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Catholic Church: Roman Catholic Church
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Over Two Dozen Anglican And Roman Catholic Leaders met near Toronto, Canada, from May 15-19, 2000, in order to discover common ground as a basis for unification. Both groups agreed to establish a joint commission to "explore ways to reunite the two churches" (Ecumenical News International, 5-24-00). In an ecumenical prayer service in Toronto's Roman Catholic cathedral, Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey told those in attendance that "polemics lead to hatred and division. Partnership leads to the promise of mutual service and eventual union" (Episcopal News Service, 5-25-00). Cardinal Edward Cassidy read a letter from Pope John Paul II in which the pope said he hoped the meeting would "bear lasting fruit" and hasten the unity between the churches. Both groups agreed that unity is necessary and that they hold much in common.
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The most distinctive characteristic of the Roman Catholic Church, at least as contrasted with the various Protestant communions, is its vigorous insistence on the principle of ecclesiastical authority. Of this authority the pope is regarded as the centre and source, so far as the interpretation of the Divine Will to the world is concerned in matters of faith and morals. His pronouncements are held to be infallible when he defines a doctrine concerning faith or morals ex cathedra to be held by the universal church (see Infallibility and Vatican Council).
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While the Maronite rite, like the Roman rite of the Catholic Church has always been pro-life and pro-family, El-chaar told LifeSiteNews.com that the recent emphasis coming from the Patriarch is both novel and instructive. He hopes for a renewed effort on the part of Maronite Catholics around the world to promote life and family.
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With some 50 million members, the Roman Catholic church is much the largest religious organization in America. Yet at the time of the American Revolution, there were only a few American Catholics: mostly people from Spanish and French colonies, along with a handful of English-speaking Catholics who lived mainly in the Middle Colonies, especially Maryland.
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The Pope is the spiritual head and leader of the Catholic Church and governs from the Vatican in Vatican City. To help in church government matters, he makes use of the Roman Curia. Vatican City is a sovereign state to which the pope ... serves as Head of State.[89] He is elected by the College of Cardinals, who may theoretically select any male member of the church, but that person must be ordained a bishop before taking office. Since the 15th century, a current cardinal has always been elected.[90] The basic administrative unit of the Roman Catholic Church is the diocese, each of which is led by a bishop appointed by the pope. There are more than 2500 Catholic dioceses in the world. The bishops are responsible for teaching, governing and sanctifying the faithful of their diocese, and are helped by priests and deacons who in turn are responsible for the same duties within an individual church also called a parish.
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These jurisdictions are of very varied character, and in most cases are not peculiar to the Roman Catholic Church. They include those of patriarchs, archbishops, metropolitans and bishops in the first rank of the hierarchy, with their subordinate officials, such as archdeacons, archpriests, deans and canons, &c., in the lower ranks. All of these will be found described under their proper headings (see ... Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction). The basis of the organization of the Church is territorial, the world being mapped out into dioceses or, in countries where the Roman Church is not well developed - e.g. missions in nonChristian lands - into Apostolic Vicariates. The dioceses are grouped in various ways; some are immediately dependent upon the Holy See; some are grouped in ecclesiastical provinces or metropolitanates, which in their turn are sometimes grouped together to form a patriarchate.
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