The Roman Catholic Church is the largest religious body in the world, and has the oldest continuous existence. Officially, the Catholic Church traces its beginnings from the moment that Christ selected the Apostle Peter as the rock upon which His Church would be built. Although the basic liturgy, doctrine and organization of the Roman Catholic Church is standard, there is some diversity at the local level. Catholic devotion is largely focused on the praying of the rosary and the veneration of Mary as the mother of Jesus. Parishes offer a variety of groups and programs for greater devotions and personal piety. On social issues, such as abortion and gay rights, most Catholics tend to be liberal while the official positon of the Church is conservative on these issues, opposing both. The structure of the Roman Catholic Church is hierarchical, but Vatican II encouraged more lay participation in parishes. At the head of the Church is the Pope, who is also the Bishop of Rome and Vicar of Christ on earth. The Pope's authority is viewed as supreme in all matters of faith and practice. Second in the hierarchy is the College of Cardinals. Although the Church once appointed laypeople as cardinals, the office has been limited to priests since 1918. When a Pope dies, cardinals elect the successor and hold the authority of the Church in the meantime. The administrative body of the Church is the Roman Curia. An archbishop is in charge of an archdiocese. Bishops are appointed by Rome, and are the ruling authorities in the dioceses. Parish priests are responsible to the bishop, and holds the authority to celebrate Mass and administer the sacraments. Priests are educated in theological seminaries. The church clergy may also include deacons, many of whom are married. They have the authority to preach, baptize, distribute Holy Communion, and officiate at weddings. Typically, deacons hold secular jobs and work in the ministry on weekends and evenings.
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Traditionalist Catholic |
Recommended Resources
Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests
The ARCWP initiative is a renewal movement within the Roman Catholic Church, advocating for a new model of inclusive priestly ministry in the Church with a goal toward achieving full equality for women within the Church. Acknowledging that the Vatican’s position is that they are excommunicated, the ARCWP does not accept this. Biographies of leaders within the movement are given, with an overview of their ministries, a calendar of events and contacts.
http://arcwp.org/
Created by an evangelical Catholic layperson, the site is intended to reach those outside the Roman Catholic Church, and to build up those who became Catholic later in life, several articles are available that seek to answer questions that Evangelical Christians might have about Catholicism, such as the significance of Mary, the mother of Jesus, a historical overview of the Church, and testimonies of conversions to Catholicism.
http://www.catholicbridge.com/
COR offers a Roman Catholic homily writing service designed to assist priests, deacons and lay preachers with their weekly sermons. A description of the services offered and a promotional video are featured, and four options are available: weekly sermons as well as homilies for Feast days and Holy Days of obligation, monthly subscriptions, funeral homilies, and wedding homilies.
https://www.romancatholichomilies.com/
This site is dedicated to providing historical and contemporary information about the liturgies of the Latin (Roman) rite of the Catholic Church, which currently includes the 1970 missal (Novus Ordo) and the 1962 missal (Tridentine). As this is not an official site, the only contents here that are authoritative are the actual liturgy documents, the remainder consisting of comments and explanations.
http://www.catholicliturgy.com/
Mass times and information about Roman Catholic parishes throughout the United States are featured here, including Catholic pastors, church bulletins, maps, Catholic diocese and archdiocese information, as well as Catholic school information. Users of the site may search for Latin Mass times or Adoration Chapels, or they can browse by state. Those outside of the United States may begin by browsing continents.
http://catholic-mass-times.com/
Online since 1995 and available in English, Spanish, French and German, Catholic Net is the first Catholic web site. It provides the latest news and information from the Vatican and other Catholic sources, as well as church teaching, questions and answers, podcasts and webcasts, as well as a life and family index, prayers and devotionals, scriptures, papal encyclicals, and a Catholic directory.
http://www.catholic.net/
Maintained by a Roman Catholic priest, the site features a variety of materials, largely related to biblical and liturgical studies for scholars, teachers, students, pastors, believers, seekers, and others. Audio CD programs, charts, overviews, and other materials are included, listed by topic. Other resources include the Catholic lectionary for Mass and Church documents related to biblical studies.
http://www.catholic-resources.org/
Available in English, Czech, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, and Tagalog, the site encourages those who have left the Catholic Church to return through textual and video resources. The site argues for Catholicism over another and offers advice on how to come home, help with preparing for confession, and how to find the right parish, by city state or zip code. An online shopping area is included.
http://www.catholicscomehome.org/
Introduction to Roman Catholicism
As part of the Christianity in View series of web sites, this site focuses on the beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church, and makes references to official documents such as Papal Encyclicals and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, with Bible references from the Douay-Rheims version. An overview of the Papacy, Church, Saints, and Sacraments are given, along with questions and answers, photographs, and a quiz.
http://catholicfaith.co.uk/
RCFC is an association of Protestant ministries and individuals who have charged themselves with sharing biblical salvation with Roman Catholics. Beginning with the assumption that Roman Catholics do not know Christ and that salvation cannot be found through Catholicism, the site offers arguments against the validity of Catholicism and gives tips on converting Catholics to Protestantism, and supporting those who have left the Catholic Church.
http://www.reachingcatholics.org/
Written from a viewpoint in opposition to Roman Catholicism, the site offers several articles, video and other resources, citing passages from Scripture arranged to dispute Catholic beliefs and doctrine, to make comparisons between evangelical Protestant positions and those of the Roman Catholic Church, and to point out falsities. The characteristics of Mary and the Apostle Peter are discussed, along with the Skull and Bones, and Popes in prophecy.
http://romancatholicbeliefs.org/
Created in 2015, the site is for Roman Catholic men by Roman Catholic men who aspire to train men who seek the Lord to accomplish their role in combatting evil and rescuing the souls of those who have lost the gift of faith. Basic prayers, devotions, and a guide for confession are presented, along with information about the precepts of the church, a reading plan, videos, podcasts, and other resources.
https://www.romancatholicman.com/
There are three sections to this site: one for those who are interested in learning the difference between traditional Catholicism and modernism, those who believe in Medjugorje, or apparitions, and for non-Catholics who are interested in learning what the Catholic Church teachers. For each, the site offers the Roman Catholic position. A proclamation of the Catholic Faith is included.
http://www.roman-catholic.com/
Pressing for a new model in a renewed Roman Catholic Church, the RCWP is an international initiative within the Church with a mission to prepare, ordain and support women and men from all states of life, who are theologically qualified, to minister within the Roman Catholic Church. The organization rejects the penalty of excommunication issued by the Vatican in 2008.
http://www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org/
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The USCCB is an assembly of the hierarchy of the United States and the US Virgin Islands who exercise certain pastoral functions on behalf of the Christian faithful in the United States. A brief history of the Roman Catholic organization, its mission, strategic plan, bishops and dioceses. Financial reporting, USCCB employment, and leadership contacts are posted, with an overview of Catholic beliefs and teachings, issues, actions, an giving programs.
http://www.usccb.org/
The official Vatican site, available in French, German, Italian, Latin, Spanish, Portuguese, and English, presents access to information about the Vatican secret archives, library, museums, and publishing house, as well as a general and detailed profile of the Roman Catholic Church, its organizations, commissions, programs, and leadership. The Pope is introduced, including a biography, encyclicals, homilies, messages, and audiences.
http://w2.vatican.va/
