Changes

==Different churches==

==Different churches==

The term "The Catholic Church" refers to any one of a number of different Rites and church organizations, but, in the United States, it is most often used synonymously for the church whose most widespread Rite is the Latin Rite--the Roman Catholic Church. Other Rites include the Byzantine, Alexandrian, Syriac, Armenian, Maronite, Chaldean, Melkite (also known as the Greek Catholic Church), the Malankara Church, the Syro-Malabar Church, and the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. They are different from the Latin rite in many ways but still recognize the primacy of the Bishop of Rome (the Pope) and are in communion with Rome. These Eastern Rite churches are Catholic and do not belong to the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]. The Roman Catholic Church is the largest [[Christianity|Christian]] denomination in the world, with over one billion adherents.<ref>http://www.adherents.com/adh_branches.html#Christianity</ref> It comprises one of the three great divisions of Christianity, together with [[Protestantism]] and [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodoxy]].

The term "The Catholic Church" refers to any one of a number of different Rites and church organizations, but, in the United States, it is most often used synonymously for the church whose most widespread Rite is the Latin Rite—the Roman Catholic Church. Other Rites include the Byzantine, Alexandrian, Syriac, Armenian, Maronite, Chaldean, Melkite (also known as the Greek Catholic Church), the Malankara Church, the Syro-Malabar Church, and the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. They are different from the Latin rite in many ways but still recognize the primacy of the Bishop of Rome (the Pope) and are in communion with Rome. These Eastern Rite churches are Catholic and do not belong to the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]. The Roman Catholic Church is the largest [[Christianity|Christian]] denomination in the world, with over one billion adherents.<ref>http://www.adherents.com/adh_branches.html#Christianity</ref> It comprises one of the three great divisions of Christianity, together with [[Protestantism]] and [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodoxy]].

Despite important differences in doctrine, the Roman Catholic Church recognizes the Orthodox Church's Holy Orders (priesthood) as valid; however, the Orthodox generally follow a theory of ordination for place and purpose, so the notion of being ordained outside the Orthodox Church is moot, and no theory of validity is held to.

Despite important differences in doctrine, the Roman Catholic Church recognizes the Orthodox Church's Holy Orders (priesthood) as valid; however, the Orthodox generally follow a theory of ordination for place and purpose, so the notion of being ordained outside the Orthodox Church is moot, and no theory of validity is held to.

=="Roman Catholic" versus "Catholic"==

=="Roman Catholic" versus "Catholic"==

[[Image:Malaga catedral.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Cathedral of Malaga, [[Spain]].]]

[[Image:Malaga catedral.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Cathedral of Malaga, [[Spain]].]]

The term "catholic" (from the Greek ''katholikos'') means "universal", and its roots in ecclesiastical parlance go back to the early years of Christianity. Some Protestants believe that (Roman) Catholics do not have the right to monopolize the term, and so prefix it with the adjective "Roman".  Historically speaking, the term "Roman Catholic" was coined in nineteenth-century Britain as a [[euphemism]] to replace insulting terms such as "papist" that had previously been in use. However, Cardinal John Henry Newman states, regarding the early period in which [[Arianism]] was being fought,  that "It is more remarkable that the Catholics during this period were denoted by the additional title of Romans. Of this there are many proofs in the histories of St. Gregory of Tours, Victor of Vite, and the Spanish Councils."<ref> Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine (1845; rev. ed. 1878), see ch. 6, sec. 3</ref>

The term "catholic" (from the Greek ''katholikos'') means "universal", and its roots in ecclesiastical parlance go back to the early years of Christianity. Some Protestants believe that (Roman) Catholics do not have the right to monopolize the term, and so prefix it with the adjective "Roman".  Historically speaking, the term "Roman Catholic" was coined in nineteenth-century Britain as a [[euphemism]] to replace insulting terms such as "papist" that had previously been in use. However, Cardinal John Henry Newman states, regarding the early period in which [[Arianism]] was being fought,  that "It is more remarkable that the Catholics during this period were denoted by the additional title of Romans. Of this there are many proofs in the histories of St. Gregory of Tours, Victor of Vite, and the Spanish Councils."<ref>Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine (1845; rev. ed. 1878), see ch. 6, sec. 3</ref>

==Sacraments==

==Sacraments==

<references/>

<references/>

[[Category: Religion]]

[[Category:Religion]]

[[Category: Christianity]]

[[Category:Christianity]]

[[Category:Catholic Church]]

[[Category:Catholic Church]]