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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(which since 1963 uses native languages)—the Roman Catholic Church. However, [[https://fssp.com/ the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter]] has a historical exemption to say the Latin Mass, as reaffirmed by [[Pope Francis]]<ref>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256968/pope-francis-meets-fssp-head-confirms-right-to-celebrate-the-traditional-latin-mass</ref> which shouldn't be confused with the [[Society of St. Pius X | SSPX Church]] which is NOT part of the RC church.<br> '''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 [[Petrine Primacy|primacy of the Bishop of Rome (the Pope)]] and are in communion with Rome. These [[Eastern Catholic Churches|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(which since 1963 uses native languages)—the Roman Catholic Church. However, [[https://fssp.com/ the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter]] has a historical exemption to say the Latin Mass, as reaffirmed by [[Pope Francis]]<ref>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256968/pope-francis-meets-fssp-head-confirms-right-to-celebrate-the-traditional-latin-mass</ref> which shouldn't be confused with the [[Society of St. Pius X | SSPX Church]] which is NOT part of the RC church.<br> '''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 [[Petrine Primacy|primacy of the Bishop of Rome (the Pope)]] and are in communion with Rome. These [[Eastern Catholic Churches|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.

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 off 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 off 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.