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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.

The Roman Catholic Church has often, especially prior to the rise of Protestantism, been considered the Western Church while the Greek Orthodox Church is considered the Eastern Church. But more eastern than that, there was, from the earliest centuries, the Aramaic Church of the East (see [[Aramaic Church]]) which considers itself to be a Catholic Church. The full name for this Church is the "Holy Apostolic and Catholic Church of the East." This Church, being cut of for most of the time from the Roman and Byzantine spheres by being in the "enemy"  empire - Parthia - developed differently from its sister Catholic Church of the West. The Church of the East also having the threefold ministry of Bishop, Priest, and Deacon, and being in [[Apostolic succession]] (through the Apostle Thomas rather than Peter), never developed the infallibility of bishops, as the Roman Church would do for the bishop of Rome  (the Pope) nor infallibility of the synod of bishops as did the Greek Orthodox church. This elevates the authority of the Bible and brings affinity of this Catholic Church to the Evangelical world.  

The Roman Catholic Church has often, especially prior to the rise of Protestantism, been considered the Western Church while the Greek Orthodox Church is considered the Eastern Church. But more eastern than that, there was, from the earliest centuries, the Aramaic Church of the East (see [[Aramaic Church]]) which considers itself to be a Catholic church. The full name for this Church is the "Holy Apostolic and Catholic Church of the East." This Church, being cut of for most of the time from the Roman and Byzantine spheres by being in the "enemy"  empire - Parthia - developed differently from its sister Catholic Church of the West. The Church of the East also having the threefold ministry of Bishop, Priest, and Deacon, and being in [[Apostolic succession]] (through the Apostle Thomas rather than Peter), never developed the infallibility of bishops, as the Roman Church would do for the bishop of Rome  (the Pope) nor infallibility of the synod of bishops as did the Greek Orthodox church. This elevates the authority of the Bible and brings affinity of this Catholic Church to the Evangelical world.  

It is commonly thought that the Catholic church forbids its priests to marry. But this is true only of the Latin Rite. Eastern Rite Catholic Church congregations which are in communion with the Roman Catholic church  have a married priesthood and diaconate although bishops may not marry. It is a common sight for non Latin rite Catholic priests to be seen, particularly in the Mid East and India, with wives and children. Priestly celibacy for Latin Rite Roman Catholic, though in force, is considered as canonical ruling having papal force but not an infallible decree or teaching coming "ex cathedra" - and thus priestly celibacy may be changed by the Pope and be in line with the non Latin rites of the Catholic Church.  The general rule in the Roman Catholic Church in relation to its eastern rite communions within it is to allow the customs, practices, and even doctrines to remain "eastern". This approach entails not only the allowance of married priests but also mixed vernacular liturgies of natural development (Aramaic with Arabic, Aramaic with Greek), baptism of infants immediately followed by Chrismation (confirmation), rather than the Latin rite 12 year interval between baptism and confirmation, baptism by full immersion even of infants rather than sprinking or pouring as in Latin rite.  

It is commonly thought that the Catholic church forbids its priests to marry. But this is true only of the Latin Rite. Eastern Rite Catholic Church congregations which are in communion with the Roman Catholic church  have a married priesthood and diaconate although bishops may not marry. It is a common sight for non Latin rite Catholic priests to be seen, particularly in the Mid East and India, with wives and children. Priestly celibacy for Latin Rite Roman Catholic, though in force, is considered as canonical ruling having papal force but not an infallible decree or teaching coming "ex cathedra" - and thus priestly celibacy may be changed by the Pope and be in line with the non Latin rites of the Catholic Church.  The general rule in the Roman Catholic Church in relation to its eastern rite communions within it is to allow the customs, practices, and even doctrines to remain "eastern". This approach entails not only the allowance of married priests but also mixed vernacular liturgies of natural development (Aramaic with Arabic, Aramaic with Greek), baptism of infants immediately followed by Chrismation (confirmation), rather than the Latin rite 12 year interval between baptism and confirmation, baptism by full immersion even of infants rather than sprinking or pouring as in Latin rite.  

The Roman Catholic Church historically regarded [[Protestantism|Protestant]] Christianity as heretical, that is, being against Roman doctrine. The tone changed in the 1960's when [[Pope John XXIII]] called the Second Vatican Council, at which "the doors of the Church were opened wide" and Protestants were referred to as "our separated brethren".  

The Roman Catholic Church historically regarded [[Protestantism|Protestant]] Christianity as heretical, that is, being against Roman doctrine. The tone changed in the 1960s when [[Pope John XXIII]] called the Second Vatican Council, at which "the doors of the Church were opened wide" and Protestants were referred to as "our separated brethren".  

[[Image:JpII.jpg|right|thumb|John Paul II]]

[[Image:JpII.jpg|right|thumb|John Paul II]]