Rachel Evans
Catholicism is a broad concept that encompasses a wide range of beliefs and practices within Christianity. While there is only one Catholic Church, it is made present in 23 distinct Catholic Churches worldwide, with only one being the Western or Latin Church. The Catholic Church is led by the Bishop of Rome, also known as the Pope, who is considered the successor to Saint Peter. In addition to the Latin or Roman tradition, there are seven non-Latin, non-Roman Catholic churches: Armenian, Byzantine, Coptic, Ethiopian, East Syriac (Chaldean), West Syriac, and Maronite. Each of these churches is considered equally Catholic as the Roman Catholic Church. The term Catholic itself is derived from the Ancient Greek word katholikos, meaning universal, reflecting the belief in the wholeness and universality of the Christian faith.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholic Churches | 23 |
| Number of Eastern Catholic Churches | 22 |
| Number of Dioceses Globally | 3,171 |
| Number of Parishes Worldwide | 221,700 |
| Number of Levels of Clergy | 3 |
| Number of Anglicans in the Anglican Communion | 80 million |
| Number of Non-Latin, Non-Roman Catholic Churches | 7 |
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What You'll Learn
The Latin Church
In the early modern period, the Latin Church carried out evangelizing missions to the Americas, and later to Sub-Saharan Africa and East Asia. The Protestant Reformation of the 16th century resulted in the fragmentation of Western Christianity, with the emergence of Protestant offshoots of the Latin Church and smaller groups of 19th-century breakaway Independent Catholic denominations. Today, the Latin Church has dioceses and parishes worldwide, served by bishops, priests, deacons, and lay ecclesial ministers.
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The Eastern Catholic Churches
Historically, the Eastern Catholic Churches have faced challenges in maintaining their distinct traditions due to pressure to conform to the norms of Western Christianity practiced by the majority Latin Church. This process of "Latinization" has been a point of controversy in relations with the Eastern Orthodox and other non-Catholic churches. However, reforms such as the Second Vatican Council's Orientalium Ecclesiarum have reaffirmed the right of Eastern Catholics to preserve their unique practices.
As of 2021, there are 24 Catholic Churches, including the Eastern Catholic Churches, which can be grouped into eight different rites. The Eastern Catholic Churches have a significant global presence, with over 12 million members worldwide as of the early 21st century.
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Anglo-Catholicism
The Caroline Divines, a group of influential 17th-century Anglican theologians, played a significant role in the history of Anglo-Catholicism. They opposed Calvinism, Lutheranism, and Puritanism, emphasising apostolic succession, episcopal polity, and the sacraments. They also favoured elaborate liturgy and aesthetics, reviving the use of images and statues in churches.
Since the 1970s, Anglo-Catholicism has been divided into two main camps: "traditionalist" and "liberal". Traditionalist Anglo-Catholics seek to maintain traditions and align their doctrines with those of the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. They often collaborate with conservative evangelical Anglicans to defend traditional teachings on sexual morality and women's roles in the Church. Liberal Anglo-Catholics, on the other hand, embrace more progressive ideas and are open to change.
Anglo-Catholics vary widely in their beliefs and practices, ranging from right-wing to left-wing, traditionalist to progressive, and those who favour Gregorian chants in Latin to those who prefer contemporary praise music. Despite these differences, there are unifying characteristics that define Anglo-Catholicism, including their approach to theological identity, liturgy, and devotion.
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Catholic Religious Orders
Catholicism is a broad concept that encompasses a wide range of beliefs and practices within Christianity. The term "Catholic" is derived from the Ancient Greek word "katholikos", meaning "universal". It implies that the Church proclaims the entirety of the Christian faith, without exclusion, to all people. While there is a single Catholic Church, it is made present in 23 distinct Catholic Churches worldwide, only one of which is the Western or Latin Church. The remaining 22 Eastern Churches are autonomous and self-governing, each preserving unique liturgical, devotional, and theological traditions. These Eastern Churches include the Armenian, Byzantine, Coptic, Ethiopian, East Syriac (Chaldean), West Syriac, and Maronite Churches.
The Catholic Church has a hierarchical structure with three levels of clergy: the episcopate, composed of bishops overseeing dioceses or eparchies; the presbyterate, comprising priests ordained by bishops and serving in local dioceses or religious orders; and the diaconate, made up of deacons who assist bishops and priests. At the pinnacle is the Bishop of Rome, known as the Pope, who holds the highest authority.
Various religious institutes function autonomously within the Catholic Church, sometimes answering only to the Pope. These institutes include consecrated life options such as hermits, consecrated virgins, and religious institutes or secular institutes. Religious institutes encompass both religious orders and congregations, with the terms often used interchangeably. Examples of religious orders include the Benedictines, Carmelites, Dominicans, Franciscans, Legionaries of Christ, and Sisters of Mercy.
Within the Catholic Church, there are also different strains or branches, such as Anglo-Catholicism, which is associated with the Oxford Movement of the 19th century. Anglo-Catholics often practice Marian devotion, recite the rosary, and interpret the 39 Articles as recognising seven sacraments. Conservative and liberal groups exist within Anglo-Catholicism, such as Forward in Faith and Affirming Catholicism, respectively.
Additionally, the term "Catholic" is used in Reformed Churches to refer to the "universal" church, as seen in the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Church of Scotland's Articles Declaratory. These churches, including Presbyterian and Baptist denominations, regard themselves as part of the Holy Catholic or Universal Church without necessarily being in full communion with the Bishop of Rome.
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Catholicity
The word "Catholicity" comes from the Ancient Greek adjective "katholikos", meaning "general" or "universal". Catholicity is a concept pertaining to beliefs and practices widely accepted by numerous Christian denominations, especially those that describe themselves as Catholic in accordance with the Four Marks of the Church, as expressed in the Nicene Creed formulated at the First Council of Constantinople in 381: " [I believe] in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church."
The Catholic Church is the largest non-government provider of education and healthcare in the world. As of 2020, it was the second-largest religious body in the world after Sunni Islam. The Catholic Church has three levels of clergy: the episcopate, the presbyterate, and the diaconate. Ultimately, the entire Catholic Church is led by the Bishop of Rome, known as the Pope. The Pope's jurisdiction is called the Holy See.
In addition to the Latin or Roman Catholic Church, there are seven non-Latin, non-Roman Catholic churches: Armenian, Byzantine, Coptic, Ethiopian, East Syriac (Chaldean), West Syriac, and Maronite. Each of these churches is considered as Catholic as the Roman Catholic Church. There are also several independent Catholic churches with theology and practices largely similar to Latin Catholicism, including the Old Catholics, the Liberal Catholic Church, the Augustana Catholic Church, and the American National Catholic Church. These churches regard themselves as "Catholic" but are not in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, as they reject his claimed status and authority.
The Anglican Church, or Church of England, separated from the Roman Catholic Church for political, not theological reasons. Thus, Anglo-Catholic beliefs and practices are similar to Roman Catholics, but Anglicans do not acknowledge the leadership role of the Pope. There are about 80 million Anglicans in the Anglican Communion, comprising 3.6% of global Christianity.
Within Reformed Christianity, the word "catholic" is generally taken to mean "universal", and many leading Protestant denominations identify themselves as part of the Catholic Church. For example, the Church of Scotland's Articles Declaratory define that church legally as "part of the Holy Catholic or Universal Church".
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Frequently asked questions
There are 23 Catholic Churches, only one of which is the Western, or Latin Church. The remaining 22 are Eastern Churches.
The Latin Church, or the Roman Catholic Church, is overseen by the Bishop of Rome, also known as the Pope. The Eastern Churches are autonomous and self-governing, with their own Patriarch, Major Archbishop, or Bishop.
The Eastern Churches include the Armenian, Byzantine, Coptic, Ethiopian, East Syriac (Chaldean), West Syriac, and Maronite Churches.
In 1054, the Christian Church was divided by the Great Schism, which saw the West excommunicate the East, and the East excommunicate the West. This led to the division between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, with the Orthodox Church refusing to recognise the authority of the Bishop of Rome.
No, there are also Anglo-Catholics, who are part of the Anglican Communion. Anglo-Catholics are similar to Roman Catholics but do not acknowledge the leadership of the Bishop of Rome.
