Understanding the Church

Understanding the ChurchWhos RIGHT? Whose RITE?

The Direction of Intention Prayer

My God, give me the grace to perform this action with youand through love for you.In advance, I offer to you all the good that I will do and acceptall the difficulty I may meet therein.

St. Ann, Pray for us.St. Francis de Sales, Pray for usWhats the Difference?CHURCH: is an assembly of the faithful, hierarchically ordered, both in the entire world the Latin Church The Orthodox Church, or in a certain territory a particular Church Church of Venice.RITE: A particular body or group within a CHURCH that has its own unique set of procedures, laws, liturgical practices, that although distinctly unique, still hold to the doctrinal precepts of the Church. The Coptic Rite is part of the Latin ChurchThe Latin Church is comprised of 5 Major RITESRoman, Alexandrian, Antiochean, Byzantine and ChaldeanAnd 22 Sister RitesEX. Ruthenian Catholics, Coptic Catholics, Malabar Catholics

Whats the Difference between a RITE and a DENOMINATION?RITES are Churches that are in communion with the Roman Catholic Church. To be in communion with the Roman Catholic Church one must accept Roman Catholic doctrine.

DENOMINATIONS Term used for Protestant Churchesunited under a common faith and name and organized under a single administrative and legal hierarchy. Denominations are not in Communion with the Catholic Church

Why so many RITES?

The Apostolic ChurchesJerusalem: St. JamesAntioch: St. PeterRome: St. PeterAlexandria: St. Mark Disciple of St. PeterConstantinople: St. Andrew

Other Churches linked to Apostolic ChurchesJohn Greece PatmosPhilip TurkeySt. Bartholomew and St. Jude Armenia, northern Iraq, PersiaThomas, southern IndiaMatthew Ethiopia

A Church DividedThe East-West Schism of 1054The First Split

West v. EastThe Church split along doctrinal, linguistic political and geographic linesResult: The Christian Church divides into the Western (Roman Catholic or Latin) Church and the Eastern (Orthodox) Church.

West v. East Doctrinal Differences

Western ChurchPetrine Authority - supremacy of Bishop of Rome The CreedFilioque The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the SonMary conceived without sinDoctrinal DevelopmentClerical CelibacyOrthodox ChurchAll Patriarchs hold equal authorityThe CreedThe Holy Spirit proceeds from the FatherMary Capable of sin but did notImmutable DoctrineClerical Celibacy

The Latin Church Roman Catholic ChurchComprises about 87% of all Catholics Christians in the WorldHeadquarters: RomeLeader: Pope

Language: Latin (national languages used in Liturgies)Bishops appointed by PopeOther Associated Rites:Ambrosian Milan, ItalyMozarabic Christians of Islamic descentVariety of Eastern Rites

The Orthodox Church The term Orthodox translates from the Greek to mean correctly believing Comprises about 15% Christians in the WorldHeadquarters: Varies Istanbul, MoscowLeader(s): Patriarch

Language: Greek (national languages used in Liturgies)Bishops elected by peers or by patriarchOther Associated Rites:Greek OrthodoxRussian orthodoxVariety of smaller Rites

Practical QuestionsBaptismBoth Churches recognize the sacramental validity of triune baptism formulaI baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy SpiritCommunionWhile both churches recognize the sacramental validity of the Eucharist Real Presence True Communion does not existCatholics could receive Communion in an Orthodox ChurchOrthodox Christians can not receive communion in a Catholic Church Orthodox Church objects to Roman Catholic receiving Communion in Orthodox churchMarriageRecognize the sacramental validity of MarriageOrdinationRecognize the sacramental validity of each others ordinations

The Protestant Reformation1517The Second SplitBefore the ReformationThe Avignon Papacy 1309 1377Pope leave Rome move to Avignon, FranceThe Great Western Schism 1378 1415Were there really three Popes at once?A Political Mess: Europe DividedChurch weakened

Papal Palace, Avignon, France

Before The ReformationSocial and Political FactorsWeaknesses in Catholic ChurchProliferation of Questionable Religious Rituals and PracticesCorruption and Abuses of Power in Church

Martin LutherNinety-Five Thesescontained an attack on papal abuses and the sale of indulgences by church officials.Saw the Reformation as something far more important than a revolt against the ChurchHe believed it was a fight for the gospel

The Rest of the ReformationOther Reform MovementsJohn Calvin, Henry VIII, John KnoxOnce church authority is abandoned Reformation splinters into many branches DENOMINATIONS

Western Europe following the Protestant ReformationThe Protestant DenominationsConservative or Main LineBaptist EvangelicalsLutheran Reformed-Presbyterian EpiscopalianMethodistsPresbyteriansAmishLiberalSame as first groups but with less structure and set styles of worship

CultsMormons. The Church of Jesus Christ of the of Latter-day SaintsJehovah's WitnessesUnitarianism... Universalism.Church of Scientology

The Newest Catholic RiteRoman Catholics in the United States

There are 70,259,769 Catholics in the United States (24.3% of the U.S. pop.),

1,121,315,000 Catholics worldwide.

New Church Members Infant Baptisms: 985,141Adult Baptisms: 76,829Received into Full Communion: 75,429