Difference between revisions of "Catholic Church"

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The '''Roman Catholic Church''' is the largest Christian denomination in the world, with about one billion adherents.
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''See also the [[Roman Catholic Church]]''.
[http://www.adherents.com/adh_branches.html#Christianity]
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The Roman Catholic Church consists of those Christians in full communion with the Bishop of Rome (more commonly
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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 does not follow the doctrine of ''sola scriptura'' or
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''sola fides''. The Church believes that both faith and works are necessary for salvation and that tradition and reason should be used to aid interpretation of the Bible. The church has a complex hierachy of clergy involving [[Pope|The Pope]], [[Cardinals]], [[Archbishops]], [[Bishops]], [[Priests]] and [[Deacons]].
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== History ==
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{{Christianity}}
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[[Image:Murillo Inmaculada de El Escorial.jpg|left|140px]]
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==Different churches==
  
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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—the Roman Catholic Church. 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]].
  
=== Early Years ===
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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.
The Catholic Church traces its authority to Jesus through the apostle [[Peter]]. The Church sees the Bishops
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as the natural successors to the apostles, and reasons that since Peter was the leader of the apostles, Peter's
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succesors should lead the Bishops and hence all of Christianity.[http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P2A.HTM]
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=== Catholic Growth in the Imperial Decline ===
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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.  
Until the early fourth century AD Christianity enjoyed mixed reception in the Roman Empire and Christians
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were frequently subject to persecution. In the 310s Christianity became legalized and shortly thereafter became
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officially recognized by Constantine. In the following years Christianity in general and Roman Catholicism in particular
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became increasingly powerful in the Roman Empire, although [[Arianism]] remained strong. In 380 AD,
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[[Theodosius I]] established the Catholic Church as the official religion of the Roman Empire. As the Empire
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continued to decline Catholicism and Christianity continued to grow both among those under directly under the Empire
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and among the barbarians. When Rome was sacked by [[Alaric]] in 410, Alaric was an Arian Christian. After the
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collaspse of the Empire, the Catholic Church became the most powerful political and religious force in Europe and
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by the 8th century had achieved near total religious dominance with the removal of the last significant
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arian groups.
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=== Great Schism ===
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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.
  
During the 11th century, the [[Great Schism]] between Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox Christianity occured. This
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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".  
schism occured over a variety of issues, especially those dealing with how much authority the Pope had. The causes
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were not purely religious, but cultural and geographic elements also played a role. Although later attempts
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at reconcilliation occured, such as [[Council of Basel]], the two remain separate to this day although both accept many of each others sacraments.  
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=== Late Middle Ages ===
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[[Image:JpII.jpg|right|thumb|John Paul II]]
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The [[Anglican Church]] (also called "Episcopal" in the United States and Scotland) represents a special situation because it encompasses within it several factions. "Low Church" emphasizes Protestant worship aspects while "High Church" emphasizes Catholic worship aspects. Anglicans who consider themselves to be "Anglo-Catholics" are usually "High Church," i.e. in favor of Roman Catholic-style vestments, ceremonies, and devotionals. Anglicans who consider themselves to be "Evangelicals" are usually marked by worship services in the "Low Church" style that is liturgical but not nearly as ceremonial, and by Protestant views on salvation, the sacraments, and the supremacy of Scripture over [[Apostolic Tradition]].
  
Beginning in 1092 and continuing until the end of the 13th century, the Crusades occured. These were a series
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Anglo-Catholics sometimes regard the Anglican churches as being part of the Catholic Church. They may also be called "Anglo-Roman" if they further accept the authority of the Pope, even though he exercises no jurisdiction over their churches. Although all Anglicans believe in the unbroken line of the Apostolic Succession, the Roman Catholic Church has ceased to recognize as valid the Anglican claim thereto.
of religious wars instigated by the Church against various other groups, especially the Muslims. Despite the focus
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on removing Islamic control of the Holy Land, the Crusaders massacred Jews and sacked Constantinople.  
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During this time period, the [[Inquisition]]s started and would continue through the Protestant Reformation.
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The Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern branches take a position that could be described as saying that the Anglican Church is almost Catholic. There have long been unification talks between the churches, and Anglican priests who wish to convert to the Catholic Church and receive Catholic Holy Orders are often provided with an abbreviated path to that goal.
The medieval inquisition focused on rooting out Cathars, while the later inquistions such as the [[Spanish Inquistion]]
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focused on people who were believed to be secretly practicing Judaism or Islam.  
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===Reformation===
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The [[Nicene Creed]], the great historical statement of Christian belief, contains the line "I believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic church". The [[Apostles' Creed]] contains a similar affirmation. However, Protestants and Catholics place different interpretations on the term "universal", or "catholic".  Protestants believe that it refers to the general, overarching spiritual unity of all Christian believers, Jew or gentile, which transcends individual churches and denominations.  Catholics, on the other hand, believe that the [[Roman Catholic Church]], as the single true church founded by Christ, is the universal Catholic Church in itself. Some avoid referring to their own church as the "Roman" Catholic Church, on the grounds that such formulations implicitly deny this point of doctrine.
  
In 1517, [[Martin Luther]] started the [[Protestant Reformation]] which initially focused on the giving of
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The Modernist Second Vatican Council is resisted by the [[Society of Saint Pius X]] which is known for its [[traditionalist]] stands and forms priests to celebrate Tridentine Masses ([[Traditional Latin Mass]]). It is in a complicated situation with the [[Holy See]], however, it is not [[Sedevacantist]].
[[indulgences]] but eventually grew to have a wide variety of different causes and issues. Eventually
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Protestants rejected the notions of saintly intercession, the authority of the pope and many of the sacraments.
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This eventually led to a series of religious wars in Europe the Protestant-Catholic split became one of the dominant
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themes in European events until modern times.  
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===Vatican II===
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=="Roman Catholic" versus "Catholic"==
 
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[[Image:Malaga catedral.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Cathedral of Malaga, [[Spain]].]]
In the early 1960s, the [[Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican]] (commonly called [[Vatican II]]) made major changes to official Catholic theology and liturgy over the course of three years. Liturgical changes included the ability
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The term "catholic" (from the Greek ''katholikos'') means "universal", and its roots in ecclesiastical parlance go back to the early years of Christianity. Some Protestants believe that (Roman) Catholics do not have the right to monopolize the term, and so prefix it with the adjective "Roman".  Historically speaking, the term "Roman Catholic" was coined in nineteenth-century Britain as a [[euphemism]] to replace insulting terms such as "papist" that had previously been in use. However, Cardinal John Henry Newman states, regarding the early period in which [[Arianism]] was being fought, that "It is more remarkable that the Catholics during this period were denoted by the additional title of Romans. Of this there are many proofs in the histories of St. Gregory of Tours, Victor of Vite, and the Spanish Councils."<ref>Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine (1845; rev. ed. 1878), see ch. 6, sec. 3</ref>
to incorporate local languages into the liturgy and not have services completely in the traditional [[Latin]]. Theologically,
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the council continued the importance of [[Mary]] while also adding a new emphasis on individual and personal
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holiness. Most controversially, the council opened the possibility of salvation for Jews, Muslims and Protestants. Many Catholics
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reacted negatively to Vatican II and the Church is still dealing with its repercussions.
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==Sacraments==
 
==Sacraments==
  
The Roman Catholic Church has seven sacraments: [[Baptism]], [[Confirmation]], [[Eucharist]], [[Reconciliation]],
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The Roman Catholic Church has seven sacraments:
[[Anointing of the Sick]], [[Matrimony]] and [[Holy Orders]].<ref>Which sacraments are recognized is one of the important distinctions between the theology of different Christian denominations. Many Protestant denominations follow Luther and recognize only Baptism, Eucharist, and Penance.</ref>
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*[[Baptism]]
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*[[Confirmation]]
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*[[Holy Eucharist]]
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*[[Confession|Reconciliation]]
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*[[Anointing of the Sick]]
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*[[Matrimony]]
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*[[Holy Orders]]
  
==Notes and references==
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An important distinctions between the theology of different Christian denominations is the acceptance or rejection of the seven sacraments. The [[Anglican Church]] recognizes all seven, although it grants Baptism and the Eucharist higher significance than the other five.  Other Protestant churches typically recognize only Baptism and the Eucharist, as did Martin Luther, the founder of Protestantism.
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== See also ==
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[[Image:Catholic.jpg|right|Catholic life]]
 +
 
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* [[Roman Catholic Church]]
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* [[Traditional Latin Mass]]
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* [[Anglicanism]]
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* [[Protestantism]]
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*[[Orthodox Church]]
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*[[Aramaic Church]]
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*[[Christianity in Conservapedia]]
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*[[Pope Benedict XVI]]
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*[[Holy See]]
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*[[Petrine Primacy]]
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*[[Ex opere operato and ex opere operantis]]
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*[["Catholic Heresies and Traditions Adopted and Perpetuated by the Roman Catholic Church in the Course of 1600 Years"]]
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==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
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[[Category:Religion]]
 
[[Category:Religion]]
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[[Category:Christianity]]
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[[Category:Catholic Church]]

Latest revision as of 03:45, November 20, 2023

See also the Roman Catholic Church.

Jesus5.jpg
Christianity

Foundations
Jesus Christ
The Gospel

Bible
Old Testament
New Testament
Ten Commandments

Christian Theology
Trinity: Father,
Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit
Atonement
Nicene Creed
Creation
Defense of Christianity
Salvation

History and Traditions
Messianic Judaism
Roman Catholic Church
Arianism
Orthodox Church
Crusades
Protestant Reformation
Counter Reformation
Protestantism
Missions
Great Awakening
Social Gospel
Mainline
Liberal Christians
Evangelical Christians
Fundamentalism

Important Figures
Saint Paul
Saint Athanasius
Saint Augustine
Thomas Aquinas
Martin Luther
John Calvin
Jonathan Edwards
John Wesley
Pope

Murillo Inmaculada de El Escorial.jpg

Different churches

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—the Roman Catholic Church. 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 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 Roman Catholic Church is the largest Christian denomination in the world, with over one billion adherents.[1] It comprises one of the three great divisions of Christianity, together with Protestantism and 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.

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.

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 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".

John Paul II

The Anglican Church (also called "Episcopal" in the United States and Scotland) represents a special situation because it encompasses within it several factions. "Low Church" emphasizes Protestant worship aspects while "High Church" emphasizes Catholic worship aspects. Anglicans who consider themselves to be "Anglo-Catholics" are usually "High Church," i.e. in favor of Roman Catholic-style vestments, ceremonies, and devotionals. Anglicans who consider themselves to be "Evangelicals" are usually marked by worship services in the "Low Church" style that is liturgical but not nearly as ceremonial, and by Protestant views on salvation, the sacraments, and the supremacy of Scripture over Apostolic Tradition.

Anglo-Catholics sometimes regard the Anglican churches as being part of the Catholic Church. They may also be called "Anglo-Roman" if they further accept the authority of the Pope, even though he exercises no jurisdiction over their churches. Although all Anglicans believe in the unbroken line of the Apostolic Succession, the Roman Catholic Church has ceased to recognize as valid the Anglican claim thereto.

The Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern branches take a position that could be described as saying that the Anglican Church is almost Catholic. There have long been unification talks between the churches, and Anglican priests who wish to convert to the Catholic Church and receive Catholic Holy Orders are often provided with an abbreviated path to that goal.

The Nicene Creed, the great historical statement of Christian belief, contains the line "I believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic church". The Apostles' Creed contains a similar affirmation. However, Protestants and Catholics place different interpretations on the term "universal", or "catholic". Protestants believe that it refers to the general, overarching spiritual unity of all Christian believers, Jew or gentile, which transcends individual churches and denominations. Catholics, on the other hand, believe that the Roman Catholic Church, as the single true church founded by Christ, is the universal Catholic Church in itself. Some avoid referring to their own church as the "Roman" Catholic Church, on the grounds that such formulations implicitly deny this point of doctrine.

The Modernist Second Vatican Council is resisted by the Society of Saint Pius X which is known for its traditionalist stands and forms priests to celebrate Tridentine Masses (Traditional Latin Mass). It is in a complicated situation with the Holy See, however, it is not Sedevacantist.

"Roman Catholic" versus "Catholic"

Cathedral of Malaga, Spain.

The term "catholic" (from the Greek katholikos) means "universal", and its roots in ecclesiastical parlance go back to the early years of Christianity. Some Protestants believe that (Roman) Catholics do not have the right to monopolize the term, and so prefix it with the adjective "Roman". Historically speaking, the term "Roman Catholic" was coined in nineteenth-century Britain as a euphemism to replace insulting terms such as "papist" that had previously been in use. However, Cardinal John Henry Newman states, regarding the early period in which Arianism was being fought, that "It is more remarkable that the Catholics during this period were denoted by the additional title of Romans. Of this there are many proofs in the histories of St. Gregory of Tours, Victor of Vite, and the Spanish Councils."[2]

Sacraments

The Roman Catholic Church has seven sacraments:

An important distinctions between the theology of different Christian denominations is the acceptance or rejection of the seven sacraments. The Anglican Church recognizes all seven, although it grants Baptism and the Eucharist higher significance than the other five. Other Protestant churches typically recognize only Baptism and the Eucharist, as did Martin Luther, the founder of Protestantism.

See also

Catholic life

References

  1. http://www.adherents.com/adh_branches.html#Christianity
  2. Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine (1845; rev. ed. 1878), see ch. 6, sec. 3