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Essential Catholic Beliefs, Doctrines, Ideas, Practices,

and Customs
An Outline of Basic Catholic Beliefs
This section (in alphabetical order) contains a concise overview of major, essential
Catholic beliefs. Not every essential belief is included. For a more in-depth look at
different Catholic beliefs and concepts, please click the links provided in the text
below and near the bottom of this page. Also, check out our Catholic Essays and
Articles, for information on more specific topics. For even more information, please
consult the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Authority: The Bible, Tradition, Etc


Catholics have various sources of authority: The Bible, Tradition, the Creeds, the
Bishops, and the Pope, among others. Ultimately, Christ is our authority, but this
authority has been passed from Christ to His Apostles. The Bible and Tradition come
from the same Apostolic Deposit, and we do not pit them against each other. Thus the
Church understands that the Bible must be interpreted, and the Church does so using
the Tradition of the Apostles. The Catholic Church (and the Orthodox Church) has
retained this Apostolic authority through Apostolic Succession, which is the passing
down of authority from the apostles to their successors. The pope, or bishop of Rome,
has a first place among the successors to the apostles as the successor to Peter, the
"Rock," and prince of the apostles, and in certain rare occasions can speak infallibly on
behalf of the Church. However, this does not mean everything the pope says is error
free, or that the pope is sinless. While Catholics (and the Orthodox, many Anglicans,
and the early Church) do not embrace sola scriptura, the 16th century belief that the
Bible alone is our final authority, Catholics hold the Bible in high regard as the word
of God and cannot teach contrary to the Bible's Teachings. For information about
interpreting the Bible, please see There is no Plain Meaning of Scripture.

The Church: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic


The Catholic Church is the Church that Jesus Christ established. Thus the Church
subsists in the Catholic Church. However, other Christians are also in communion
with the Catholic Church by virtue of their sacraments. The Orthodox Churches
possess fully valid sacraments, and are true particular Churches, whereas Protestant
Christians are in communion with the Catholic Church on account of their baptism;
still, this communion is impaired. The Church in one, because it is unified in Christ
across regions and time periods. The Church is Holy on account of the grace of Christ
given to it and the holy sacraments it provides. The Church is Catholic because it
contains the fullness of the Apostolic Deposit of Faith, thus is it truly "according to the
whole" and "universal." Finally, the Church is Apostolic because its Teachings and
Authority come from the Apostles themselves.

Creation
Catholics believe that creation is good, that God uses it for His purposes, but that it is
marred by Original Sin, the result of the sin of the first human beings. Catholic
theologians (and Orthodox ones as well) have never agreed on one particular
interpretation of the creation stories in the Book of Genesis. A few early Christians
read them literally, others allegorically, and others in light of the science of the day.
Some read them all three ways at the same time. All three ways were seen as
acceptable, so long as Christ was at the center of creation. So Catholics are free to
understand Genesis completely literally, but also to read Genesis in light of modern
science, so long as certain conditions are met; reading Genesis in light of modern
science doesn't mean that one is free to read Genesis without God, Jesus, and so forth.
This view may some evangelical Christians whose churches were founded during the
modernist controversies of the 19th and 20th centuries. Surprisingly, insisting on an
entirely literal understanding of Genesis is actually a quite modern concept.

God: The Trinity


Catholics believe in the Nicene Creed, and therefore believe in one God who exists as
three persons ("person" in this usage means "an individual reality," not a human
being). Essentially Catholics believe the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all
God, one in substance and will, but distinct in some way, but not divided. In addition
to an intellectual understanding of the Trinity, we are to develop a relationship with
the Triune God through prayer and worship. The Trinity is not tritheism (the belief in
three gods), but rather a dynamic monotheism.

Jesus Christ: God and Man


Catholics believe Jesus is fully God and fully Man, with a human will and a divine
will. He is the King of Cosmos, the Word of God, and the awaited Messiah of Israel.
He was born of a Virgin, Mary, suffered, was crucified, truly died, and rose again

Our Basic Catholic Pages


Catholic Practices, Duties, and Common Lists
You have asked for it, so we have delivered it: all the common Catholic lists and
practices in one place. The Seven Deadly Sins, The Cardinal and Theological Virtues,
The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, the Duties of a Catholic, and more! We
are always saying, "now what is that 4th corporal work of mercy again?" or "I can't
remember the last deadly sin!" Now you don't have to sweat it.

Reconciliation: The Sacrament of Conversion


Reconciliation (commonly called "confession") is one of the most meaningful
sacraments of the Catholic Church, yet one of the most misunderstood and under-
appreciated. Jonathan explains the history of the sacrament, the guidelines governing
its use, as well including personal reflections, a helpful FAQ, and reading list.

We Believe in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church


Being a part of the Catholic Church means being a part of the worldwide, universal
and historical Church. To find the fullness of the Christian faith, choosing the catholic
Faith is really the only option. In a postmodern era of relativity and accommodation to
secular culture by many churches, the timeless faith has a powerful pull.

The Resurrection Of Jesus: A Catholic View


This is a primer on the resurrection of Jesus. This article explains the historical beliefs
about the resurrection. Jonathan Bennett tackles many issues, including why it is
essential that Christians believe in the bodily resurrection, the meaning of the
resurrection, and some proofs of the resurrection's veracity.

Who is Jesus?: The Catholic Understanding of Jesus Christ


Jesus Christ, his person and his actions, is the basis of the Christian faith. A lot has
been written and said about Jesus lately. In this article, we provide a Catholic picture
of who Jesus is. This article emphasizes the importance of knowing Jesus when trying
to understand who he is. This is not a comprehensive treatment of the issue, but hey,
this section is called the "Basics!"

Creeds: Why do We Need a Creed?


We all have beliefs, i.e. creeds, and so does the Church. If we go without creeds, we
go without belief.

The Nicene Creed: Ancient Symbol of the Catholic Faith


The Nicene Creed is the unifying symbol of the historical Christian faith that, among
other beliefs, provides guidelines for the Trinity, Jesus' divinity, and the creation of
the world by one God.

Sacraments: Meet God Through Our Own World


Bread, Wine, Oil, and Water...God uses them all. God could be more esoteric, but He
knows that we live in the physical world.

We Believe in the Virgin Birth


The virgin birth, that is the belief that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and
born of the virgin Mary without a human father, is part of classical Christian doctrine.
While we can never fully explain the miracle of Mary's virginity, we do our best here.
What About the Virgin Mary? (A Brief Catechism on Mary)
Learn the basics about the Virgin Mary. Do Catholics and Orthodox worship Mary?
Was she really a virgin her entire life? Is she God's mother? Why give Mary Such
respect? We help dispel a few myths, as well as explain the basic catholic beliefs
concerning the virgin Mary. This is done in a helpful Q and A format. This is cross
referenced in our Objections Page.

Communion of Saints: The Whole Family of God


Living, dead, here, and there, we are all one Christian community of God, united in
our worship.

Baptism: More Than Just a Bath


The early Church saw baptism as communal, sacramental, and life changing.
Postmodern people are rediscovering its meaning in opposition to the individualism of
our culture.

Eucharist: The Medicine of Immortality


Called Lord's Supper, Communion, or Mass, the ritual is the hallmark of our worship.
While some churches advertise "featured speakers" present each week, we have Jesus,
the biggest star, present, in the Eucharist.

The Christian Tradition: Living, Holy, and Relevant


We are a part of a living, God-guided Church, and Tradition is its history.

The Bible: Inerrant, Inspired, or Just A Good Read?


What is the Bible? Some Christians say it's error free to the letter, others say it's
riddled with error. We say that Jesus Christ is the Word of God and the Bible
effectively and accurately reveals Him. However, we have little affiliation with
modernist positions on scripture.

Catholic Teaching on the Salvation of Protestants and Non-Catholics


In some Christian denominations, only members are given the possibility of salvation.
Some Christians suggest everybody gets to heaven, and that all religions are equally
valid. What does the Catholic Church teach on this touchy matter? How can non-
Christians be saved if Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life?" Can non-Catholics be
saved if "outside the Church there is no salvation?"

The 15 Marks of the Church by St. Robert Bellarmine


St. Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) builds upon the traditional four marks of the
Church: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic. These 15 marks provide an important
way of looking at what makes a Church "true."

The Vincentian Canon by St. Vincent of Lerins


The Canon, taken from the writings of Vincent of Lerins, provides a fine basis for the
catholic faith. The faith is "that which has been believed everywhere, always, and by
all." In some ways it provides a good basis for "consensual" Catholicism, which
protects regional diversity, but also excludes much novel innovation. However, there
are limits to Vincent's canon. Doctrinal truths develop and unfold, much like an idea
held only in the mind may unfold into one's outer life and become more refined over
time.
Moving Beyond the Catholic Stereotype

BY DONALD DEMARCO

September 23-29, 2007 Issue | Posted 9/18/07 at 11:22 AM

To stereotype a person is to locate him in a category that forbids recognition of his


individuality.

It gives preference to the fictional over the real, the abstract over the concrete. Hence,
it is an act of injustice, and has much in common with a laundry list of detestable
“isms”: racism, sexism, colonialism, communism, etc.

And yet, despite the near universal repudiation of stereotyping, it remains active,
indeed, even fashionable, to stereotype Catholics.

According to this stereotype, a Catholic is a one-dimensional creature that acts solely


on the basis of a faith that he cannot share with non-Catholics. As a consequence,
Catholics are often disenfranchised from the political process simply because they are
Catholics. As we read over and over again in the secular press, “Catholics should not
try to impose their faith on others,” “Church and state must remain separate,” “We
live in a pluralistic society,” and so on.

In reality, a Catholic is not simply a believer. He is also a knower, and one, as a


matter of fact, who has a great enthusiasm for reason. The philosophy of politics is
not alien to the Catholic mind either historically or presently.

Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI have sought passionately and persistently to
remind Catholics of their proper place in the democratic scheme of things, which is to
help in providing society with a rational basis that makes justice and peace possible.

In other words, a Catholic is a humanist in the best sense of the term. To limit him to
his faith is to stereotype him unjustly.

In his encyclical, Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love), Pope Benedict draws a clear line
between the Church and the state when he writes, “The Church cannot and must not
take upon herself the political battle to bring about the most just society possible. She
cannot and must not replace the state.”

On the other hand, the role of the Church, according to the Holy Father, “is simply to
help purify reason and to contribute here and now to the acknowledgment and
attainment of what is just.”

Properly formed Catholics provide a corrective when reason gives way to trends,
opinion polls, political correctness, pressure groups, convenience and a peculiar form
of relativism that claims to be absolute (the “dictatorship of relativism”).

The Holy Father alludes to the fact that “relativism creates the illusion that it has
reached greater heights than the loftiest philosophical achievements of the past.” Yet
relativism itself, strictly speaking, can make no such claim since it purports that no
philosophy can be better than any other.

The Holy Father also notes how secular politicians can easily fall prey to “a certain
ethical blindness caused by the dazzling effect of power and special interests.”

The world of politics should welcome Catholics because they actually show a more
cultivated appreciation for reason than what is usually displayed by self-serving
politicians or legislators who sacrifice justice for convenience.

Robert George, professor of jurisprudence at Princeton University, has made the


observation that the Catholic Church is far more committed to reason and rational
discourse than is the world of secular politics. “It seems to me,” he states, “that these
people have it backward. The Church’s moral teachings are in line with reason;
secularist ideology is not.”

The plain truth, which secular newspapers, in general, fail to grasp is that the Catholic
Church is an incomparably better witness to reason than is the secular world. The
Church is passionately interested in truth, nature and objectivity because she knows
that they provide the indispensable framework for a true humanism. Peace and justice
cannot flower in a relativistic vacuum.Unfortunately, Catholics are prevented from
making as great a contribution to politics as they can because the stereotype that
stigmatizes them does not recognize their rich potentialities for reasonableness,
fairness and consistency.

Stereotypes can blind people to vital human assets. This blindness is unjust to the
stereotyped victims. But it also deprives society of all the benefits Catholics could
confer if they could only be seen for who they are in reality, namely, human beings
who want to help other human beings without prejudice.

Donald DeMarco is adjunct professor at Holy Apostles College and Seminary in


Cromwell, Connecticut.

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