Roman Catholic Church Background and Factors Leading to the Protestant Reformation.

Roman Catholic ChurchBackground and Factors Leading to the Protestant

Reformation

Church HierarchyPope – Began with St. Peter

-head of the Roman Catholic Church-seen as vicar (substitute) for Christ on earth

-Infallible on matters of faith

-Intepreter of the Bible

-Pontifex Maximus (highest priest)-pope, pontiff, Bishop of Rome

-currently Pope Francis-266th pope in history (debated)

Evolution of ChristianityJudaism

Christianity

Eastern Orthodox Church Roman Catholicism

Roman Catholicism Protestantism

Judaism

Church Hierarchy “The Clergy”

Cardinal

-advisor to pope-dressed in red – symbol of honor-College of Cardinals – elects new pope-Currently almost 200 cardinals

Cardinal Richelieu of France

Church Hierarchy

Archbishop-head of a region and all of its dioceses

(Livingston Archdiocese of Newark)

Bishop-head of the diocese (group of parishes)

Bishop’s miterPriest-head of a parish

Church HierarchyReligious Orders

Those who choose to work toward a common purpose while living a “vowed life” are known as monks (may also be priests) and nuns if they live “cloistered,” or apart from society; friars and sisters if they are active in society and teachers, etc.

Famous Religious Orders

Benedictines, Augustinians, Dominicans, Jesuits, and Franciscans

Roman Catholic Sacraments"The sacraments are signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the church, by which divine life is dispensed to us.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1994)”

1. Baptism (initiation)

2.Eucharist (communion)

3. Penance (confession) – obtaining forgiveness for your sins from a priest or higher

4. Confirmation (adult initiation)

5. Holy Orders (call to join clergy)

6. Matrimony (marriage)

7. Anointing of the Sick (last rites)

Protestants Accepted…

1.Baptism (initiation)

2.Eucharist (communion)-Transubstantiation (Catholic belief)-Consubstantiation (Protestant belief)

Luther stressed that only these two appear in the Bible – the remaining 5 are “man-made”

Other Philosophical Differences:

Catholics salvation by faith and good works (be good and be saved; receive sacraments frequently – Eucharist and Penance )

Protestants salvation by faith alone (because no human act could be seen as satisfactory to earn salvation)

Veneration of Saints

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4543501.stm

Hell – Dante’s Inferno (14th c.)

Purgatory

Limbo

• Those who died before Christianity…Old Testament and Ancient Greeks, etc.

• Those children who died before baptism

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/21/world/europe/21briefs-limbo.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Indulgences Paying for reduced time in Purgatory