A General View 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.

The Roman Catholic Church is known to accord special recognition to Mary Mother of God. With Jesus being regarded as both God and man, Mary is regarded as Mother of God. She is venerated through a number of prayers including the rosary. She acts as an intercessor for human kind. It is believed that she never died but got assumed into heaven with her physical body.

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.

Roman Catholics are also identified for their belief in the Holy Eucharist. It acts as a symbol of unity among the faithful. It is regarded as the body and blood of Christ that is a sign of communion. Those who receive the Eucharist must have been cleansed through confession. Christ remains in the Eucharist and is adored in shrines and chapels beyond Eucharistic celebrations or mass.

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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