Changes

History:

1. History:

Christianity, of course, began with Jesus. Paul was converted and made thousands of Greeks in many cities believers. Some Jews converted people in Rome. Using Christianity as a scapegoat for the great fire in the city, Emperor Nero fed thousands to the lions, crucified Peter, and beheaded Paul. For the next two centuries Christianity grew very slowly. Yet in 312 the emperor Constantine converted. He spread it. Yet a heresy developed: Arianism, which regarded Jesus as being a Lesser Being than God. At the First Council of Nicaea in 325, it was condemned. Catholicism became a name for those in the west who opposed it, while in the east anti-Arians were called Orthodox members. The former is Greek for universal, the latter means right believing. Yet most Germanic tribes were Arians, not Catholics/Orthodox members.  

Christianity, of course, began with Jesus. Paul was converted and made thousands of Greeks in many cities believers. Some Jews converted people in Rome. Using Christianity as a scapegoat for the great fire in the city, Emperor Nero fed thousands to the lions, crucified Peter, and beheaded Paul. For the next two centuries Christianity grew very slowly. Yet in 312 the emperor Constantine converted. He spread it. Yet a heresy developed: Arianism, which regarded Jesus as being a Lesser Being than God. At the First Council of Nicaea in 325, it was condemned. Catholicism became a name for those in the west who opposed it, while in the east anti-Arians were called Orthodox members. The former is Greek for universal, the latter means right believing. Yet most Germanic tribes were Arians, not Catholics/Orthodox members.  

The Church had to battle nationalism, communism, socialism, and persecution in the 19th century, seeing much property in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain seized from it and Catholicism being cracked down upon by devil-worshipping anticlericals. Meanwhile, it battled communism in the next century. Pope Pius XII heroically rescued many Jews in the Holocaust. Today, the Church again flourishes.

The Church had to battle nationalism, communism, socialism, and persecution in the 19th century, seeing much property in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain seized from it and Catholicism being cracked down upon by devil-worshipping anticlericals. Meanwhile, it battled communism in the next century. Pope Pius XII heroically rescued many Jews in the Holocaust. Today, the Church again flourishes.

==Different churches==

2. ==Different churches==

The term "The Catholic Church" refers to any one of several Rites, but in the United States is often used synonymously for the largest Rite, the Latin Rite. Other Rites include the Byzantine, Alexandrian, Syriac, Armenian, Maronite, and Chaldean Rites.  Some Eastern rites have significant differences in liturgy, history, discipline and hierarchy from the Roman Catholic Church, 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 term "The Catholic Church" refers to any one of several Rites, but in the United States is often used synonymously for the largest Rite, the Latin Rite. Other Rites include the Byzantine, Alexandrian, Syriac, Armenian, Maronite, and Chaldean Rites.  Some Eastern rites have significant differences in liturgy, history, discipline and hierarchy from the Roman Catholic Church, 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]].