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Largest denomination of Christianity, with more than one billion members. The Roman Catholic Church has had a profound effect on the development of Western civilization and has been responsible for introducing Christianity in many parts of the world. It regards itself as the only legitimate inheritor of the ministry of Jesus, by virtue of an unbroken succession of leaders beginning with St. Peter the Apostle and continuing to the present day. It holds that the pope is the infallible interpreter of divine revelation. Church organization is strictly hierarchical. The pope appoints and presides over the cardinals, whose numbers grew dramatically in the late 20th century, reaching 182 under John Paul II (19782005). Each of the church's 500 archbishops is the head of an archdiocese. These in turn are divided into about 1,800 dioceses, each headed by a bishop. Within dioceses are parishes, each served by a church and a priest. Only men can enter the priesthood, but women who wish to enter holy orders can become nuns, who are organized into orders and convents. The basic form of worship is the mass, which celebrates the sacrament of the Eucharist. Theologically, Roman Catholicism differs from Protestantism with regard to its understanding of the sources of revelation and the channels of grace. With Eastern Orthodoxy it asserts that both scripture and church tradition are revelatory of the basis of Christian belief and church polity. It sets the number of sacraments at seven (baptism, reconciliation [formerly known as penance], the Eucharist, matrimony, ordination, confirmation, and anointing of the sick); its rich sacramental life is supplemented by other devotions, chiefly eucharistic services and devotions to the saints. The Second Vatican Council (196265) promoted the role of the laity in the church, approved the use of the vernacular in the mass, and strove to improve relations with other religions. Pope John Paul II actively pursued better relations with other faiths, especially Judaism, and remained popular despite various controversies. Although faced with many challenges, the church remained one of the largest and most significant religious bodies in the world at the start of its third millennium.
© 2010 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
it it it it's a little hard for me to know that I'm disordered or again to quote Ratzinger I'm guilty of them moral evil simply by fulfilling my sexual destiny as I see it a revolting piece of history the sometimes offered on this point yeah we hate the sin only we love the sinner Stephen is I'm sorry to say not quite like other girls it's his nature amazing initiative called ABC abstinence be faithful correct use of condoms those three I'm not denying that abstinence is a very good way of not getting AIDS it really is it works so does being faithful so do condoms and do not deny it Do you know who will be the last person ever to be accepted as the Prince of the church the Galilean carpenter that Jew they would kick him out before he tried to cross the threshold he would be so ill at ease in the church but simple unremarkable man if he said the things that was said to have said what would he say what you think of St. Peter's what you think of the wealth of the power and self justification in the weedling apologies I don't at all look forward to the death of Joseph Ratzinger I don't or any other pope not really um except for one tiny reason is I want to confess showing when he dies there's quite a long interval to the conclave can meet maybe Cardinal Law will still be on it to pick another pope sometimes it goes on for months til they get the white smoke for that whole time that whole interval it's a delicious lucid interlude there isn't anyone on earth who claims to be infallible isn't that nice all I want to propose in closing is this if the human species is to rise to the full height as demanded by its dignity and by its intelligence we must all of us move to a state of affairs where the condition is permanent and I think we should get on with it ok thank you for having me the the the the uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh


