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The word "catholic" means "universal." Its use as a name for the Church comes from Nicene-Constantinople Creed of 381, which defines the church as, "one, holy, catholic and apostolic." In the Christological controversy of the fourth century, Catholics opposed the heresy of [[Arianism]].   

The word "catholic" means "universal." Its use as a name for the Church comes from Nicene-Constantinople Creed of 381, which defines the church as, "one, holy, catholic and apostolic." In the Christological controversy of the fourth century, Catholics opposed the heresy of [[Arianism]].   

The Church has always been [[pro-life]] and its leadership is mostly [[conservative]], as illustrated by how it "launched a crackdown on the umbrella group that represents most of [[America]]'s 55,000 [[Catholic]] nuns" for "a prevalence of certain radical [[feminist]] themes incompatible with the Catholic [[faith]]."  The Church noted that "the group was not speaking out strongly enough against" [[abortion]].<ref>http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2012-04-18/american-nuns-vatican/54396560/1?csp=hf</ref>

The Church has always been [[pro-life]] and its leadership is mostly [[conservative]], as illustrated by how it "launched a crackdown on the umbrella group that represents most of [[America]]'s 55,000 [[Catholic]] nuns" for "a prevalence of certain radical [[feminist]] themes incompatible with the Catholic [[faith]]."  The Church noted that "the group was not speaking out strongly enough against" [[abortion]].<ref>https://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2012-04-18/american-nuns-vatican/54396560/1?csp=hf</ref>

Members believe that theirs is the oldest [[Christian]] denomination in the world. It is certainly the largest, with more than 1.3 billion officially baptized adherents, or 17.4% of the world's population; over 64 million of these are in the [[United States]]. In recent years growth has been greatest in Africa and Latin America, while membership and influence have declined in Europe.

Members believe that theirs is the oldest [[Christian]] denomination in the world. It is certainly the largest, with more than 1.3 billion officially baptized adherents, or 17.4% of the world's population; over 64 million of these are in the [[United States]]. In recent years growth has been greatest in Africa and Latin America, while membership and influence have declined in Europe.

Islam has become a significant a threat to Catholicism as well. Sharia Law's rejection of religious freedom and the ongoing genocide of Chaldean Rite Catholics in Iraq are among these threats. There is a very strong trend of Muslim immigration into Europe, which is subverting the judicial system towards a Sharia theocracy. This trend is fueled through assassinations and threats towards anti-Islamic politicians (such as [[Theo Van Gogh]] and [[Geert Wilders]]). While Christianity remains the world's largest religion, all denominations of Islam combined now outnumber Catholicism (the most popular Christian denomination).

Islam has become a significant a threat to Catholicism as well. Sharia Law's rejection of religious freedom and the ongoing genocide of Chaldean Rite Catholics in Iraq are among these threats. There is a very strong trend of Muslim immigration into Europe, which is subverting the judicial system towards a Sharia theocracy. This trend is fueled through assassinations and threats towards anti-Islamic politicians (such as [[Theo Van Gogh]] and [[Geert Wilders]]). While Christianity remains the world's largest religion, all denominations of Islam combined now outnumber Catholicism (the most popular Christian denomination).

The Church has taken stances on recent controversial issues, including opposing the [[Iraq War]],<ref>Richert, Scott P. "What Is the Papacy's Response to the War in Iraq?" About.com Catholicism. http://catholicism.about.com/od/thechurchintheworld/f/popes_on_iraq.htm</ref> supporting [[universal health care]] (including many aspects of [[Obamacare]]),<ref>Clarke, Kevin. "Papal prescription for universal health care." January 16, 2011. U.S. Catholic. http://www.uscatholic.org/culture/social-justice/2011/01/papal-prescription</ref> and supporting assistance to [[illegal immigrant]]s.<ref>Kerwin, Donald. "Immigration Reform and the Catholic Church." May, 2006. Migration Information Source. http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?id=395</ref> Some high-ranking officials of the Roman Catholic Church have falsely attacked conservative evangelical Christians and Roman Catholics in the United States for holding conservative views and supposedly supporting a "theocratic state."<ref>Williams, Thomas D. (July 14, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/07/14/papal-adviser-bashes-american-christians-in-bigoted-screed/ Papal Advisers Bash American Christians in Bigoted Screed]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 14, 2017.</ref><ref>Bowden, John (July 15, 2017). [http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/342168-top-allies-of-pope-francis-criticize-religious-trump-supporters Top allies of Pope Francis criticize religious Trump supporters]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved July 15, 2017.</ref> The Church continues to oppose birth control and abortion, as discussed above.

The Church has taken stances on recent controversial issues, including opposing the [[Iraq War]],<ref>Richert, Scott P. "What Is the Papacy's Response to the War in Iraq?" About.com Catholicism. http://catholicism.about.com/od/thechurchintheworld/f/popes_on_iraq.htm</ref> supporting [[universal health care]] (including many aspects of [[Obamacare]]),<ref>Clarke, Kevin. "Papal prescription for universal health care." January 16, 2011. U.S. Catholic. http://www.uscatholic.org/culture/social-justice/2011/01/papal-prescription</ref> and supporting assistance to [[illegal immigrant]]s.<ref>Kerwin, Donald. "Immigration Reform and the Catholic Church." May, 2006. Migration Information Source. http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?id=395</ref> Some high-ranking officials of the Roman Catholic Church have falsely attacked conservative evangelical Christians and Roman Catholics in the United States for holding conservative views and supposedly supporting a "theocratic state."<ref>Williams, Thomas D. (July 14, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/07/14/papal-adviser-bashes-american-christians-in-bigoted-screed/ Papal Advisers Bash American Christians in Bigoted Screed]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 14, 2017.</ref><ref>Bowden, John (July 15, 2017). [https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/342168-top-allies-of-pope-francis-criticize-religious-trump-supporters Top allies of Pope Francis criticize religious Trump supporters]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved July 15, 2017.</ref> The Church continues to oppose birth control and abortion, as discussed above.

== See also ==

== See also ==

* Kung, Hans. ''The Catholic Church: A Short History'' (2003), by a leading Catholic scholar [http://www.amazon.com/Catholic-Church-History-Library-Chronicles/dp/0812967623/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241119912&sr=8-15 excerpt and text search]

* Kung, Hans. ''The Catholic Church: A Short History'' (2003), by a leading Catholic scholar [http://www.amazon.com/Catholic-Church-History-Library-Chronicles/dp/0812967623/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241119912&sr=8-15 excerpt and text search]

* Latourette, Kenneth Scott. ''Christianity in a Revolutionary Age: A History of Christianity in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries'' 5 Vol'' (1958), a detailed history of Christianity 1800-1950 by a  Protestant scholar. [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=101463833 vol 1 online edition]  

* Latourette, Kenneth Scott. ''Christianity in a Revolutionary Age: A History of Christianity in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries'' 5 Vol'' (1958), a detailed history of Christianity 1800-1950 by a  Protestant scholar. [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=101463833 vol 1 online edition]  

* O'Toole, James M. ''The Faithful: A History of Catholics in America'' (2008) [http://books.google.com/books?id=BFlBzSAVW6kC&printsec=frontcover&dq=intitle:The+intitle:Faithful+intitle:A+intitle:History+intitle:of+intitle:Catholics+intitle:in+intitle:America&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=0 excerpt and text search]

* O'Toole, James M. ''The Faithful: A History of Catholics in America'' (2008) [https://books.google.com/books?id=BFlBzSAVW6kC&printsec=frontcover&dq=intitle:The+intitle:Faithful+intitle:A+intitle:History+intitle:of+intitle:Catholics+intitle:in+intitle:America&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=0 excerpt and text search]

===References===

===References===