Changes

The '''Roman Catholic Church''' is the largest Christian denomination in the world, with about 1 Billion adherents.

The '''Roman Catholic Church''' is the largest Christian denomination in the world, with about one billion adherents.

[http://www.adherents.com/adh_branches.html#Christianity]

[http://www.adherents.com/adh_branches.html#Christianity]

The Roman Catholic Church consists of those Christians in full communion with the Bishop of Rome (more commonly

The Roman Catholic Church consists of those Christians in full communion with the Bishop of Rome (more commonly

called the [[Pope]]). The Church traces the papal authority as the leader of Christianity to the first Bishop of Rome

called the [[Pope]]). The Church traces the papal authority as the leader of Christianity to the first Bishop of Rome, the apostle [[Peter]]. Unlike many [[Protestant]] churches, the Roman Catholic Church is not ''sola scriptura'' or

who was the apostle Peter. Unlike many Protestant Churches, the Roman Catholic Church is not sola scriptura or

''sola fides''. The Church believes that both faith and works are necessary for salvation and that tradition and reason should be used to aide interpretation of the Bible. The church has a complex hierachy of clergy involving

sola fides. The Church believes that both faith and works are necessary for salvation and that tradition and reason

should be used to aide interpretation of the Bible. The church has a complicated hierachy of clergy involving

[[priests]], [[bishops]], [[archbishops]] and [[cardinals]].

[[priests]], [[bishops]], [[archbishops]] and [[cardinals]].

=== Early Years ===

=== Early Years ===

The Catholic Church traces its authority to Jesus through the apostle [[Peter]]. The Church sees the Bishops

The Catholic Church traces its authority to Jesus through the apostle [[Peter]]. The Church sees the Bishops

as the natural succesors to the apostles, and reasons that since Peter was the leader of the apostles, Peter's

as the natural successors to the apostles, and reasons that since Peter was the leader of the apostles, Peter's

succesors should lead the Bishops and hence all of Christianity.[http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P2A.HTM]

succesors should lead the Bishops and hence all of Christianity.[http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P2A.HTM]