that the scriptures are indeed true. Science cannot argue against faith for faith is the substance of things not seen, the evidence of things hoped for which are true. Against this, science has no weapon. I am convinced that when the end comes, we will find out how God did everything. Until then we have to keep the two founts of knowledge somewhat separate from each other. One side for earthly knowledge and the other side for spiritual knowledge. Every now and then the two sides might merge and find common ground. Eventually we will see how it all fits together. P.S. I am trained as a scientist so I can understand both sides of the debate.

Q: What is the whole Roman Catholic religion about?
I am planning on taking the classes and researching but I want to get some start-off, headsup information before hand. Feel free to answer my previous question as well.

A: >>What is the whole Roman Catholic religion about?<< Jesus. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Everything in Catholicism is about Jesus. I applaud your willingness to research Catholicism. May I recommend the Catholic Home Study Service? It is excellent and free. http://www.amm.org/chss.htm I also recommend you read "Rome Sweet Home" by Scott Hahn, a Presbyterian minister who converted to Catholicism. You can probably find it in your local public library. You can also find a shorter version of his conversion story here: http://www.chnetwork.org/scotthconv.htm

Q: How could you consider the Roman Catholic Religion to be universal.?
The roman universal church. I don't think so. More like The roman universal cult.

A: The Catholic Church is indeed the largest cult in the world today. +++Origin of Catholic Church+++ The term "catholic" originates from ancient Greek and means "universal". The earliest example of its use is by Ignatius, the third Patriarch (Pope) of Antioch in a Letter to the Smyrnaeans in about the year 107. See: Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Ignatius_of_Antioch The first Pope of Rome was Prince Linus, the son of Queen Boudica from Britain. Linus was executed for his crimes in lighting the fires around Rome that killed over 250,000 innocent men, women and children trying to free Paul around 64/65 CE. The next Pope wasn't appointed until around 200. After Rome successfully got rid of the Huns at the end of the 5th Century, the power of Rome continued to rise. The ficticious history of Peter being the first Popes and Rome being the first church emerged by the 6th and 7th century forming the basis of the split from the traditional ("orthodox") churches. +++Proof of Catholicism as a cult+++ The evidence to support this statement is overwhelming across Yahoo answers - a refusal to recognize viewable, measurable facts; - a refusal to acknowledge the existence of other wisdom and divine revelation; - a refusal to believe that the very God they worship has spoken for 2,000 years; - a complete faith and belief in the leaders of their church being divinely inspired, even though history continues to shows these people as less than honorable. - a refusal to acknowledge 20 centuries of pure evil as clearly listed in the Almanac of Evil of the Catholic Church http://one-faith-of-god.org/final_testament/end_of_darkness/evil/evil_020120.htm Yes, all these are real signs that Catholics are sadly gripped in a cult, unable to break away and see the world and even their own faith for what it is. What would Jesus Do? ================= + Jesus founded the Nazarenes. http://one-faith-of-god.org/new_testament/apocrypha/nazarenes/nazarenes_0010.htm + Paul of Tarsus founded christianity to counter the message of Jesus and distort its meaning. http://one-faith-of-god.org/new_testament/apocrypha/founders_christianity/founders_christianity_0010.htm + So Jesus no doubt rejoices everytime a christian is freed from the grips of christianity and can separate God, him and truth from the church.

Q: Roman Catholic?
can anyone give me info on the Roman Catholic religion? Including: History Symbols holy buildings

A: The term "Catholic Church" A letter that, in about 107, Saint Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch wrote to Christians in Smyrna, is the earliest surviving witness to the use of the term "catholic Church" (Smyrnaeans, 8).[1] By it Saint Ignatius designated the Christian Church in its universal aspect, excluding heretics, such as those who disavow "the Eucharist to be the flesh of our Saviour Jesus Christ, which suffered for our sins, and which the Father, of His goodness, raised up again" (Smyrnaeans, 7).[2] He called such people "beasts in the shape of men, whom you must not only not receive, but, if it be possible, not even meet with" (Smyrnaeans, 4).[3] Yet more explicit was the manner in which Saint Cyril of Jerusalem (circa 315-386) used the term "catholic Church" precisely to distinguish this Church from heretical "Churches". He urged: "If ever thou art sojourning in cities, inquire not simply where the Lord's House is (for the other sects of the profane also attempt to call their own dens houses of the Lord), nor merely where the Church is, but where is the Catholic Church. For this is the peculiar name of this Holy Church, the mother of us all, which is the spouse of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God" (Catechetical Lectures, XVIII, 26).[4] Only slightly later, when Christians still applied the word "priest" only to bishops and not yet to those who are now called "priests" in English, Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430) wrote: "In the Catholic Church, there are many other things which most justly keep me in her bosom. The consent of peoples and nations keeps me in the Church; so does her authority, inaugurated by miracles, nourished by hope, enlarged by love, established by age. The succession of priests keeps me, beginning from the very seat of the Apostle Peter, to whom the Lord, after His resurrection, gave it in charge to feed His sheep (Jn 21:15-19), down to the present episcopate. "And so, lastly, does the very name of Catholic, which, not without reason, amid so many heresies, the Church has thus retained; so that, though all heretics wish to be called Catholics, yet when a stranger asks where the Catholic Church meets, no heretic will venture to point to his own chapel or house. "Such then in number and importance are the precious ties belonging to the Christian name which keep a believer in the Catholic Church, as it is right they should ... With you, where there is none of these things to attract or keep me... No one shall move me from the faith which binds my mind with ties so many and so strong to the Christian religion... For my part, I should not believe the gospel except as moved by the authority of the Catholic Church." — St. Augustine (354–430): Against the Epistle of Manichaeus called Fundamental, chapter 4: Proofs of the Catholic Faith[5] A contemporary of Augustine, St. Vincent of Lerins, wrote in 434 under the pseudonym Peregrinus a work known as the Commonitoria ("Memoranda"). While insisting that, like the human body, Church doctrine develops while truly keeping its identity (sections 54-59, chapter XXIII), he stated: "[I]n the Catholic Church itself, all possible care must be taken, that we hold that faith which has been believed everywhere, always, by all. For that is truly and in the strictest sense 'Catholic,' which, as the name itself and the reason of the thing declare, comprehends all universally. This rule we shall observe if we follow universality, antiquity, consent. We shall follow universality if we confess that one faith to be true, which the whole Church throughout the world confesses; antiquity, if we in no wise depart from those interpretations which it is manifest were notoriously held by our holy ancestors and fathers; consent, in like manner, if in antiquity itself we adhere to the consentient definitions and determinations of all, or at the least of almost all priests and doctors" (section 6, end of chapter II). [edit] Divergent interpretations of the term "Catholic Church" Many Christians (and denominations) are commonly considered "catholic". They fall into two groups: 1) those like the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Anglican Churches having Apostolic Succession from the early Church; and 2) those who claim to be spiritual descendants of the Apostles but have no discernable institutional descent from the historic Church, and normally do not refer to themselves as catholic. Of those in the first category, some see their Church as the Catholic Church, others see their Church as only part of the Catholic Church. For Protestants, most of whom consider themselves to be spiritual descendants (category 2, above), this affirmation refers to their belief in the ultimate unity of all Churches under one God and one Saviour, rather than in one visibly unified institutional Church (category 1, above). In this usage catholic is sometimes written with a lower-case "c". The Western Apostles' Creed, stating "I believe in...the holy catholic church..." (sometimes capitalised), is thus recited in Protestant worship services (with some exceptions such as German Lutherans, who substitute "Christian" for "catholic"). The Nicene Creed likewise declares belief in "one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church". It should be noted historically, however, that apostolicity in the form of tactile succession as well as spiritual descent has been maintained by certain national Lutheran Churches (now part of the Porvoo Communion), and has been restored in this fully visible form to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America through the procedures of full communion agreements with their national Anglican counterparts. [edit] Brief organizational history of the Church The early Catholic Church came to be organized under the three patriarchs of Rome, Alexandria and Antioch, to which later were added the patriarchs of Constantinople and Jerusalem. The Bishop of Rome was at that time recognized as first among them, as is stated, for instance, in canon 3 of the First Council of Constantinople (381) - many interpret "first" as meaning here first among equals - and doctrinal or procedural disputes were oftentimes referred to Rome, as when, on appeal by St Athanasius against the decision of the Council of Tyre (335), Pope Julius I, who spoke of such appeals as customary, annulled the action of that council and restored Athanasius and Marcellus of Ancyra to their sees. The Bishop of Rome was also considered to have the right to convene ecumenical councils. When the Imperial capital moved to Constantinople, Rome's influence was sometimes challenged. Nonetheless, Rome claimed special authority because of its connection to Saint Peter2 and Saint Paul, who, all agreed, were martyred and buried in Rome, and because the bishop of Rome saw himself the direct successor of Saint Peter. The 431 Council of Ephesus, the Third Ecumenical Council, was chiefly concerned with Nestorianism, which emphasized the distinction between the humanity and divinity of Jesus and taught that, in giving birth to Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary could not be spoken of as giving birth to God. This Council rejected Nestorianism and affirmed that, as humanity and divinity are inseparable in the one person of Jesus Christ, his mother, the Virgin Mary, is thus Theotokos, God-bearer, Mother of God. The first great rupture in the Church followed this Council. Those who refused to accept the Council's ruling were largely Persian and are represented today by the Assyrian Church of the East and related Churches, which, however, do not now hold a "Nestorian" theology. They are often called Ancient Oriental Churches. The next major break was after the Council of Chalcedon (451). This Council repudiated Eutychian Monophysitism which stated that the divine nature completely subsumed the human nature in Christ. This Council declared that Christ, though one person, exhibited two natures "without confusion, without change, without division, without separation" and thus is both fully God and fully human. The Alexandrian Church rejected the terms adopted by this Council, and the Christian Churches that follow the tradition of non-acceptance of the Council - they are not Monophysite in doctrine - are referred to as Pre-Chalcedonian or Oriental Orthodox Churches. The next great rift within Christianity was in the 11th century. Longstanding doctrinal disputes, as well as conflicts between methods of Church government, and the evolution of separate rites and practices, precipitated a split in 1054 that divided the Church, this time between a "West" and an "East". England, France, the Holy Roman Empire, Scandinavia, and Western Europe in general were in the Western camp, and Greece, Romania, Russia and many of other Slavic lands, Anatolia, and the Christians in Syria and Egypt who accepted the Council of Chalcedon made up the Eastern camp. This division is called the East-West Schism. The fourth major division in the Church occurred in the 16th century with the Protestant Reformation, after which many parts of the Western Church either entirely rejected the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and became known as "Reformed" or "Protestant", or else repudiated Roman papal authority and accepted decisions by the civil ruler in religious matters. A much less extensive rupture occurred when, after the Roman Catholic Church's First Vatican Council, in which it officially proclaimed the dogma of papal infallibility, clusters of Catholics in the Netherlands and in German-speaking countries formed the Old-Catholic (Altkatholische) Church and other Independent Catholic Churches. All of the preceding groups, excluding some Protestants, consider themselves fully and completely Catholic, either as part of the Catholic Church or as the one and only Catholic Church. [edit] The Roman Catholic Church Main article: Roman Catholic Church "The Catholic Church", when used not of an abstract invisible entity, but of a visible concrete body of Christians, usually refers to what is also called "the Roman Catholic Church". This Church does not often use the name "Roman Catholic Church" for itself, except in its relations with other Christian groups. Even in those relations, "Catholic Church" may also appear, as in some documents drawn up in common with the Lutheran World Federation and the Assyrian Church of the East. On the other hand, the Church has in fact applied the adjective "Roman" to itself in its entirety even in some internal documents, such as the Dogmatic Constitution de fide catholica of the First Vatican Council, which was attended by Eastern as well as Western bishops. When it does apply the adjective "Roman" to itself, it understands this word only as pointing to the centrality for it of the see of Rome, with which all its members, laity and clergy alike, are necessarily in full communion. Outsiders, in contrast, considering the use of the name "Catholic Church" by this Church to be contentious, use the term "Roman Catholic Church" to imply that it is only the "Roman" section of some larger, perhaps abstract, entity that they call the Catholic Church and that, in their view, also includes other sections not in communion with Rome, a usage that members of the Church in question in turn see as contentious. Frequently enough, some members of this Church, especially those of the many other Eastern Rites, apply the term "Roman Catholic Church" not, as in the Church's official documents, to the Church as a whole, but only to its Latin Rite component. Unlike the outsiders just mentioned, these consider communion with the see of Rome essential for all members of the Catholic Church. [edit] Other Catholics In Western Christianity the principal groups that regard themselves as "Catholic" without full communion with the Pope are the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association and Anglicanism ("High Church Anglicans" or "Anglo-Catholics"). Smaller groups include the Old Catholics, the Aglipayans (Philippine Independent Church), and the Polish National Catholic Church of America. Their spiritual beliefs and practices are similar to those of Catholics of the Latin Rite, from which they emerged, but they reject the Pope's claimed status and authority. The Anglican Communion is in practice divided into two wings of unequal size, "High Church Anglicans", also called the Anglo-Catholics, said to be the great majority in most Anglican/Episcopal Churches, and "Low Church Anglicans", also known as the Evangelical wing. Though all elements within the Anglican Communion recite the same creeds, Low Church Anglicans regard the word Catholic in the ideal sense given above, while High Church Anglicans treat it as a name of an identifiable Church which they consider to embrace themselves together with the Catholic, Old-Catholic, and several Eastern Churches. Anglo-Catholicism has no official fixed tenets, other than the creeds, and maintains similarities to both Roman Catholicism and Eastern/Oriental Orthodoxy, as well as to related spirituality, including the seven sacraments, devotion to the Virgin Mary and saints, and emphasize the ministry of priests, addressed as "Father"(or, in the case of women priests, "Mother"). The clergy wear vestments and they use candles and incense and other ancient ceremonial elements in church liturgy, often describing the Eucharist with the Latin-derived word "Mass". All Anglo-Catholics believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The growth of Anglo-Catholicism is strongly associated with the Oxford Movement. Two of its leading lights, John Henry Newman and Henry Edward Manning, both priests, ended up joining the Roman Catholic Church, becoming cardinals. The parallel group among Lutherans, High Church Lutheranism, developed a movement known as Neo-Lutheranism. The Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches, as well as the Assyrian Church of the East, each consider themselves to be the universal and true Catholic Church. In various permutations, these bodies typically regard other and Western Catholics as heretical and as having thus left the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. The patriarchs of these Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches are autocephalous hierarchs, which roughly means that each is independent of the direct oversight of another bishop, although still subject, according to their distinct traditions, either to the synod of bishops of each one’s jurisdiction, or only to a common decision of the patriarchs of their own communion. They are willing to concede a primacy of honor to the Roman See, but not of authority, nor do they accept its claim to universal and immediate jurisdiction. This is similar to the position taken by the Lutheran World Federation, the Anglican Communion, and the Old Catholic Church. [edit] Distinctive beliefs and practices [edit] Beliefs Catholic Churches share certain essential distinctive beliefs and practices (though some Anglicans and Lutherans differ in regard to emphasis and particular pieties): Papal Infallibility (Only the Roman Catholic Church) Direct and continuous organizational descent from the original church founded by Jesus (see e.g. Mt 16:18). Possession of the "threefold ordained ministry" of Bishops, Priests and Deacons. All ministers are ordained by, and subject to, Bishops, who pass down sacramental authority by the "laying-on of hands", having themselves been ordained in a direct line of succession from the Apostles (see Apostolic Succession). Belief that the Church is the vessel and deposit of the fullness of the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles from which the Scriptures were formed. This teaching is preserved in both written Scripture and in unwritten Tradition, neither being independent of the other. A belief in the necessity of sacraments (generally counted as seven). The use of sacred images, candles, vestments and music, and often incense and water, in worship. Belief that the Eucharist is really, truly, and objectively the Body and Blood of Christ, through the Real Presence. Those that are quite distinctively Catholic believe that adoration and worship is due to the Eucharist, as the body and blood of Christ. Veneration of Mary, the mother of Jesus as the Blessed Virgin Mary or Theotokos, and veneration of the saints. A distinction between adoration (latria) for God, and veneration (dulia) for saints. The term hyperdulia is used for a special veneration accorded to the Virgin Mary among the saints. Some do not accept the distinction between hyperdulia and dulia. The use of prayer for the dead. Requests to the departed saints for intercessory prayers. Belief in Exorcisms [edit] Sacraments or Sacred Mysteries Main article: Catholic sacraments Main article: Sacred Mysteries Catholics administer seven sacraments or "sacred mysteries", traditionally listed in the following order (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church): Baptism Confirmation, also called Chrismation Eucharist Reconciliation of a Penitent Anointing of the Sick Holy Orders Holy Matrimony also known as "Marriage" While the word mystery is used not only of these rites, but also with other meanings with reference to revelations of and about God and to God's mystical interaction with creation, the word sacrament (Latin: a solemn pledge), the usual term in the West, refers specifically to these rites. Baptism is the first sacrament of Christian initiation, the basis for all the other sacraments. Catholics consider baptism conferred in most Christian denominations "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (cf. Matthew 28:19) to be valid, since the effect is produced through the sacrament, independently of the faith of the minister, though not of the minister's intention. As stated in the Nicene Creed, Baptism is "for the remission of sins", not only personal sins, but also of original sin, which it remits even in infants who have committed no actual sins. Expressed positively, remission of sins means bestowal of the sanctifying grace by which the baptized person shares the life of God. The initiate "puts on Christ" (Galatians 3:27), and is "buried with him in baptism ... also raised with him through faith in the working of God" (Colossians 2:12). Confirmation or Chrismation is the second sacrament of Christian initiation. Through it, the gift of the Holy Spirit conferred in baptism is "strengthened and deepened" (see Catechism of the Catholic Church, §1303) by a sealing. Some theologies consider this to be the outward sign of the inner "Baptism of the Holy Spirit," the special gifts (or charismata) of which may remain latent or become manifest over time according to God's will. Its "originating" minister is a validly consecrated bishop; if a priest (a "presbyter") confers the sacrament - as is done ordinarily in Eastern, Anglican, and Lutheran Churches and in particular cases in the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church - the link with the higher order is indicated by the use of chrism (also called myrrh) blessed by a bishop (in an Eastern Orthodox Church, by the patriarch). In the East, and among Anglicans and Lutherans, the sacrament is administered immediately after baptism. In the West administration came to be postponed until the recipient's early adulthood; but in view of the earlier age at which children are now admitted to reception of the Eucharist, it is more and more restored in the Roman Catholic Church to the traditional order and administered before giving the third sacrament of Christian initiation. In the Lutheran and Anglican traditions, "Confirmation" has come to be seen as a mature expression of faith, graced by the laying-on of a bishop's hands, and separated as a rite from the actual conferring of the chrismation. The Eucharist is the sacrament (the third of Christian initiation) by which, according to Catholic doctrine, Catholics receive their ultimate "daily bread," or "bread for the journey," by partaking of and in the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ and being participants in Christ's one eternal sacrifice. The bread and wine used in the rite are, according to Catholic faith, in the mystical action of the Holy Spirit, transformed to be objectively Christ's Body and Blood, his Real Presence. This transformation is suggested through the concept of transubstantiation or metousiosis. The Reconciliation of a Penitent (or, simply, Reconciliation), Penance and Confession are names given to the first of the two sacraments of healing. It is also called the sacrament of conversion, of forgiveness, and of absolution (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1423-1424).[6] It is the sacrament of spiritual healing of a baptized person from the distancing from God involved in actual sins committed. It involves four elements: the penitent's contrition for sin (without which the rite does not have its effect), confession to a priest (it may be spiritually helpful to confess to another and doing such is actually encouraged within the Church, but only a priest has the power to administer absolution), absolution by the priest, and satisfaction (signs of repentance that help the penitent's growth). In early Christian centuries, the fourth element was quite onerous and generally preceded absolution, but now it usually involves a simple task (in some traditions called a "penance") for the penitent to perform, to make some reparation and as a medicinal means of strengthening against further sinning. Anointing of the Sick (or Unction) is the second sacrament of healing. In it those who are suffering a serious illness are anointed by a priest with oil blessed specifically for that purpose. "Seriously sick" does not necessarily mean "in immediate danger of death". In past centuries, when such a restrictive interpretation was customary, the sacrament came to be known as "Extreme Unction", i.e. "Final Anointing", as it still is among traditionalist Catholics. It was then conferred only as one of the "Last Rites". The other "Last Rites" are Confession (if the dying person is physically unable to confess, at least absolution, conditional on the existence of contrition, is given), and the Eucharist, which, when administered to the dying, is known as "Viaticum", a word whose original meaning in Latin was "provision for a journey". Since the advent of the AIDS crisis, the conferring of Anointing of the Sick has become customary at Communion-time in many urban Anglican and Lutheran parishes. The Sacrament of Order is that which integrates men (and in some jurisdictions, also women) into the Holy Orders of bishops, priests (presbyters), and deacons, the threefold order of "administrators of the mysteries of God" (1 Corinthians 4:1), giving the person the mission to teach, sanctify, and govern, the three functions referred to in Latin as the "tria munera". Only a bishop may administer this sacrament, as only a bishop holds the fullness of the Apostolic Ministry. Ordination as a bishop makes one a member of the body that has succeeded to that of the Apostles. Ordination as a priest configures a person to Christ the Head of the Church and the one essential Priest, empowering that person, as the bishops' assistant and vicar, to preside at the celebration of divine worship, and in particular to confect the sacrament of the Eucharist, acting "in persona Christi" (in the person of Christ). Ordination as a deacon configures the person to Christ the Servant of All, placing the deacon at the service of the Church, especially in the fields of the ministry of the Word, service in divine worship, pastoral guidance and charity. Marriage (or Holy Matrimony) joins two persons for mutual help and love (the unitive purpose), consecrating them for their particular mission of building up the Church and the world, and providing grace for accomplishing that mission. In Roman Catholic theology, the primary purpose of marriage seen as the bearing and raising children (the procreative purpose), and marriage may only be between one man and one woman. Western tradition sees the sacrament as conferred by the canonically expressed mutual consent of the partners in marriage; Eastern and some recent Western theologies not in communion with the see of Rome view the blessing by a priest as constituting the sacramental action.