A Brief Of Catholic Church Teachings

By Brenda Warner


The Roman Catholic Church has pronounced itself on a number of issues that are central to its fundamental belief. It is these specific Catholic Church Teachings that lend it the identity it has been identified with for centuries. Though there have been changes over time, the modifications do not affect the fundamentals of this Rome based institution.

The doctrines advocated by Catholics on God and his Creation state that humanity was created on the sixth day after God had created the earth, vegetation, animals and all other creatures found on earth. Man was given dominion over all creation to rule on behalf of God. Adam and Eve were meant to live forever in the grace of God. It is only after sin that they were sent off the Garden of Eden.

Jesus is recognized as the Son of God and the savior of mankind. His conception by Virgin Mary was immaculate, meaning that she never lost her virginity during conception. The conception was through the power of the Holy Spirit. The foster father for Jesus was Joseph. The savior of mankind will come again on the final day to judge the living and the dead. The righteous will go to heaven while sinners will face damnation without relief.

One of the defining teachings of the Roman Catholic Church is the position of Mary as the Mother of God. Jesus is regarded as both God, part of the Trinity and Son of God. Mary intervenes between the faithful and God. She is highly regarded and venerated through the rosary and other Marian prayers. The belief is that she did not die naturally like everyone else does but was assumed into heaven.

The pope acts as a representative of Christ on earth and holds absolute power over the faithful. He succeeded St. Peter whom Jesus described as a rock upon which he would build his church. He is elected among cardinals, rules with absolute power and should reign until he dies. History has incidences of popes who resigned for varied reasons. They include Pope Benedict XVI. Other ways of exercising authority is through institutions regarded as congregations.

The Holy Eucharist is another distinct feature among Catholics all over the world. It is made of the body and blood of Christ and celebrated as communion. Only persons who are permit can receive the Eucharist. Such a person must also have gone through confession, a cleansing process led by a priest. Christ remains in the Eucharist at the tabernacle for adoration after the Eucharistic celebration.

The teaching on death and destiny isolates the Pope led outfit from the other Christian groupings. The belief is that a person goes to heaven, hell or purgatory depending on the magnitude of sin. While hell and heaven are obvious, purgatory is designed for people who are not grave sinners. They are punished before being admitted into heaven.

With changing definitions of marriage from different quotas, Catholics are under pressure to revise their teaching. Recognition of gay marriages and single parenthood has been a heated subject in a recent synod. While the pope appears pragmatic about the issue, the bishops are not willing to change. The definition thus remains that of the father, mother and children.




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