What Does That Church Believe: Catholics?

Where did they come from?

• Roman Catholics believe in an unbroken continuity from the early New Testament church to modern Catholicism.  Peter is believed to be the first Pope of Rome (Matthew 16:18).  However, there is no historical evidence to this assertion as well as no evidence of Peter ever having been to Rome.
• Roman Catholic belief about the unbroken continuity is very similar to historic and traditional Churches of Christ and Landmark Baptists. 

 

Where did the Pope come from?

• In its beginnings, individual churches were led by elders.  Bishops were in authority over a particular city and all of the elders in that city.  A bishop became prominent when his city became prominent such as Alexandria, Antioch, Rome, and Carthage. 
• Leo the Great (440-461) perfected the theory of papal power over other churches.
• Gregory the Great (590-604) may be considered the first of the absolute popes.
• The Roman Catholic hierarchy includes: pope, members of the college of cardinals (70), archbishops presiding over one or more dioceses, bishops, and priests.
• As successor to the apostle Peter, the pope exercises authority over the 3200+ bishops in the church.  When he speaks ex cathedra on issues pertaining to faith and morals, he is believed to be infallible (Romans 3:23) and considered as the third source of authority with the Bible and tradition (teachings of the apostles apart from the Bible).

 

What are their significant historical events?

• 4^th century: authority of the bishop of Rome increased.
• 5^th century: Pope Leo I (Leo the Great as mentioned above) claimed authority over all other churches.
• 1054: Eastern and Western churches split.
• 1517: Martin Luther calls for reform regarding power of the pope, the sale of indulgences, and the doctrine of purgatory. 
• 1545-1563: The Council of Trent defined many Roman Catholic doctrines for the first time.
• 1565: First Catholic parish began in what is now St. Augustine, FL. 
• 1869: The Vatican Council I met in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and formulated the supremacy and infallibility of the pope.
• 1962-1965: The Vatican Council II met in Rome and decided that all who are named “Christian” are a part of God’s family regardless of membership in the Catholic Church.

 

What do they believe?

1. Word of God: includes the Bible and oral tradition; the Roman Catholic Bible includes the 66 books from Genesis to Revelation plus the apocryphal books including 7 complete books and 4 partial books that were written in the inter-testamental period.  However, the Jews of Palestine never accepted the inspiration of these books, and Jesus never quoted from them.  The Apocrypha teaches that salvation depends on deeds of virtue.  See Deuteronomy 4:2, Revelation 22:18-19.
2. Salvation: all humans are born with original sin of Adam and Eve; salvation comes through sanctifying grace; God reaches out to individuals and gives them the grace to seek him; individuals must respond to this grace that is given by performing certain acts that prepare his/her soul for baptism and justification; salvation is further realized through the administration of the 7 sacraments (see below).
3. Sin: Catholics distinguish between two types of sin. The two types of sin are mortal and venial, CCC #1854. Mortal sin destroys the sanctifying grace of God within the individual and necessitates forgiveness through a sacrament of reconciliation, CCC #1856. It causes exclusion from heaven and results in "the eternal death of hell," CCC #1861. Catholics classify a sin as mortal when it meets the following conditions: the sin is serious or "grave" (murder, adultery, stealing, bearing false witness, etc.), is committed with "full knowledge and complete consent," CCC #1857-59. A venial sin is a sin that either is not serious or grave, or does not involve full knowledge or complete consent, CCC #1862. Unlike mortal sin, venial sin does not destroy the saving grace of God in the individual. "Venial sin does not deprive the sinner of sanctifying grace, friendship with God, charity, and consequently eternal happiness," CCC #1863.
4. Veneration of Mary: viewed as “immaculately conceived” and therefore sinless; is a co-redeemer and mediatrix of grace (Luke 1:46-47).  She is also considered to have remained a virgin throughout her life (Matthew 12:46, Matthew 13:55).  However, she is not considered to be part of the Trinity. 
5. Purgatory: exists for those who die in God’s friendship but are still imperfectly purified, so that, following a time of purging, they can finally enter the joys of heaven (2 Corinthians 5:8).
6. Baptism: removes original sin and infuses sanctifying grace; performed on infants as well as adults and the person baptized experiences “initial justification”; immersion was practiced until the twelfth century.
7. Church: up until the Vatican Council II, believed that salvation was not available outside of the Catholic Church.
8. Eucharist/Mass: it is believed that during the Mass, the bread and wine miraculously turn into the actual body and blood of Christ called transubstantiation (John 6:52-58). By receiving the Eucharist, Catholics believe they are receiving Christ.
9. Sacraments: a visible sign instituted by Christ, by which grace is conveyed or dispensed to souls; the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation (Catechism of the Catholic Church, New York: Doubleday, 1994) page 249.
   1. Baptism: all sins are forgiven, original sin and personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin, CCC #1263.
   2. Confirmation: completes baptismal grace by increasing the gifts and strengths of the Holy Spirit in the recipient, CCC #1303.
   3. Eucharist/Mass: see above.
   4. Penance: confession of sin and sorrow for failure; assigned acts of penance for all mortal sins and instructed to say an Act of Contrition; the priest then extends his right hand toward the parishioner and absolves him of his sins (Hebrews 10:19-25; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 John 1:9).
   5. Holy Orders: Catholics believe this sacrament confers sacred power of service, CCC #1592.
   6. Anointing the Sick: may be given when a Catholic is in danger of death because of illness or old age, CCC #1592.
   7. Marriage: remarriage by a divorced Catholic while the lawful spouse is alive is not allowed, CCC #1665.

 

Name	Founded	Members	Congregations	Website
Roman Catholic Church	1st century	More than 62,000,000	More than 19,000	www.vatican.va
Eastern Rite Catholic Church	1500-1700	500,000	Unknown	Unknown
Old Catholic Church	1871	More than 600,000	Unknown	www.oldcatholic.org
Polish National Catholic Church of America	1897	270,000	More than 150	www.PNCC.org