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Introduction to the Catholic Religion: Beliefs, Practices, and History

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The Catholic religion was established in the Mediterranean region during the first century by a small group of Jewish men and women who were one of several sects bent on reforming the Jewish faith. The word "Catholic" (which means "embracing" or "universal") was first used to refer to the early Christian church by the bishop and martyr Ignatius of Antioch in the first century.

According to figures from the seat of the church, the Vatican in Rome, there are currently 1.4 billion Catholics in the world today, with roughly 40% of them living in Latin America.

Key Takeaways: Catholic Religion

• Catholicism is a Christian religion, a reformation of the Jewish faith that follows the teachings of its founder Jesus Christ.
• Like other Christian religions (and Judaism and Islam), it is also an Abrahamic religion; Catholics consider Abraham as the ancient patriarch. 
• The current head of the church is the Pope, who resides in Vatican City. 
• There are 1.4 billion Catholics in the world today, about 40% of whom live in Latin America. 

What Do Catholics Believe?

The Catholic religion is monotheistic , meaning that Catholics believe there is only one supreme being, called God. The Catholic God has three aspects, known as the Trinity.

The Supreme Being is the creator, called God or God the Father, who resides in heaven and watches over and guides everything on earth. He is known as the lord of heaven and Earth. He's referred to as almighty, eternal, immeasurable, incomprehensible, and infinite in understanding, will, and perfection.

The Holy Trinity is made up of the Father (God), who has no origin and holds the sole power of creation; the Son (Jesus Christ) of God, who shares the wisdom of the Father; and the Holy Spirit, which is the personification of goodness and sanctity, arising from both the Father and Son.

The legendary Founder of the Catholic Church was a Jewish man named Jesus Christ who lived in Jerusalem and preached to a small group of followers. Catholics believe he was the "messiah," the son aspect of the Trinity, who was sent to Earth and born to redeem those who sin against the true religion. Christ is said to have had a human body and a human soul, identical to other humans except that he was without sin. Important religious events said to have occurred in the life of Christ are a virgin birth, miracles he performed during his life, martyrdom by crucifixion, resurrection from the dead, and ascension into heaven.

Significant Historical Figures

None of the individuals named in the Catholic religion as significant or sanctified figures have powers of creation, and as such, they are not to be worshiped, but they can be appealed to for intercession in prayers.

Mary is the name of the human person who was the mother of Jesus Christ, a resident of Bethlehem and Nazareth. She was told by an archangel that she would give birth to Christ as a virgin, and would remain a virgin after the birth. On her death, her body went through the process known as "the assumption," becoming the Queen of Heaven.

The Apostles were the original 12 disciples of Christ: led by Peter, a Galilean fisherman who might have been a follower of John the Baptist first. The others are Andrew, James the Greater, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the Lesser, Jude, Simon, and Judas. After Judas committed suicide, he was replaced by Matthias.

Saints are people who lived an exceptionally holy life, including many martyrs from the second and third centuries, and afterward, are said to reside eternally with God in heaven.

The Pope is the supreme pastor of the Catholic Church. The first pope was the apostle Peter, followed by Clement of Rome around the year 96.

Written Records and Authorities

The main religious document of the Catholic religion is the Judeo-Christian Bible, which Catholics believe to be the inspired word of God. The text includes the Old Testament of the Hebrew religion plus the canonical books of the New Testament as they were established in the fourth century. Parts of the Bible are to be read as literal truth; other parts are considered poetical expressions of faith, and the church leaders define which parts are which.

Canonical law for Catholics emerged from Judaism in the third century but did not become universal for the church until the 20th century. Three main works establishing the canon include Didache ("Teaching"), a Syrian document in Greek written between 90–100 CE; the Apostolic Tradition, a Greek manuscript written in either Rome or Egypt in the early third century, and the Didaskalia Apostolorum ("The Teaching of the Apostles"), from northern Syria and written in the early third century.

Commandments of the Church

There are several types of commandments—rules defining ethical behavior—that are included in Catholic dogma. The two major commandments of the Catholic religion are that believers must love God and keep his commandments. The Ten Commandments are the Jewish laws recorded in the Old Testament books of Exodus and Deuteronomy:

• I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
• Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
• Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
• Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
• Honor thy father and thy mother.
• Thou shalt not kill.
• Thou shalt not commit adultery.
• Thou shalt not steal.
• Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
• Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods.

In addition, there are six chief commandments of the Catholic Church. A Catholic adhering to the laws of the church must:

• Attend Mass on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.
• Fast and abstain on appointed days.
• Confess sins once a year.
• Receive Holy Communion at Easter.
• Contribute to the support of the church.
• Observe the laws of the church concerning marriage.

The seven sacraments are ways in which bishops or priests intercede with or bring grace from God to ordinary people. These are the rites of baptism; confirmation; first Eucharist; penance or reconciliation; anointing of the sick; holy orders for ordained ministers (bishops, priests, and deacons); and marriage.

Prayer is an important aspect of Catholic life and there are five types of prayer performed by Catholics: blessing, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise. Prayers may be directed to God or the saints , either individually or as a litany .

The main tenets of the Catholic religion are that 1) God is universal and loves everyone; 2) Jesus Christ came to save all the people; 3) not formally belonging to the Catholic Church is objectively sinful, and 4) no one who is sinful makes it into heaven.

Creation Story

The Catholic creation story says that God created the universe out of the void, first starting with the angels. One of the angels (Satan or Lucifer) rebelled and took a legion of angels with him (called Demons) and formed the underworld (Hell). Heaven is where goodness resides; Hell is where evil resides, and Earth is where evil and good are at battle.

The world was created in seven days. On the first day, God created the heavens, earth, and light; the firmament on the second; the grass, herbs, and fruit trees on the third; the sun, moon, and stars on the fourth; the creatures of the air and sea on the fifth; and the creatures of the land (including the first human) on the sixth day. On the seventh day, God rested.

The Afterlife

Catholics believe that when a person dies, the soul lives on. Each soul faces a "particular judgment," that is to say, God determines whether she or he has lived a good life and where she or he should spend eternity. If a person has learned to perfectly love God, her soul will go straight to heaven to enjoy endless happiness. If a person loves God imperfectly, her soul will go to Purgatory, where she will be purified before (eventually) going to heaven. If a person has rejected God's love or commits a mortal sin and dies before repenting, he is condemned to the everlasting torments of hell.

Some doctrines state that there is a fourth state called "limbo" where resides a soul who has not been baptized but has not committed any personal sin.

The Catholic Church believes that Christ will return to earth to save it again, announced by signs such as famine, pestilence, natural disasters, false prophets, wars, the renewed persecution of the church, and the fading of faith. The world will end with a revolt involving Satan and his demons ("The Great Apostasy"), a time of great sorrows ("The Great Tribulation"), and the appearance of an Anti-Christ, who will deceive men into believing he is a man of peace and justice.

When Christ returns, the bodies of the dead will be resurrected and reunited with their souls, and Christ will make a final judgment on them. Satan and his Demons and sinning humans will be thrown into Hell; people who belong in Heaven will go there.

Feasts and Holy Days

From the earliest days of the Church, Easter has been considered the central Christian feast. Easter's date is calculated based on the phases of the moon and the spring equinox. Although there are no special rites, other than going to church, performed on Easter in the West, members of the Eastern Orthodox Church will often recite the Homily of St. John Chrysostom  as well. Before Easter day is a 40-day period known as Lent, which has several important days and rites.

Next in importance are the festivals at Christmas, including Advent , the 40 days before the celebrated date for the birth of Jesus Christ, as well as events afterward.

Coming 50 days after Easter and 10 days after the Ascension , Pentecost marks the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles. For that reason, it is often called the "birthday of the Church."

History of the Founding of the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church is traditionally said to have been founded on Pentecost, the 50th day after its founder Jesus Christ ascended to heaven. On that day, Christ's apostle Peter preached to the "multitudes," people assembled in Rome including Parthians, Medes, and Elamites. Peter baptized 3,000 new Christians and sent them back to their home countries to spread the word.

The period from Pentecost until the death of the last Apostle is known as the Apostolic Era, and it was during that time that the church went underground because of Roman persecution. The first Christian martyr was Stephen in Jerusalem about 35 CE, about the same time Paul of Tarsus , who would become an important leader in the early church, was converted to Christianity while on the road to Damascus. Early church leaders met at the Council of Apostles and Elders in 49, to discuss how to modify the rules to allow new converts to be admitted even if they were not Jews, such as lifting dietary and circumcision rules. Paul began his missionary work in Cyprus and Turkey, and he and Peter were executed in Rome.

The second and third centuries saw continuing persecution of Christians by the Romans, who also persecuted other sects including Jewish and Manichean religious groups. The heroic ideal of martyrdom was experienced by men and women, young and old, slaves and soldiers, wives and popes. Not all Roman emperors were uniformly brutal, and during the centuries after Christianity became the state religion, they too practiced persecution of other non-Christian groups.

Establishing Institutions

The first Pope was Peter, although the leaders of the church were not called "pope" until the sixth century—Peter was officially the Bishop of Rome. There is some evidence that after Peter died, a group of bishops supervised the church in Rome, but the second official Pope was Clement in 96. The idea of a monarchical Pope was developed in the eastern part of the church and spread into Rome by the second century. Within 100 years, the control of the Bishop in Rome included regions outside of the city and Italy, through the direct intervention of Pope Stephen I.

Stephen broke the church into regional precincts called dioceses and set up a three-tiered episcopate: the bishops of dioceses, the bishops of larger towns, and the bishops of the three major sees: Rome, Alexandria. and Antioch . Eventually, Constantinople and Jerusalem also became major sees.

Schisms and Change

The most significant changes to the church came after the conversion of Emperor Constantine, who made Christianity the state religion in 324 CE, bringing the Christians out of the underground. The Roman Empire was eventually broken up by barbarian invaders, invaders who in turn converted to Christianity. Evangelization and conversion of central and northern Europe spread Christianity into those regions.

Beginning in the early seventh century, the Eastern church was threatened by the rise of Islam, although Muslim forces did not take Constantinople until 1453. Christians under the Islamic empire were a tolerated minority; eventually, a schism between Eastern and Western churches led to the separation of Eastern (to be called Orthodox) and Western (Catholic or Roman Catholic) churches.

The final great schism affecting the Catholic Church was in 1571, when Martin Luther led the Reformation, dividing the church and leading to the emergence of Protestantism.

Difference Between Catholic and Protestant Religions

The differences between the Catholic and Protestant religions were a result of the sixth-century Protestant Reformation of the church led by Martin Luther . Major changes Luther pushed for included a reduction in the number of sanctified and significant figures who should be prayed to, publishing the Bible in German (provided in Latin or Greek, it had been only accessible to educated authorities), and the marriage of priests. Luther was excommunicated for his beliefs.

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• What Is the Catholic Church?
• Biography of Ignatius of Antioch: Apostolic Father, Christian Martyr
• What Is a Saint?
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• John Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, Historical Christian Classic
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Home » A Simple Explanation of the Catholic Faith

A Simple Explanation of the Catholic Faith

• By Tom Collingwood
• 17 March AD 2021

A very common and challenging question I often got in the RCIA program to encourage “reverts” to come back to the faith is, “Can you provide a simple explanation of the Catholic faith and what it teaches without all the doctrine, rules, creeds, and 800-page Catechism?” As products of the current culture, those raising that question want a quick answer that fits into a “sound bite”.  However, it is not such an easy task because life is not simple. The world and our experiences in it have infinite variations that we have to respond to.

I have found that many abandon the Church for different reasons too numerous to discuss here, however, there is one common denominator that I have found. That is – they never really knew nor were they instructed on all that the faith teaches or what it is all about. For most, they were given a superficial orientation (whether as kids or adults) to the doctrines and tenents of the faith and why they are important. As a consequence, they are susceptible to the anti-Catholic lies prevalent in our culture and have many false perceptions.

Having a grasp on a few of the basic tenants of the faith may not be enough when the complications, confusions, and sufferings of the world infringe on us. Consequently, there has to be a little bit more than a few “one-liners” to understand our belief and its necessary relationship to our living up to that faith in this world.  After reading what many apologists and clergy have said on the subject, here goes an attempt at a simple and concise explanation of what the Catholic Church proclaims.

A “Simple” Explanation of What the Catholic Church Proclaims

The Catholic faith is the Christianity originally handed down directly from Jesus Christ to his Apostles that he commanded to build his Church. The Apostles, in turn, handed down that faith (called the Deposit of Faith) to their successors (the Pope and Bishops) for the last 2000 years with unbroken continuity from Jesus Christ to you and me. So, What is that faith?  What does it basically proclaim and teach?  – To Love God and Love neighbor.

Love God = Practice through prayer/reverence/worship and belief in God as he revealed both who he is to us and what our relationship to him should be as disclosed through the Word (Holy Tradition and Sacred Scripture).

Love neighbor = Practice what he (God) taught and modeled through Jesus Christ and his commandments, again, through the Word (Holy Tradition and Sacred Scripture).

That’s it in a nutshell. However, there is a little more to explore to fully grasp the meaning of that simple proclamation that involves asking three additional questions: What is the Church’s purpose in fulfilling those faith proclamations? How does it meet that purpose? And, What does it mean to be a Catholic in light of that purpose?

The Purpose of the Catholic Church

Those two proclamations are based on the original words of Jesus in answering a lawyer’s question “How should I inherit eternal life” (Luke 10: 25). Jesus answered:

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself (Luke 10:27).

Beyond those words, it is based on the original encounter with Jesus Christ as the Son of God. The Catholic Church is a sacramental faith facilitating a personal connection with God. We can experience that ongoing encounter through what Christ gave us through the Church and the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist.  It’s all about that encounter with Jesus Christ, as the bridge that atones for the sins that caused a rupture between God and mankind.

At the most basic level, the Church’s purpose is to provide the “Way” to know and practice that faith to fulfill our obligations to God and neighbor. Simply put, I believe that the ultimate purpose of the Catholic Church is to help restore the unity between God and man which, because of sin, has become ruptured.  The Catholic Church, as the institution established by Christ, serves as the earthly vehicle to accomplish that end. In turn, the Church’s purpose can be further broken down into five elements:

To evangelize – To bring all into communion with God as Jesus commanded us. For some, the term used is salvation and “being saved”.

To reconcile – To aid in repairing our ruptures with God, with our true selves, with others and with creation – To fulfill our obligations as Jesus commanded us. To help sanctify us to be more holy.

To be a source of grace in the world. Grace is a free gift of God that invites us into a relationship with God, to transform us into an “adopted son” of God. The Church, especially through the provision of the sacraments that Jesus Christ instituted for the Church is the vehicle to help reconnect with God in a personal and spiritual manner.

To bring charity (love) to the world with the priority being the poor as Jesus commanded us.

To provide a way to understand and live out the faith which we are not able to do on our own because of our fallen and broken nature.

How the Catholic Church Meets its Purpose

In relation to the last purpose, the early Christian Church was called “The Way” because it served to answer four key questions about God and our relationship with him, that as humans, we are incapable of answering on our own. Those key questions are as follows:

What to believe? = Instruction on DOCTRINE/DOGMA = The formal Church provides instruction and direction as to the nature of God and our relationship to him which was taught by Christ to his Apostles and passed down by the Church for 2000 years. Without that instruction, would anybody have even known about Jesus?

What to do- how to act? = Instruction on A MORALITY = Besides Christ, the formal Church provides role models (the saints) and direction/instruction on how to apply what Christ taught and modeled to love God and love neighbor.  The Church teaches a “we” morality not a “me” morality.

How can we experience God? = Offering a means for GRACE and MERCY = The formal Church provides the sacraments, as a means to reconnect personally with God in a personal and spiritual manner. Going back to Christ’s commands and the Apostles, the Church (along with the Eastern Orthodox) have the authority to make Christ real in the Eucharist so that we may actually eat his body and drink his blood as he commanded in the Gospel of John chapter 6. It is the ultimate gift of grace that serves as our “soul food”. To all other Christians, the sacraments are but symbols and, as a consequence, a great loss for them in not being able to fully experience Jesus’ presence.

How to survive in a secular culture? = Providing A FAITH COMMUNITY = The formal Church provides a support system necessary to function in a progressively secular and relative culture where God is dismissed and faith is increasingly being persecuted.

What it Means to be Part of the Catholic Church

As Catholics, we are called to be part of the “The Body of Christ”. What that means is that Christ is the head of our Church. It is not the Pope. He is just the “steward” or caretaker of Christ’s Church here in earth. We, as the members of the Body of Christ, are his arms and legs.

By definition, to live up to that faith declaration requires commitments beyond just those pertaining to self or a belief. It is also about acting on those beliefs. Catholics are not expected to be on the sidelines but to be full participants in meeting the Church’s purpose participating in serving God and neighbor. It is about being Christ’s arms and legs on earth so there are duties and responsibilities just as we have in our families.

Catholicism is not a “feel-good” religion of faith and fun and being entertained or being prosperous. For some, the so-called “Church rules” get in the way of having a modern-day “obligation-free” spirituality. A common refrain heard is “Jesus yes – Church no”. However, to be Catholic is to not be obligation-free and we need help to follow Jesus’s commandments. The history of the world certainly verifies that need, so the Church serves a necessary purpose to help us believe, to be spiritual, and to act on the love God – love neighbor faith proclamation.

Jesus Christ did not put anything into writing or address all the conceivable problems and issues humans face or prescribe all the details of belief and behavior for loving God and neighbor. It was left it up to the Apostles and their successors to figure it all out with, as we believe, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. While the core of our belief (the Word as expressed through Holy Tradition and Sacred Scripture) can be described in concise terms, there is a need for more detailed explanation/instruction on the many issues of life and in living the faith.

Therefore, is the reason for a Church and an 800-page Catechism (instruction and details on belief and practice). The Church, over the last 2000 years, has dealt with every conceivable question about our human nature, the nature of God, our relationship to him, our morality in following the model of Jesus Christ, our obligations to God and neighbor, and the multitude of questions that have arisen about what is the truth. The Church as an institution with all its documents, pronouncements, symbols, liturgy, and believer obligations acts to put “meat on the bones” of the love God, love neighbor simple proclamation.

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Tom Collingwood

8 thoughts on “a simple explanation of the catholic faith”.

What does someone have to do to be saved?

That was a rather long “simple soundbite”.

I would show anyone who asks a chalice or monstrance and say, “Here. Love. Ours.”

Keeping it simple. It was on my mind as I reflected upon St Patrick’s call to evangelize Ireland. Granted there were a few Catholics there when he arrived, but how did he succeed so well? Again, today I reflected on the feast of Cyril of Jerusalem who is famous for his 24 Catechetical Lectures. Keeping it simple. But it all started with a man screaming, “Repent and be baptized!”, and waiting for the questions.

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It would be the same. The only differences I see between a Catholic Christian and a “generic Christian” would be the fullest representation of Christ’s message and a stronger sense of obligation to act on the love God love neighbor proclamation.

It would be interesting to know your thoughts on what it means to be a Christian.

Thank you! I too, am a convert to Catholicism but there are huge gaps in my knowledge. For that reason, and because I loathe confrontation, I avoid getting into discussions about my faith and why I converted. What others may call discussions, I call arguments. I state my beliefs and refuse to be drawn into a back-and-forth that won’t go anywhere. I thoroughly enjoyed this article. Thanks again!

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Three Catholic essay collections, useful in different ways

By Dr. Jeff Mirus ( bio - articles - email ) | Apr 28, 2017 | In Reviews

Recently three different collections of essays crossed my desk, from three different publishers. In some ways, these collections remind me of the various ebook volumes of our own collected essays which CatholicCulture.org makes available as free downloads . But such collections are as different as the writers they represent, and each of these three new ones will serve a particular audience well.

The publishers are Sophia Institute Press , EWTN Publishing (these two form a joint publishing group with production in Sophia Institute’s hands), and Ignatius Press . All three are extraordinarily reliable Catholic sources.

Fr. Michael Kerper: A Priest Answers 27 Questions You Never Thought to Ask

Fr. Michael Kerper studied politics and economics at LaSalle University, labor relations at the University of Massachusetts, and moral theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Maryland. He brings broad knowledge to his ministry as a priest throughout New Hampshire. His answers to common Catholic questions originally appeared in the magazine of the Diocese of Manchester, Parable . As you might expect, the questions answered are those that occur to many Catholics who have not yet been well-instructed in the Faith. Each answer is clear and concise—usually about two pages long.

Can the divorced receive Communion? What’s the difference between mortal and venial sin? How do we fast? Must we give to everyone who asks? Why can’t women be priests? What happened to Limbo? Is cremation allowed? What is a plenary indulgence? Are guardian angels real? And my personal favorite: Why doesn’t Pope Francis like pets? As the title suggests, there are 27 of these questions, most of which will be of interest to just about everybody.

The proper “market” for this book consists, as I said, of Catholics who have not yet made a significant study of the Faith—but also potential converts, who usually wonder about a good many of these things. Obviously, more questions could be asked and answered, but it is not necessary to be comprehensive. Rather, the value of a book of this type is that if the author gives clear answers which make sense, then the reader will become ever more convinced that equally good answers exist for every one of his or her questions about the life of the Catholic Church.

Fr. Mitch Pacwa, SJ: The Proverbs Explained: A Blueprint for Christian Living

Born in Chicago in 1949, Fr. Mitch Pacwa entered the Society of Jesus in 1968, and has taught Old and New Testament at a number of colleges as well as on EWTN. After making a number of EWTN programs, Fr. Pacwa went full time with the network in 2002, hosing EWTN Live and Threshold of Hope , among other programs. He has authored more than twenty books, most of which deal with Scripture. This one takes up the Book of Proverbs.

Now if you’ve ever read Proverbs, you know that it contains some peculiar sayings, oscillating at times between a deep spiritual wisdom and an almost humorously pragmatic grasp of what works in the world. As Our Lord said, “The master commended the dishonest steward for his shrewdness; for the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light” (Luke 16:8). There is a good deal of old-fashioned practical wisdom in Proverbs! But Fr. Pacwa groups the various proverbs to treat such topics as Husbands and Wives, Parents and Children, God and Government, Wealth and Poverty, Pride and Humility, Work and Holiness.

In fact, what Fr. Pacwa has done here is to use the proverbs to shed light on the way we are to live as children of God. Selecting twelve topics under the headings of Family, Justice and Virtue, he uses several proverbs in treating each topic, to explain the faithful and sensible manner in which Christian should conduct themselves. The advantage of this approach is that the reader begins to see the book of Proverbs thematically, in a way that communicates the wisdom of God, rather than as a scattered collection of constantly shifting aphorisms.

Fr. Paul D. Scalia: That Nothing May Be Lost: Reflections on Catholic Doctrine and Devotion

Fr. Paul Scalia studied theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University and the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome. Ordained in 1996, he currently serves as Episcopal Vicar for the Clergy in the Diocese of Arlington. A frequent contributor to the Arlington Catholic Herald and the diocesan blog, Encourage and Teach , Scalia’s short essays (typically about a thousand words each) are characterized by considerable spiritual insight and charm.

That Nothing May Be Lost has an unusual structure. Collecting his essays into nine sections, the author decided to have each section introduced by other well-known Catholic thinkers—such as Fr. Paul Check, Scott Hahn, Helen Alvaré and Mary Ellen Bork. These sections include such topics as:

• The Lord: Knowing and Loving Jesus of Nazareth
• Paradoxes of Faith: The Tension and Balance of Catholic Teaching
• The Saints: The Mortal Masterpieces of God’s Grace
• The Life of Grace: Christ within Us

Each of the nine sections includes between six and nine essays, and each essay takes up a Catholic theme as exemplified in Scripture, the life of the Church and, of course, our own lives. Of the three books examined here, That Nothing May Be Lost is the largest collection and the one most suited to personal spiritual reading. In fact, this is exactly the way I am using it myself.

Jeffrey Mirus holds a Ph.D. in intellectual history from Princeton University. A co-founder of Christendom College, he also pioneered Catholic Internet services. He is the founder of Trinity Communications and CatholicCulture.org. See full bio.

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Free eBook:

Why I Am a Catholic

The difficulty of explaining “why I am a Catholic” is that there are ten thousand reasons all amounting to one reason: that Catholicism is true. I could fill all my space with separate sentences each beginning with the words, “It is the only thing that. . . .” As, for instance, (1) it is the only thing that really prevents a sin from being a secret. (2) It is the only thing in which the superior cannot be superior in the sense of supercilious. (3) It is the only thing that frees a man from the degrading slavery of being a child of his age. (4) It is the only thing that talks as if it were the truth, as if it were a real messenger refusing to tamper with a real message. (5) It is the only type of Christianity that really contains every type of man, even the respectable man. (6) It is the only large attempt to change the world from the inside, working through wills and not laws; and so on.

Or I might treat the matter personally and describe my own conversion, but I happen to have a strong feeling that this method makes the business look much smaller than it really is. Numbers of much better men have been sincerely converted to much worse religions. I would much prefer to attempt to say here of the Catholic Church precisely the things that cannot be said even of its very respectable rivals. In short, I would say chiefly of the Catholic Church that it is catholic. I would rather try to suggest that it is not only larger than me but larger than anything in the world, that it is indeed larger than the world. But since in this short space I can take only a section, I will consider it in its capacity as a guardian of the truth.

Thus, for instance, nearly two hundred years before the Declaration of Independence and the French Revolution, in an age devoted to the pride and praise of princes, Cardinal Bellarmine and Suarez the Spaniard laid down lucidly the whole theory of real democracy. But in that age of divine right they produced only the impression of being sophistical and sanguinary Jesuits, creeping about with daggers to effect the murder of kings. So again, the Casuists of the Catholic schools said all that can really be said for the problem plays and problem novels of our own time, two hundred years before they were written. They said that there really are problems of moral conduct, but they had the misfortune to say it two hundred years too soon. In a time of tub-thumping fanaticism and free and easy vituperation, they merely got themselves called liars and shufflers for being psychologists before psychology was the fashion.

It would be easy to give any number of other examples down to the present day, and the case of ideas that are still too new to be understood. There are passages in Pope Leo’s  Encyclical on Labor  [ Rerum Novarum , 1891] that are only now beginning to be used as hints for social movements much newer than socialism. And when Mr. [Hilaire] Belloc wrote about the servile state, he advanced an economic theory so original that hardly anybody has yet realized what it is. A few centuries hence, other people will probably repeat it and repeat it wrong. And then, if Catholics object, their protest will be easily explained by the well-known fact that Catholics never care for new ideas.

Nevertheless, the man who made that remark about Catholics meant something, and it is only fair to him to understand it rather more clearly than he stated it. What he meant was that, in the modern world, the Catholic Church is in fact the enemy of many influential fashions, most of which still claim to be new, though many of them are beginning to be a little stale. In other words, insofar as he meant that the Church often attacks what the world at any given moment supports, he was perfectly right. The Church does often set herself against the fashion of this world that passes away, and she has experience enough to know how very rapidly it does pass away. But to understand exactly what is involved, it is necessary to take a rather larger view and consider the ultimate nature of the ideas in question—to consider, so to speak, the idea of the idea.

Nine out of ten of what we call new ideas are simply old mistakes. The Catholic Church has for one of her chief duties that of preventing people from making those old mistakes, from making them over and over again forever, as people always do if they are left to themselves. The truth about the Catholic attitude toward heresy—or, as some would say, toward liberty—can best be expressed perhaps by the metaphor of a map. The Catholic Church carries a sort of map of the mind that looks like the map of a maze but is in fact a guide to the maze. It has been compiled from knowledge that, even considered as human knowledge, is quite without any human parallel.

There is no other case of one continuous, intelligent institution that has been thinking about thinking for two thousand years. Its experience naturally covers nearly all experiences and especially nearly all errors. The result is a map in which all the blind alleys and bad roads are clearly marked, all the ways that have been shown to be worthless by the best of all evidence: the evidence of those who have gone down them.

On this map of the mind the errors are marked as exceptions. The greater part of it consists of playgrounds and happy hunting-fields where the mind may have as much liberty as it likes, not to mention any number of intellectual battlefields in which the battle is indefinitely open and undecided. But it does definitely take the responsibility of marking certain roads as leading nowhere or leading to destruction, to a blank wall, or to a sheer precipice. By this means it does prevent men from wasting their time or losing their lives upon paths that have been found futile or disastrous again and again in the past but might otherwise entrap travelers again and again in the future. The Church does make itself responsible for warning its people against these, and upon these the real issue of the case depends. It does dogmatically defend humanity from its worst foes: those hoary and horrible and devouring monsters of the old mistakes.

Now, all these false issues have a way of looking quite fresh, especially to a fresh generation. Their first statement always sounds harmless and plausible. I will give only two examples. It sounds harmless to say, as most modern people have said, “Actions are wrong only if they are bad for society.” Follow it out, and sooner or later you will have the inhumanity of a hive or a heathen city establishing slavery as the cheapest and most certain means of production, torturing the slaves for evidence because the individual is nothing to the state, declaring that an innocent man must die for the people, as did the murderers of Christ. Then, perhaps, you will go back to Catholic definitions and find that the Church, while it also says it is our duty to work for society, says other things also that forbid individual injustice.

Or again, it sounds quite pious to say, “Our moral conflict should end with a victory of the spiritual over the material.” Follow it out, and you may end in the madness of the Manicheans, saying that a suicide is good because it is a sacrifice, that a sexual perversion is good because it produces no life, that the devil made the sun and moon because they are material. Then you may begin to guess why Catholicism insists that there are evil spirits as well as good and that materials also may be sacred, as in the Incarnation or the Mass, in the sacrament of marriage or the resurrection of the body.

There is no other corporate mind in the world that is thus on the watch to prevent minds from going wrong. The policeman comes too late when he tries to prevent men from going wrong. The doctor comes too late, for he comes only to lock up a madman, not to advise a sane man on how not to go mad. And all other sects and schools are inadequate for the purpose. This is not because each of them may not contain a truth, but precisely because each of them does contain a truth and is content to contain a truth. None of the others really pretends to contain the truth. None of the others, that is, really pretends to be looking out in all directions at once.

The Church is not armed against merely the heresies of the past, or even of the present, but equally against those of the future that may be the exact opposite of those of the present. Catholicism is not ritualism; it may in the future be fighting some sort of superstitious and idolatrous exaggeration of ritual. Catholicism is not asceticism; it has again and again in the past repressed fanatical and cruel exaggerations of asceticism. Catholicism is not mere mysticism; it is even now defending human reason against the mere mysticism of the pragmatists.

Thus, when the world went Puritan in the seventeenth century, the Church was charged with pushing charity to the point of sophistry, with making everything easy with the laxity of the confessional. Now that the world is not going Puritan but pagan, it is the Church that is everywhere protesting against a pagan laxity in dress or manners. It is doing what the Puritans wanted done when it is really wanted. In all probability, all that is best in Protestantism will survive only in Catholicism, and in that sense all Catholics will still be Puritans when all Puritans are pagans.

Thus, for instance, Catholicism, in a sense little understood, stands outside a quarrel like that of Darwinism at Dayton. It stands outside it because it stands all around it, as a house stands all around two incongruous pieces of furniture. It is no sectarian boast to say it is before and after and beyond all these things in all directions. It is impartial in a fight between the Fundamentalist and the theory of the origin of species because it goes back to an Origin before that origin, because it is more fundamental than Fundamentalism. It knows where the Bible came from. It also knows where most of the theories of evolution go to. It knows there were many other gospels besides the four Gospels and that the others were eliminated only by the authority of the Catholic Church. It knows there are many other evolutionary theories besides the Darwinian theory and that the latter is quite likely to be eliminated by later science. It does not, in the conventional phrase, accept the conclusions of science, for the simple reason that science has not concluded. To conclude is to shut up, and the man of science is not at all likely to shut up.

It does not, in the conventional phrase, believe what the Bible says, for the simple reason that the Bible does not say anything. You cannot put a book in the witness box and ask it what it really means. The Fundamentalist controversy itself destroys Fundamentalism. The Bible by itself cannot be a basis of agreement when it is a cause of disagreement; it cannot be the common ground of Christians when some take it allegorically and some literally. The Catholic refers it to something that can say something, to the living, consistent, and continuous mind of which I have spoken: the highest mind of man guided by God.

Every moment increases for us the moral necessity for such an immortal mind. We must have something that will hold the four corners of the world still while we make our social experiments or build our utopias. For instance, we must have a final agreement, if only on the truism of human brotherhood, that will resist some reaction of human brutality. Nothing is more likely just now than that the corruption of representative government will lead to the rich breaking loose altogether and trampling on all the traditions of equality with mere pagan pride.

We must have the truisms everywhere recognized as true. We must prevent mere reaction and the dreary repetition of the old mistakes. We must make the intellectual world safe for democracy. But in the conditions of modern mental anarchy, neither that nor any other ideal is safe. Just as Protestants appealed from priests to the Bible and did not realize that the Bible also could be questioned, so republicans appealed from kings to the people and did not realize that the people also could be defied.

There is no end to the dissolution of ideas, the destruction of all tests of truth, that has become possible since men abandoned the attempt to keep a central and civilized Truth, to contain all truths and trace out and refute all errors. Since then, each group has taken one truth at a time and spent the time in turning it into a falsehood. We have had nothing but movements, or, in other words, monomanias. But the Church is not a movement but a meeting place, the trysting-place of all the truths in the world.

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Why are you proud to be Catholic?

Article Details

Casey McCorry

February 10, 2020

We asked people across the Archdiocese of Detroit, “why are you proud to be Catholic?” Here’s what they shared.

Mark Grabowski, Divine Child, Dearborn

“My Catholic faith has always been a part of who I am. I was raised in a Catholic family, attended a Catholic elementary and high school and now attend John Carroll University in Cleveland, where my pride in my Catholic faith has grown as I’ve come to realize just how much God loves us, and learned to share that with my community. However, it isn’t always this easy. In college, there are so many distractions. There will be days where I lack the motivation to live out my Catholic faith. My faith has been tested and I have failed before. I have felt lost. Going to daily Mass has allowed me to grow closer to God and find myself in him and the Eucharist. It took a lot of courage and strength to continuously go to daily Mass, but seeing my relationship with God as a friend has completely changed my mindset. You have to make time to have a relationship with your friends, and it’s the same with God. Even through these days of struggle, God’s love always prevails, and this allows me to continuously be proud of my Catholic faith.”

“You have to make time to have a relationship with your friends, and it’s the same with God.”

Camille Graves, St. Moses the Black, Detroit

I’m a Black cradle Catholic with a Detroit Catholic education from elementary school through college. I’ve lived in the same northwest Detroit neighborhood most of my life, in earshot of the bells of at least six different parishes.

I witnessed the changes in my city and, yet pride in my Catholicism not only survives but thrives. It’s forever rooted in childhood experiences, revitalized by the Eucharist, rejuvenated by singing with the Black Catholic Ministries Gospel Choir and empowered by witnessing corporal works of mercy in action.

Growing up, I was inspired by the commitment of the Sisters of Charity who educated me and the Home Visitors of Mary who embraced my neighbors. Along with all the joys of raising my children and nurturing theirs, I’m most fulfilled when experiencing Christian service. As a service coordinator, I’m frequently overwhelmed by the calls of the poor and humbled by the response of the generous. Our parish food pantry feeds the hungry and clothes the cold. Parishioners and seminarians visit our homebound, and volunteers help neighbors avoid utility shut-off or eviction. I’m so proud of being Catholic and part of such a team of joyful missionary disciples!

“I was inspired by the commitment of the Sisters of Charity who educated me and the Home Visitors of Mary who embraced my neighbors.”

Matt Lorio, St. Paul of Tarsus, Clinton Township

“‘Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof. Only say the word and my soul shall be healed.’ This has always been the most impactful part of the Catholic Mass for me.  Even as a young altar boy, the concept of believing in the powerful nature of that phrase began to shape who I am today: Jesus, I have no right to ask for your intercession, because I am flawed, so just say a simple word from a distance, and I’ll accept what comes from that. Right after I repeat those words at Mass, I realize how unconditionally I am loved. How fantastic it is to be able to celebrate being renewed this way at every Mass.

There have been times in my life when situations have challenged my faith, but at the core of all of these challenging times, those powerful words resonate with me. They have helped me realize, once again, that no matter what we are faced with, how dark things seem, how unworthy we may think our needs are, because of faith, we are always loved. Always. Love overcomes all. Being Catholic has taught me that, and I am proud to be Catholic.”

“Love overcomes all. Being Catholic has taught me that, and I am proud to be Catholic.”

Maia Cook, St. Aloysius, Downtown Detroit

“I am proud to be Catholic because being Catholic means being resilient. No matter what hardships are placed in our way, we overcome them. In hard times, your faith is all that you have. The Catholic faith has taught me a sense of community. We have experienced difficult times within our church, and we depend on one another as a guide to the end of the tunnel. The Catholic church is evolving, and in my opinion, there is no better time than now to be Catholic. I love that we are able to keep the traditions we hold near and dear to our hearts, but we are also implementing modern approaches as well.”

“I am proud to be Catholic because being Catholic means being resilient.”

Auxiliary Bishop Arturo Cepeda

“I am very proud to be Catholic, for I can share the Good News of our Lord and the true faith as an active member according to the teachings of the church. I am proud and blessed to be nurtured with the loving sacrament of the Eucharist and experience the mercy of God in the celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation. I am proud to call Mary my mother and ask for her intercession as a joyful missionary of our Lord. And finally, I am proud to be surrounded by a cloud of witnesses — our saints — who intercede for me in this awesome ministry of service to the church.”

“I am proud and blessed to be nurtured with the loving sacrament of the Eucharist.”

Lynda LoPiccolo, St. Mary Queen of Creation, New Baltimore

“I have strong faith and a close personal relationship with Jesus. I got this from the Catholic Church. I remember that even as a young girl, I loved going to Mass every Sunday morning. During the readings, I felt the Lord speaking to me … directly to me! It was so profound and touched my heart like nobody else could. I love my Catholic faith!

Where else would I go to celebrate the sacraments? Where would I go to be cleansed by the sacrament of reconciliation? Where could I go to receive the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ every time I partake in holy Communion? I love my Catholic faith!

There are so many opportunities to grow in our faith, to grow in our knowledge of Scripture and to grow in our relationship with Jesus. There are so many ways to give back to God and to help our neighbors in need. We have our Blessed Mother and all the angels and saints, as well as our brothers and sisters in Christ, to call upon for intercessory prayers. When traveling, we never have to go far to find a Catholic church.

I am truly blessed and proud to be Catholic. I trust in Jesus and his divine providence. I love my Catholic faith!”

“Simon Peter answered him, ‘Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’” — John 6:68

“When traveling, we never have to go far to find a Catholic church.”

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Catholicism: A Very Short Introduction (1st edn)

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Catholicism: A Very Short Introduction offers a fresh introduction to the largest and oldest institution in the world. What are the origins of the Catholic Church? How has Catholicism changed and adapted to such vast and diverse cultural influences over the centuries? After an extended tour of the Church's history, this VSI describes the central beliefs of the Catholic Church about God and the human condition; the sacramental life of the Church and its moral life and teaching. It closes by summarizing certain basic characteristics of Catholicism, and addressing the great challenges faced by the Catholic Church in the 21st century, both internally and externally.

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Catholic Church - Essay Samples And Topic Ideas For Free

The Catholic Church, with its rich historical and religious tapestry, offers a fertile ground for analysis and discussion. Essays might explore its organizational structure, the evolution of its doctrines, its role in historical events, and its influence on art, culture, and politics. Furthermore, discussions could delve into contemporary issues facing the church, such as its stance on social issues, the challenges of modernization, and the dialogue between the Catholic Church and other religious or secular groups. We have collected a large number of free essay examples about Catholic Church you can find in Papersowl database. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

My First Visit to a Catholic Church

I got a great opportunity when my friend asked me if I would go with her to church. I already knew she was Catholic, so I figured this would be great to see how other churches work. So, I accepted and met with her on Sunday. Of course, the first thing I noticed was the building. Very different from the Baptist church I am used to. This Catholic Church is in an extremely modern, six-sided building. As one enters the […]

The Role of the Catholic Church

In countries like Rome where the majority of the countries population is Catholic, and their government is largely influenced by religion. In Rome, the pope is the head of government,and he is also their religious leader. Majority of the country is influenced by their religion and the laws are also shaped by the catholic belief system. Because of that womens rights were severley surpressed not just because of social expectations but because of the law.one example is abortion was strictly […]

Brujeria and Catholicism Interview with a Bruja

Magic, witchcraft, religion, superstitions, and the supernatural have always been a significant part of Mexican life, even when practiced behind closed doors. Traditions passed down from hundreds of years, influenced by both indigenous ancestors and Roman Catholic beliefs. It is very common to see Curanderos (Healer/Shaman) and Brujas (witches) use the images of Catholic saints and archangels, prayers, herbs, and nature, and to call on their divine power when their intervention is needed. These practices are heavily influenced by Aztec […]

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Free Will and Ethics in the Catholic Church

Throughout history, various forms of determinism have emerged. One has a mythological or religious horizon. According to this vision, men are directed and controlled by superior forces, by God or by divinities, in such a way that if Oedipus killed his father and married his mother it is because he was determined to commit a parricide. Determinism assumes that all the events of this world, also those carried out by human beings, are tightly controlled by inflexible laws. For determinism, […]

The Catholic Church and the Western Civilization

Without the Catholic Church we wouldn't be sitting in this room today. Exact dates of the first known universities like Oxford or Cambridge are unknown, but it is said around the second half of the twelfth to early thirteenth century the university system was first created. The university system created then is still used in current schools settings including course studies, exams, degrees, undergraduate and graduate programs. These universities first began as cathedral schools with informal gathering between masters (or […]

The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism

In Max Weber's work The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, he attempts to discern a reason why Protestants continuously find themselves with far more wealth than their Catholic counterparts. In part one, Weber will attempt to formulate a reason as to why this observed phenomenon occurs, by looking at key differences between Protestants and Catholics, capitalism, and Martin Luther's key idea of a calling that is absent in the totality of Catholicism. Weber starts chapter one of his […]

The Catholic Church

The oldest institution in the western world, the Catholic Church, tracing its history almost 2000 years, carries their teachings on the backs of multiple values. Life and dignity of the human person, solidarity, and rights and responsibilities, are some that the church prides themselves on. With 414,313 priests currently practicing worldwide, the Catholic population has grown to about 1.229 billion people. In the last two years of those 2000 years the Catholic Church has been around, 1,000 people of the […]

The Catholic Church and the Development of Children

The classes provided by the school and the teachers support the children and their parents too as they guide them on the religious development. They have also been provided with the opportunity to have and celebrate sacraments as well as other church events and all these are well taught by the teachers they have around them. The children therefore, have the chance to grow and be faith- filled Catholic members and later responsible citizens in the society. "The children have […]

Rise of Christianity in Rome

Christianity is the world’s largest religion, with over 2.4 billion adherents, about a third of the world’s population. It contains so many religious followers such as Baptist,Protestant, Catholicism, Jehovah Witness and so many more. With that, how did the idea of Christianity first started? Religion played a key role in the daily life and social system of Ancient Rome. Both Christianity and Rome influenced Europe in a number of ways. Religion incorporated the love of numerous divine beings and more […]

Reformation of the Catholic Church

The Protestant Reformation was a reforming of the Catholic Church. The Catholic church at the time was corrupt, the pope had too much power, the hurch was too wealthy, and people were having to pay for indulgences. Indulgences were a way for the church to make money and people would think that they could pay their way out of sin. You were indeed paying your way into heaven. A monk and member of the Catholic church, named Martin Luther wrote […]

Martin Luther, King Henry VIII and Catholic Church

In the sixteenth century, faith reform escort numerous people away from the Catholic Church’s monopolistic restriction over Europe. Recent religious leaders appear, and many concept that had been commonly accepted for decades were bear into question. Radical like Martin Luther and King Henry VIII both antagonistic about the Catholic church, however, it was for different reasoning. Luther abhor the Catholic Church’s selling of extravagance and unquestioning approval of the pope’s testament. Henry wanted more clout over the chapel in his […]

Martin Luther King and King Henry VIII

Leaders such as Martin Luther and King Henry VIII both opposed the Catholic Church and broke away from the church. However, they had different reasons for opposing the church; Luther had a hatred for the Church’s selling of indulgences and the acceptance of the Popes words without question, while Henry VIII was denied a divorce from his wife, Catherine of Aragon, by the Catholic Church and found that he could gain power and money from taking over the church. Therefore, […]

Theological Strain in the Catholic Church

The issues that led to the theological strain between the Catholic Church and some of their followers, was mostly due to how most perceived the Church or its officials as too hypocritical or oppressive. The Catholic Church of the 15th and 16th centuries was both the only Christian community in Western Europe and the central government in many regions. Some bishops were governors of a region, while others had a close a region’s secular leaders. This relationship led to many […]

Martin Luther – Real Lessons of the Catholic Church

Martin Luther, who was a man from Germany and a former element of a religious community in a church, established the Protestant Reformation, which was believed to be a powerful and disputable event in Christianity’s history back between 1501 and 1600 Common Era. Luther began to have skepticism about a portion of the fundamental precepts of the Roman Catholicism and his supporters before a long breakup from the Roman Catholic Church to start the Protestant Convention. As a result, Luther’s […]

How Martin Luther Change the Catholic Church

Martin Luther had a controversial life but he helped change the Catholic Church and religion in general. His life has been examined in many different aspects. He went against a corrupt Church and spoke his truth and ideas to the world and shape the world to how we see it today. He is a common figure when learning about history and religion. Martin Luther had a very intriguing life, in which he was born into the period of the collapse […]

Based on the Roman Catholic Church

“The Fifth Commandment demands that people respect and protect human life in all it stages from conception through natural death” (Singer-Towns 187). Based on the Roman Catholic Church, abortion is a sin. Not only is it a sin though, it is also morally wrong. Abortion is the deliberate killing of an unborn child in the womb. Over one million abortions happen each year. Abortion is common around the world, however the U.S has the highest abortion rate and over 50% […]

The Catholic Reformation and the Baroque Style

With the Counter Reformation, the church dedicated itself against protestants. For this, it took several action such as not allowing more corruption among the members, founded new religious orders to strengthen the institution. Among the cultural manifestations of the Catholic Reformation in Europe was the development of the Baroque style in Art. Ignatius Loyola in the 1530s, he founded the Society of Jesus , which was the most important of the many new monastic orders associated with the Catholic Reformation, […]

To Marry or not to Marry: the Celibacy Debate in Catholic Church

Catholic priests getting hitched? Now, that’s a conversation starter. While most of us have grown up with the image of the unmarried, celibate Catholic priest, the question of whether these religious leaders can tie the knot is more than just idle chatter. It delves into centuries of tradition, a web of religious rules, and a lively debate that's as relevant today as ever. Let’s break it down. If you’re talking about the Roman Catholic Church – the one with the […]

The Avignon Papacy: a Turning Point in Catholic Church History

The Avignon Papacy, a period spanning from 1309 to 1377, stands as one of the most intriguing and controversial chapters in the history of the Catholic Church. This era, often referred to as the 'Babylonian Captivity of the Church', saw the papal seat move from Rome to Avignon, France. This relocation had profound implications, not just for the papacy and the Catholic Church, but also for the political and cultural landscape of Europe during the Middle Ages. The inception of […]

The Catholic Church: an Analysis of Film the Godfather and the American Dream

Since the early 1930s, Italian-American characters have been the protagonists of Hollywood crime films since the establishment of the gangster film genre. The association of Italians and the Catholic Church has become a long-lasting motif in American popular culture at large and in Hollywood cinema. In the context of these gangster films featuring Italian-American characters, the Catholic Church has represented numerous symbols including rebirth, cleansing, bloodshed, and more. Especially after the release of Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather (1972), the […]

Chaucer’s and Luther’s Critiques on Roman Catholic Church

The Catholic church influenced society with their beliefs and practices. However, as years went on criticisms rose with the way how the churchmen behaved. Chaucer makes a fierce critique with the corruption of the church, proving the pride, greed, and fraud from the churchem to the Christian practices. As Luther structured his critiques to the church with spiritual power over temporal, authority to interpret scriptures, and the authority to call a council also known as the three walls. The Pardoner's […]

Moral Issues Birth Control

Birth control is a sensitive topic in society, especially the Catholic faith. The Catholic faith has taught that birth control is a sin for many reasons. In 1968, Pope Paul VI issued his landmark encyclical letter Humanae Vitae which reemphasized the Church's constant teaching that it is always intrinsically wrong to use contraception to prevent new human beings from coming into existence (Carr, 2004). The Catholic Church has always taught that preventing procreation in any way is wrong and that […]

The Nails that Changed the Catholic Church

Martin Luther was born in the year 1483 in Eisleben, Germany. His father worked in copper mines and wanted Martin to grow up to be in business. Luther went to the University of Erfurt in 1501, and only taking him four years to get his degree. Finding himself in the liking of scriptures, he decided to spend three additional years in the Augustinian monastery, which led to him becoming a priest. In 1507 he officially became a priest, which led […]

One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church…

The first thought and impression that comes to mind whenever the word church is being mentioned is holiness, godliness, and prayer. These thoughts may not necessarily be wrong because the stereo-typed idea and mind set we have growing up about the church, is that the church is holy, godly and a house of prayer. But weather these hallmarks are true with what the church is has raised and is still raising concerns if truly the church is holy. Such mindset […]

Catholicism and Western Civilization

Western society and civilization is an important part of history today as well as the impacts of religion at the time of the Roman Empire. The most crucial religion that apperared within the western society was cathloticism. The church was a way of teachings with many concepts including schooling, culture and the focus of God. The church had its good and bad influences on the people. The most influential part of western society was not only God but the peoples […]

Christianity and the New World

Christianity has always been in Europe starting all the way from 57 A.D. For many years it has also been threatened. In the 14th century Europe was struggling with conditions of economic and political adversity that had decreased its population and productivity. Once the midevil times came around Europe was losing their identity. Christianity spread in Europe. In the 16th century France- habsburg rivalry along with other and civil conflicts of the holy roman empire distracted Christians from their conflict […]

Transgenders in the Church

As the issue of gender identity and how to handle it has become more prevalent over the recent years, churches in the United States have been forced to make decisions about their ideologies regarding these individuals. As was the case with homosexuals before them, transgender and non-binary persons have long faced discrimination from religious groups, in large part due to the church struggling with how the concept of transgender persons fits in with the traditional idea of the creation of […]

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a great man, and he accomplished many things. He was born on January 15, 1929. Martin was a name he gave himself after birth, following his father's footsteps, his name was once Michael Jr.,. His father was hard with disciplinary, while his mother was soft and gentle, together they balanced it out. They tried their best to block racism towards their family, but Jr and his sibling knew what it was. He fought against racism […]

Back to the Renaissance

Where would we be today as a society without the humanistic approach brought by the Renaissance? It's a fearsome thing to ponder, but also a very relevant inquiry. We could very well still be enduring the Middle Ages, making very few intellectual and societal advances while mostly relying on the Church for everything we desire to know. Instead, we are where we are now because of the gradual advancements in the ways people were able to more freely use their […]

Catholic School and the Common Good

Statement of the Problem Social justice is not voluntary; it is essential so that students learn to understand that particular rights are inalienable and exist within oneself and within others (Denig, 2014). Catholic education shapes boys and girls to be good citizens, loving God and neighbor and impacting society with Gospel values (Miller, 2006). Unfortunately, this mission of Catholic school has become an endangered species in the 21st century. Declining enrollments, increasing financial pressures, and church scandals are threatening the […]

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100-Word Faith Stories: (Very) short essays about unexpectedly experiencing God in the world today

God is in all things. But we don’t always expect to feel God’s presence in a particular moment or place. We asked readers to share these stories of surprising moments of faith and grace in no more than 100 words. These (very) short essays about unexpectedly experiencing God in the world today include feelings of joy, sadness, laughter, anger and anything in between. They demonstrate the many ways in which God is with us, if only we would take the time to notice.

Two parents and four boys make a small house feel like a sardine tin packed with firecrackers. I had my eye on a larger fixer-upper nearby. But despite its apparent practicality and my eagerness, my husband wasn’t enthused. I suggested a quick attempt at discernment: Pray one Hail Mary while imagining we had settled on each choice, buy or stay.

We both felt God’s presence. The “Stay” prayer brought unwelcome but undeniable inner peace. “Buy” brought anxiety rather than excitement.

I could only respond, “Thy will be done.” Our house is cramped and noisy, but we’ll stay for now.  Jessica Carney Ardmore, Pa.

My sons and I were enjoying the wave pool at our local amusement park on a beautiful sunny day. There was the usual crowd of people—of different ages, from different neighborhoods and cultures—all enjoying the pool. I closed my eyes and was suddenly aware of the joyous cacophony. All the voices, screams and laughter of my siblings, my fellow children of God. I was awestruck, and with my eyes still shut, I smiled broadly, and I thanked God for that sudden grace of connection and awareness. Matthew Whelehan Rochester, N.Y.

My husband is a stroke survivor; I’m his caregiver. Ron has balance issues, garbled speech and swallowing difficulties. Once the primary breadwinner, Ron’s now on SSDI. I struggle to bring in money while handling the numerous responsibilities of caring for my husband and household.

Earlier today I read the abandonment prayer of the newly canonized St. Charles de Foucauld: “Father, I abandon myself into your hands; do with me what you will. I am ready for all, I accept all. Let only your will be done in me, and in all your creatures.”

I am now at peace. Jerilyn Burgess North Olmsted, Ohio

At my first holy Communion, when I was 7 in 1958, I came up to the altar and was so small I had to stand rather than kneel at the rail. The priest approached and put the host on my tongue. I felt drawn out of myself, forgetting where I was, feeling a sense of presence. It was like being a mini Samuel, and I said to the Lord, “Speak, for your servant is listening . ” My love for the Eucharist continues to this day. William Eagan, S.J. Weston, Mass.

I invited my all-white classmates to Mass at my Black Catholic parish. During Mass, my friend nudged me, “Lee, we’re the only white people here.” I responded, “Frank, how do you think…” but before I could finish my statement, Frank added, “Lee, I never thought about you that way.” The experience helped him to see my struggles as the only Black kid in our classes. We had just had a class that taught we were made in the image and likeness of God. We saw that in one another more clearly now. Lee Baker New Orleans, La.

As I walked a labyrinth, I couldn’t shake the image of playing hide and seek with God. Shrubs around the path made me alternately feel hidden and then exposed. I know God is always there waiting for me, but I often “hide.” I fear I haven’t done enough, or I’m not good enough to earn God’s love. But those doubts come from me, not God. Although I may think I’m hiding, God sees and loves me. When I embrace God’s unconditional love, I will grow into the person he created me to be. Cathy Cunningham Framingham, Mass.

Deep in grief as I grappled with my husband’s determination to divorce, God felt absent, my faith rocked. My friend, Sister Noreen, told me to read the Bible. I mocked her. Unfazed, she insisted: “Open it at random. What have you got to lose?” On March 19, as I opened a newly purchased Bible, I cried: “God where are you?!” My eyes fell upon Jer 29:11. “For I know the plans....” I can still feel the jolt that coursed through my body at that moment—in shock and joy—the first of many such moments since then. Mary Margaret Cannon Washington, D.C.

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Essay on My Religion Is Roman Catholic

Students are often asked to write an essay on My Religion Is Roman Catholic in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on My Religion Is Roman Catholic

Introduction to my religion.

I am a Roman Catholic, one of the oldest branches of Christianity. This religion is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. The name “Roman Catholic” comes from its connection with the Pope, who is based in Rome.

The Importance of Mass

As a Roman Catholic, going to church for Mass is very important. This is a special time where we listen to Bible readings, pray together, and receive Holy Communion. It’s a way to feel closer to God and to remember Jesus’ sacrifices for us.

Significance of Sacraments

In my religion, there are seven special ceremonies known as sacraments. These include Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. Each sacrament is a way to receive God’s grace.

Role of the Pope

The Pope is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church worldwide. He guides us in understanding and living out our faith. We respect and listen to his teachings because he is considered the successor of Saint Peter, who was chosen by Jesus.

Living as a Roman Catholic

Being a Roman Catholic influences every part of my life. It teaches me about love, forgiveness, and service to others. I try to live these teachings every day, showing kindness to others and helping those in need.

250 Words Essay on My Religion Is Roman Catholic

Introduction.

I am a Roman Catholic. This is the religion I was born into and have followed all my life. It is a branch of Christianity, one of the world’s main religions. It has a big impact on how I live my life and see the world.

As a Roman Catholic, I believe in God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. These three are known as the Holy Trinity. We believe that Jesus is the son of God, who came to Earth to save us from our sins. We also believe in life after death and that good actions on Earth lead to a place called Heaven.

Prayer is a big part of my religion. We pray to communicate with God and ask for his guidance. We also have a special book called the Bible, which is very important. It is full of stories and teachings that guide us in our lives.

In the Roman Catholic Church, there are seven special rituals called sacraments. These include Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion. These sacraments are important steps in our spiritual journey and help us to grow closer to God.

Being a Roman Catholic means being part of a large and diverse global community. We come together to worship at a place called a church. Here, we take part in a service called Mass, led by a priest.

In conclusion, being a Roman Catholic shapes my life in many ways. It guides my beliefs, my actions, and my sense of community. It is a part of who I am and I am proud to be a part of this faith.

500 Words Essay on My Religion Is Roman Catholic

What is roman catholic.

Roman Catholic is a type of Christianity. It is one of the oldest and largest branches of Christianity. The word “Catholic” means “universal”. This means that it is a faith for all people, from all countries, and for all time.

Beliefs of Roman Catholics

Roman Catholics believe in Jesus Christ. They believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that he came to earth to teach us about love and forgiveness. Roman Catholics also believe in the Holy Trinity. This is the belief that God is three persons in one: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.

The Bible and Tradition

Roman Catholics use the Bible as a guide for their faith. The Bible is a collection of books that tell about God’s love for us and how we should live. But Roman Catholics also follow traditions that have been passed down through the ages. These traditions help to explain the teachings of the Bible and make them more meaningful.

The Seven Sacraments

Sacraments are special rituals that help Roman Catholics to grow closer to God. There are seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. Each sacrament is a way to receive God’s grace and love.

Church and Community

For Roman Catholics, the Church is like a big family. It is a place to gather and worship God. It is also a place to help and support each other. The Church is not just a building; it is a community of people who share the same faith and values.

Prayer in Roman Catholic Life

Prayer is very important in the Roman Catholic faith. It is a way to talk to God and listen to what He has to say. Roman Catholics pray in many different ways. They can pray alone or with others. They can pray in church or at home. They can pray using words from the Bible or words that come from their heart.

In conclusion, being a Roman Catholic means believing in Jesus Christ and the Holy Trinity, following the teachings of the Bible and tradition, participating in the sacraments, being part of a church community, and praying regularly. It is a faith that guides how we live and treat others. It is a faith that brings hope and peace.

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Our Lady of Lourdes

Students Inspire in Catholic Schools’ Week Essays

February 04, 2021

Open gallery

For Catholic Schools week, all students in religion classes composed a short essay on the topic: “What Catholic School Has Meant to Me”. Religion teachers collectively have selected these top 5 essays!  

Please click here to read Paige’s essay.

Please click here to read Nina’s essay. 

Please click here to read Ella’s essay.

Catholic teaching or “woke” ideology? Archbishop Porteous’s false dichotomy repeats the mistakes of the past

Renae Barker

• X (formerly Twitter)

Speculation has begun to swirl online and in the media about the scope and content of the Albanese government’s proposed amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 and draft religious discrimination bill. While the Prime Minister himself has indicated that the federal Labor government will not bring a bill to the parliament unless they have bi-partisan support , this has not stopped ongoing speculation and the positioning of various interest groups and individuals.

The latest foray into this speculative debate is a pastoral letter issued by the Tasmanian Catholic Archbishop, Julian Porteous. The pastoral letter has been heavily criticised by LGBTQIA+ activists and politicians alike, with some going so far as to claim the letter breaches Tasmania’s anti-discrimination laws.

Archbishop Porteous is no stranger to controversies of this kind. In 2015 he penned a pastoral letter entitled “Don’t Mess with Marriage” which, like his most recent missive, was circulated among Catholic schools in Tasmania. In response to the 2015 pastoral letter, Green’s political candidate Martine Delaney, who identifies as transgender, lodged a complaint with the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Commission alleging a breach of the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 . The complaint was latter withdrawn. It seems likely that his latest letter may similarly be referred to the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Commission.

In his most recent letter, the Archbishop points to law reforms over the last three to four decades — including the legalisation of same-sex marriage, abortion and euthanasia, along with safe access zones around abortion clinics — as evidence of “an organised campaign to overturn the traditional Christian understanding of sex and sexuality in western society”. He is certainly correct to point to significant law reform in relation to what might broadly be termed ethical and moral laws , many of which touch upon issues of sexuality and gender as well as our understanding of life and death.

As I have previously observed , the pace of law reform is startling with many reforms having taken place over a much shorter time frame than the Archbishop suggests. For example, in less than ten years all Australian states have legalised euthanasia and the Commonwealth has overturned a 25 year ban on the territories doing likewise. If we look at a longer time frame, one might add the decriminalisation of homosexuality, prohibitions of discrimination on the basis of sex and gender, and no-fault divorce to the list of law reforms that have reshaped our society’s understanding of sex and sexuality.

But to suggest that this is the result of an “organised campaign” — as the Archbishop does — is, I believe, to miss a much more fundamental cause.

According to the 1986 census, Christians made up 73 per cent of the population. By 2016 this number had dropped to 52 per cent and by the 2021 census it had dropped to bellow fifty for the first time to 44 per cent. At the same time those identifying both with “no religion” and with minority religions such as Islam and Hinduism have increased. This shift in demographics, I would argue, is a more plausible and persuasive argument as to why so-called traditional Christian understandings are being overturned: because society is no longer predominantly Christian . When we add to that the diversity of views held by Christians themselves on such matters, it is little wonder that the law is changing to reflect a different more diverse worldview.

The law and society

Archbishop Porteous is, however, correct to assert that : “What we are now witnessing in our Australian society is the imposition of certain ideological positions on societal and moral questions by means of legislation.” It has always been thus.

Legislation has always shaped society on moral and ethical questions. There is no truly neutral position for a government to take on these matters. Even taking the position that these matters should be left entirely to the conscience of individuals is not neutral. Such a position is saying, in effect, that the government is indifferent to the effects of such individualistic decisions on society as a whole and on other individuals who may be affected by the choice of others. What has changed is which ideological position is being imposed upon society.

Tasmania was the last Australian state to decriminalise homosexuality in 1997, more than two decades after South Australia became the first Australian state to do so. Such laws can be seen as nothing other than “imposing a certain ideological position” — in that case, one which saw legitimate sexual activity as being limited to that between a man and a woman. As the Archbishop explains in his pastoral letter, this is a position consistent with the position of the Catholic Church:

God created male and female as sexually complimentary. This means that, sexually speaking, we have literally been made for the opposite sex. He intended that man and woman would be drawn to each other, desire a life-long union in marriage …

This is no less an ideological position, previously imposed by legislation, than that the one which the Archbishop derides as being promoted by what he refers to as the “‘woke’ movement” and the “radicalised transgender lobby”. Just because you may agree or disagree with a particular ideological position based on your own worldview or religious beliefs does not make it either neutral or inherently right or wrong. Differing ideologies are simply that — different.

Refusing the false dichotomy

As this speculative debate about potential amendments to Commonwealth discrimination law rages, the question for Australian society is not whether an ideological position “on societal and moral questions” is imposed by legislation — that is inevitable — but which ideological position is imposed. Archbishop Porteous has characterised this as a choice between the Catholic position versus the “woke movement” and the “transgender lobby”. This is a false dichotomy — one that sets up a zero-sum contest, leaving only winners and losers. But there are other options, which provide room for inclusion and diversity.

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We do not need to repeat the mistakes of the past. We do not need to include within the ideological basis of our law exclusion and discrimination of the “other” — which is to say, those with whom we do not agree. We must test any proposed law reform to ensure that there is less discrimination, not more. We must also be careful not to silence such voices, simply because we disagree with them. Discrimination, vilification, and persecution are not the same as debate, disagreement, criticism, and critique. We can and should have the latter without the former.

Archbishop Porteous can be allowed to argue that “enough is enough” and advocate for a return to so-called traditional Christian values. Doing so respects diversity, inclusion, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. At the same time, the president of Equality Tasmania, Rowan Richardson, among others, can criticise the Archbishop’s letter as containing “misinformation and disinformation, and also some homophobic and transphobic beliefs”. This too respects diversity, inclusion, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion.

Renae Barker is a Senior Lecturer in the University of Western Australia School of Law. She is the author of State and Religion: The Australian Story .

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