The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church,[note 1] is the world's largest Christian church, and claims over a billion members, representing approximately half of all Christians[note 2] and one-sixth of the world's population. The Catholic Church is a communion of the Western Rite (Latin Rite) and 22 autonomous Eastern Catholic Churches (called particular churches), comprising 2,795 dioceses in 2008. The Church's highest earthly authority in matters of faith, morality and governance is the Pope,[15] currently Pope Benedict XVI, who holds supreme authority in concert with the College of Bishops, of which he is the head.[16][17][18] The Catholic community is made up of an ordained ministry and the laity; members of either group may belong to organized religious communities.[19]
The Church defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity.[20] It operates social programs and institutions throughout the world, including schools, universities, hospitals, missions and shelters, as well as organizations such as Catholic Relief Services, Caritas Internationalis and Catholic Charities that help the poor, families, the elderly and the sick.[21]
Through apostolic succession, the Catholic Church believes itself to be the continuation of the Christian community founded by Jesus in his consecration of Saint Peter, a view shared by many historians.[22] The Catholic Church considers its bishops to be validly consecrated according to the doctrine of apostolic succession, making them valid and true successors to the twelve Apostles. In this way, the bishops, priests, and deacons receive spiritual and sacramental authority, via the twelve Apostles, from Christ. In addition, the Church lays claim to the Primacy of Simon Peter and the Primacy of the Roman Pontiff by virtue of the Pope's title as the Bishop of Rome.[23][24][25] Other churches such as the Eastern Orthodox churches and the Anglican Communion recognize the valid consecration of the Catholic Church's bishops as well as the primacy of the Bishop of Rome although they interpret that primacy differently.
The Church has defined its doctrines through various ecumenical councils, following the example set by the first Apostles in the Council of Jerusalem.[26] On the basis of promises made by Jesus to his apostles, described in the Gospels, the Church believes that it is guided by the Holy Spirit and thereby protected from falling into doctrinal error.[27][28][29]
Catholic beliefs are based on the deposit of Faith (containing both the Holy Bible and Sacred Tradition) handed down from the time of the Apostles, which are interpreted by the Church's teaching authority. Those beliefs are summarized in the Nicene Creed and formally detailed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.[30] Formal Catholic worship, termed the liturgy, is regulated by Church authority. The Eucharist, one of seven Church Sacraments, which is also called the Mass in the West, and in the East the Divine Liturgy, is the center of Catholic worship.
With a history spanning almost two thousand years, the Church is one of the world's oldest institutions[31] and has played a prominent role in the history of Western civilization since at least the 4th century.[32] In the 11th century, a major split, sometimes called the Great Schism, occurred between Eastern and Western Christianity, largely as a result of disagreements over papal primacy. Those Eastern churches which remained in, or later re-established, communion with the Bishop of Rome, the Pope, form the Eastern Catholic churches and those which remain independent of papal authority are usually known as Eastern Orthodox churches. In the 16th century, partly in response to the rise of the Protestant Reformation in western Europe, the Church engaged in its own substantial process of reform and renewal, known as the Counter-Reformation.
Although the Church maintains that it is the "one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church" founded by Jesus Christ where one can find the fullness of the means of salvation,[33][34] it also acknowledges that the Holy Spirit can make use of other Christian communities to bring people to salvation.[35][36] It believes that it is called by the Holy Spirit to work for unity among all Christians, a movement known as ecumenism.[36] Modern challenges facing the Church include the rise of secularism and opposition to its stances on abortion, euthanasia, contraception, and sexual morality.[37]
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SnoValley Star
So, for the past five years, the Mount Si Lutheran Church in North Bend and Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Snoqualmie have partnered together for an ...
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St Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church
JudiPhilly
Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:40:00 GM
And with the closed world of the . Catholic Church. , who knows if we'll ever find out. Turns out that he tendered his resignation in June, which was accepted by the Pope in July. However, it was only disclosed after the rumors started when ...
Q. Through out America, Cardinal and Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church are excommunicating the laity of the church who voted for Obama. This excludes them from any participation in any catholic service including the mass and holy communion. Are you looking for a new church to take your family? Any one out there that will welcome us even if we plan on voting for Obama again in 2012?
Asked by 2010 and do it again - Sat Apr 25 14:48:55 2009 - - 21 Answers - 0 Comments
A. I do not believe that what you say is so. The bishops, et al, are warning against voting for a candidate who is pro choice but they have not, in most cases, taken any punitive steps against anyone. If they dud the church would lose it tax exempt status in the US and that would destroy it.
Answered by gentle giant 2 - Sat Apr 25 14:55:39 2009
