Michael Brooks
Catholicism is a broad church, and while there is only one type of Catholicism in terms of central beliefs, there are many different types of Catholics. The Catholic Church is comprised of six different liturgical rites, and within those rites, there are 24 autonomous churches, all in communion with one another and recognising the primacy of the Pope. These include the Latin Catholic Church, the only Western Church, and 23 Eastern Churches, including the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. There are also Scoto-Catholic, Anglo-Catholic, and Old Catholic traditions, as well as various Catholic parishes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholic Churches | 24 |
| Number of Catholic parishes | 3 |
| Types of Catholic parishes | Diocesan Roman Catholic parishes, "Traditional" or Extraordinary form parishes, Old Catholic parishes |
| Types of Catholic Rites | Eastern Catholic, Latin Catholic, Western Rites |
| Types of Western Rites | Hispanic, Gallican, Celtic, Mozarabic |
| Types of Eastern Catholic Churches | West Syrian (or Antiochene) Rite, Maronite Catholic Church, Syriac Catholic Church, Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Ruthenian Byzantine Church |
| Types of Catholic Groups | Anglo-Catholic, Conservative Catholic groups, Liberal Catholic Church, Affirming Catholicism |
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What You'll Learn
Roman Catholicism
There are an estimated 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide, and the majority of these identify as Roman Catholic. Roman Catholicism is the largest and most established form of Catholicism, with a rich history and tradition that dates back to the earliest days of Christianity. It is a religious tradition with a highly structured organization, led by the Pope, and a clear hierarchy of clergy.
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that it is the "one true church," founded by Jesus Christ, and that its bishops are the successors of Christ's apostles, with the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, having primacy and infallibility when speaking on matters of faith and morals. It holds that its doctrines are revealed by God and interpreted by the Magisterium, which includes the Pope and the bishops in union with him.
The Roman Catholic Church has a global presence, with dioceses and parishes around the world, and it plays an active role in the social and political life of many countries. It has a significant influence on Western culture, art, music, and philosophy, and its teachings have shaped the moral and ethical frameworks of many societies.
In summary, Roman Catholicism is the largest and most established form of Catholicism, with a deep history, a global presence, and a highly structured organization. It is characterized by its emphasis on tradition, ritual, and the seven sacraments, with the Eucharist as the central act of worship. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that it is the "one true church" founded by Christ, and it plays a significant role in the religious, cultural, and social life of millions of people around the world.
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Eastern Catholicism
Eastern Catholic Churches have their origins in the Middle East, North Africa, East Africa, Eastern Europe, and South India. They are the product of a long history of divisions and reunions within Christianity. The Great Schism of 1054 divided the Church into a “West” and an “East”, with the Eastern camp comprising Greece, Russia, Romania, and many other Slavic lands, as well as Christians in Syria and Egypt who accepted the Council of Chalcedon. Over time, some Eastern Churches came back into communion with the Catholic Church, resulting in the formation of Eastern Catholic Churches.
Eastern Catholic Churches were formerly part of the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, or the Church of the East. They have been points of controversy in ecumenical relations with the Eastern Orthodox and other non-Catholic churches. There are 23 to 24 recognised Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, and the Maronite Church.
Eastern Catholic Churches preserve many Eastern theological traditions while also incorporating Latin traditions. They are governed by the 1990 Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, which outlines their relationship with the Latin Church and reaffirms their right to maintain their distinct practices. These churches often allow the ordination of married men to the priesthood, in contrast to the stricter clerical celibacy of the Latin Church. They also have unique customs, such as fasting on Wednesdays, Fridays, all of Lent, and Advent.
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Anglican Catholicism
Catholicism has a long and complex history, with various schisms and conflicts leading to the formation of different types of Catholicism. One of these is Anglican Catholicism, also known as Anglo-Catholicism. This tradition emphasises the Catholic heritage of the Church of England and the wider Anglican Church, particularly its pre-Reformation roots.
The Oxford Movement's leaders, including John Keble, John Henry Newman, and Edward Bouverie Pusey, argued that Anglicanism was not a Protestant denomination but a branch of the historical Christian Church, alongside Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. They asserted that Anglicanism had preserved the historical apostolic succession of priests and bishops and, thus, the Catholic sacraments.
Anglo-Catholic beliefs and practices are influenced by various historical movements and figures. The Caroline Divines of the 17th century, for example, opposed Calvinism, Lutheranism, and Puritanism, stressing the importance of apostolic succession, episcopal polity, and the sacraments. They favoured elaborate liturgy and aesthetics, reviving the use of images and statues in churches.
Another influential movement was the Jacobite Nonjuring schism of the 17th and 18th centuries. Additionally, the historic Anglican formularies, developed under the influence of Thomas Cranmer, include texts such as the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion and The Books of Homilies, which reflect Reformed theology.
In more recent times, the Anglican Catholic Church (ACC) has emerged as a worldwide body of Catholic Christians worshipping in the Anglican tradition. The ACC was formed in response to the Episcopal Church's revisions, including the ordination of women, which some Anglicans opposed. The ACC sees itself as rooted in a Catholic stream of faith and practice, embracing various traditions within Anglicanism and Catholicism.
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Old Catholicism
Catholicism, like many religions, has evolved and changed over time, and as a result, there are now several denominations of Catholicism. One of these is Old Catholicism, which is a valid form of Catholicism that is independent of Rome and values local control.
The Old Catholic Church is made up of groups of Western Christians who believe they maintain complete loyalty to the doctrine and traditions of the undivided church. However, they separated from the See of Rome and the Roman Catholic Church, refusing to submit to papal supremacy. They are therefore Catholic but not Roman, and Orthodox but not Eastern. They stand as Western Orthodox, heirs of the Church as it existed in the first millennium, before the Great Schism of 1054.
Old Catholics accept the Scriptures, the Apostles' and Nicene creeds, and the dogmatic decisions of the first seven ecumenical councils. They uphold the conciliar basis of the church and accord a high place to tradition. They accept seven sacraments as permanent obligations in the life of the church, including the episcopate, which is accepted as a gift given by God. They also accept the equality of all Catholic bishops, who have been admitted by bishops in unbroken historical succession from the time of the Apostles.
Old Catholics differ from Roman Catholics in several ways. For example, confession to God in the presence of a priest is not obligatory, and celibacy for the clergy is optional. Old Catholics also adopted the use of the vernacular in public worship, which was one of the fundamental principles of the Protestant Reformation.
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Diocesan parishes
The concept of a diocese originated from the Latin "dioecesis," derived from the Greek "διοίκησις" (dioikesis), meaning "administration." It evolved from the administrative structure of the Roman Empire, where provinces were divided into smaller units called dioceses. With the legalisation of Christianity in 313 through the Edict of Milan, churches began to emulate this structure, forming dioceses based on civil divisions rather than larger regional districts.
In the Catholic Church, a diocese is further subdivided into parishes, which are stable communities of the faithful under the care of a parish priest, also known as a pastor or parochus. Parishes are the fundamental units of a diocese and are recognised as "juridic persons" under canon law, possessing specific rights and responsibilities. The diocesan bishop has the authority to establish, modify, or dissolve parishes within their diocese.
Parishes can be territorial, encompassing all Catholic faithful within a defined geographic area, or non-territorial, serving Catholics of a particular rite, language, or nationality. Territorial parishes often operate schools for their community's children, providing religious instruction alongside the standard curriculum. Non-territorial or personal parishes are established to cater to specific communities, such as those of a particular ethnic or national background, offering services in their native language.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 24 particular Catholic Churches that are all in communion with one another and recognise the primacy of the Pope. However, there are many more types of Catholic parishes and communities.
The 24 particular Catholic Churches are often referred to as Eastern Churches and include the Maronite Catholic Church, Syriac Catholic Church, Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, and Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. The Latin Catholic Church is the largest of these 24 Churches and is the only Western Church.
Other Catholic parishes and communities include Diocesan Roman Catholic parishes, "Traditional" or Extraordinary form parishes, Anglo-Catholic parishes, Old Catholic parishes, and Eastern Catholic parishes.
