The Catholic Church and its views and teachings on specific subjects.
8
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2answers
107 views
When did Peter become the first Pope, according to Roman Catholic doctrine?
Roman Catholic doctrine teaches that the apostle Peter was the first Pope. Exactly when did this occur?
I can imagine a few different options
When Jesus addressed Peter in Matthew:
I also ...
8
votes
2answers
126 views
According to the Roman Catholic church, who can baptize a new believer?
As far as I remember, there is no rule in the Bible as to who can baptize a new believer. However, I'm almost certain that sometime in the early history of the Roman Catholic church, someone or some ...
8
votes
1answer
149 views
How is spiritual progress described in eastern monastic traditions?
Catholic church has a long monastic history, and there are excellent exponents of spiritual progress whose concepts are used even today. Take Theresa of Avila's "interior castle" or Juan de la Cruz' ...
7
votes
2answers
122 views
What is the difference between icons and idols in churches that permit icons?
There are a number of Protestants that say the use of the images and statues in the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church is idolatry. I know that these churches call certain images "icons", but I ...
5
votes
1answer
79 views
Is there any connection between minimum age for marriage in Catholic Church and tradition about Mary's age at Annunciation?
According to Canonic law, the minimum age for marryage to be valid for girls is fourteen (it can be and usually is higher for the marriage not to be illicit):
Can. 1083 §1. A man before he has ...
5
votes
2answers
96 views
Is there a special significance attached to a Latin Mass?
Every so often, one of my Catholic acquaintances will mention that they will be, or have just attended a Latin Mass. I know pretty much nothing about a Latin Mass, other than (obviously) that it's ...
4
votes
2answers
164 views
Is the Pope morally obliged to submit to every secular authority?
Among the Protestant faith a believer is to submit to the government:
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to ...
4
votes
2answers
258 views
Biblical basis for Peter being the leader of the apostles?
The Roman Catholic church claim that the apostle Peter was the first bishop of Rome and that he was the leader of the other apostles/bishops and since the pope is the rightful heir of Peter's title ...
2
votes
2answers
83 views
Which Roman Catholic doctrines are infallible?
I know that the Pope can speak infallibly (ex cathedra), and that this has officially been done once, as well as three times before Papal infallibility was formally declared. I would assume that any ...
2
votes
4answers
600 views
On what grounds does the Catholic church reject sacraments of protestant denominations?
While there is a wide range of opinion among adult-baptism protestants as to whether a Catholic (or other infant) baptism is or can be considered valid, there seems to be (at least in my experience) a ...
0
votes
1answer
85 views
Why does the Catechism of the Catholic Church abridge the first commandment?
(This question came up while I was speaking with someone, and I don't think that I was able to answer it very well. Note that I am not asking whether the Church is right or wrong, just for a clear ...
14
votes
5answers
779 views
What is the Biblical evidence against the perpetual virginity of Mary?
I understand that the Roman Catholic Church teaches that Mary is the eternal virgin in that she never had sexual relations with Joseph (or any other man)--either before or after the miraculous ...
11
votes
1answer
125 views
What Popes have resigned in the past?
Pope Benedict XVI recently announced his resignation. What other Popes have abdicated in the past? The media keep pointing to Gregory XII, but it is my understanding that he was deposed by the Council ...
11
votes
2answers
465 views
Which of Luther's 95 Theses are still potentially valid critiques of Roman Catholicism?
Pope Leo X enumerated 41 positions that he required Luther to recant from in order to be restored to communion with the Latin Church. Presumably, he wasn't all that excited about some of the other ...
11
votes
2answers
183 views
How is “Veneration” similar or different from “Adoration”?
Most Catholics teach about honoring the saints, and mostly about "venerating" the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Though in my country (I'm from the Philippines), the line between honoring saints / Mary and the ...
9
votes
2answers
243 views
Why is Good Friday called Good?
My coworker asked "Why is Good Friday called good?" when I said we've got Good Friday off and I unfortunately don't know the answer to the question.
Is there a very obvious way to explain to someone ...
9
votes
2answers
678 views
Is Roman Catholic reconciliation with the Orthodox likely (or possible)?
I have consistently heard rumors that the Orthodox and the Roman Catholics will be reconciling at some point (at least to the point of Catholics being able to receive Orthodox sacraments). Sometimes ...
9
votes
1answer
322 views
Has the Catholic church ever voiced its view on the possibility of aliens' existence?
Has the Catholic church ever acknowledged such a possibility as not contradicting the Bible? Or has it once said that the whole idea of aliens is absolutely non-Biblical as the humans are the center ...
9
votes
1answer
470 views
How does the Catholic Church understand the priesthood of all believers?
In the process of answering a question on the Sacraments, I discovered that Catholic Church accepts the doctrine of the "priesthood of all believers". This rather surprised me since the Church has ...
9
votes
1answer
242 views
What are indulgences and when and why were they used?
I seem to recall that indulgences had something to do with Roman Catholics doing something to receive forgiveness of sins prior to committing the sins.
So, is that what indulgences were? When did ...
9
votes
1answer
177 views
What is the Catholic stance on Embryo Screening?
Embryo Screening is the process of fertilizing multiple eggs, checking their DNA makeup, and then screening out the eggs that do not meet the requirements. These requirements can be anything from ...
8
votes
2answers
228 views
What substitutes for prayers for the Pope's intentions during sede vacante?
One of the requirments one must meet to obtain an indulgence is to pray for the [edit]intentions of the[/edit] pope. When there's no pope, what's the substitute? I guess it's the conclave and the next ...
7
votes
2answers
369 views
Do Catholics officially recognize Protestants as Christians?
I have always thought that the Pope did not recognize the validity of the faith of those outside of the Catholic church, but in comments from a different post I am surprised to find out I may be ...
7
votes
1answer
93 views
What makes a confession sacramental?
In the Catholic tradition, confession to a priest is treated with special protection as a sacred rite. The priest is charged with maintaining the confidential nature of the confession, something they ...
7
votes
2answers
636 views
How does a Roman Catholic reconcile a preference for purely procreative sex with the Song of Solomon?
Premise #1: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that sex is for procreation
Peter Turner has an excellent answer to the question on Onan. In it, he suggests that Onan really was misusing sex, and that ...
7
votes
2answers
73 views
What is the Biblical basis the for Immutable Nature of God?
Dei Filius sayeth this:
God cannot deny himself, nor can truth ever be in opposition to truth. The appearance of this kind of specious contradiction is chiefly due to the fact that either the ...
7
votes
1answer
308 views
When (and why) did the empty cross v.s. crucifix split happen?
Today, we have Catholic and Orthodox churches (and a few others) using the crucifix whereas most Protestant denominations have an empty cross. Did this empty-cross split happen around when Martin ...
7
votes
2answers
138 views
How can a particular trade of modern times get a patron saint?
In days of yore, tradesman and guilds had patron saints. These days patrons seem to only be attributed to profession in vague ways via papal declaration (i.e. St. John Vianney is the Patron of all ...
6
votes
1answer
350 views
Orthodox churches recognized by Catholic Church
Which Orthodox churches are recognized by the Catholic church? Are there any churches older than the split that are not recognized by the Catholic Church and that are still active?
Edit: "recognize" ...
6
votes
1answer
136 views
What is the Biblical basis for the special mediatorial position of the Pope, Cardinals, etc in the Catholic church?
Following-up a previous question, what Biblical basis does the Catholic church claim for the special role of Priests, Cardinals, and Popes in the structure of the church?
6
votes
1answer
124 views
What isn't spiritual communion?
Spiritual communion is a prayer one can pray if they can't receive communion at Mass and it's a good prayer to pray if you're making a visit to a tabernacle outside of Mass. Sacramental communion can ...
6
votes
1answer
85 views
Was “love your enemies” ever included among the evangelical counsels?
In Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin accuses his scholastic opponents of considering the commandment "Love your enemies" to be optional. Specifically, he says that they call it an ...
5
votes
3answers
151 views
Can dogma ever be modified, and how does this relate to papal infallibility?
I have two questions related to the concept of dogma in the Catholic church. I appreciate any guidance. Also, references would be helpful.
Is there any point in the history of the Roman Catholic ...
5
votes
2answers
105 views
What is the basis for penance (satisfaction) in sacramental confession?
From the Catholic Encyclopedia, The Sacrament of Penance (Confession):
As stated above, the absolution given by the priest to a penitent who
confesses his sins with the proper dispositions ...
5
votes
1answer
51 views
What different acts do Catholic priests require of people who go to confession?
I understand that when people go to confessional in the Catholic Church, the priest will often prescribe certain things for them to do for penance in order for their sins to be forgiven.
I have heard ...
5
votes
1answer
212 views
Why did the authors of the London Baptist Confession of 1689 callout the pope as being the antichrist?
In chapter 26 paragraph 4 of the 1689 LBC, the authors called the pope the antichrist:
neither can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof, but is that antichrist, that man of sin, and son ...
5
votes
2answers
2k views
What is the difference between Natural Law and Divine Law?
In Catholic understanding, there is a divine law and a natural law. Based on my reading, it seems like Divine Law = Revelation (as a Protestant would call it) and Natural Law = what you could deduce ...
5
votes
2answers
277 views
What is the Little Office of Our Lady in connection to the Scapular Devotion?
This is particularly confusing and the wikipedia entry is not helpful. I've worn a scapular since going to World Youth Day in 2005, but I've never asked a priest to consecrate my devotion. The ...
4
votes
1answer
84 views
Do Catholic children near death recieve the Eucharist as Viaticum
Canon law says that anointing of the sick is to be done to someone having attained the age of reason, same as reception of the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Penance.
However, as "Food for the ...
4
votes
1answer
101 views
What role does the Vatican play in marriage annulments?
I've heard that every annulment must go through the Vatican in some capacity. Does every annulment get reviewed by some tribunal there or is it just a rubber stamp for the tribunal of the diocese from ...
3
votes
0answers
42 views
Is there any connection between the country of origin of Popes and nearby large gatherings of Catholics or Councils?
Not that a run of 2 means anything (or Rio is in Argentina like I mistakenly assumed It is just down the road) and given there were hundreds of years of Italian popes to skew this statistic, but it ...
3
votes
1answer
68 views
According to Roman Catholic Doctrine, does everyone spend time in purgatory?
As I understand it, the Roman Catholic Church teaches that there is place of suffering called Purgatory where people spend time being purged of the sins they committed on earth. However, it seems ...
2
votes
1answer
62 views
What is the Protestant biblical basis for those concluding that 'all moral works' without grace have no good in them (or have the nature of sin)?
I am trying to clarify the difference in my own mind between a traditional Catholic and traditional Protestant view of grace, specifically in terms of the 'works of unbelievers'. It seems hard to ...
2
votes
1answer
97 views
Which is more important to the Roman Catholic Church today: Church unity or the actual text of scripture?
I recently did some study on the fact that Augustine objected to Jerome translating the OT into Latin from the Hebrew instead of the Greek because there were significant differences in the texts. ...
2
votes
1answer
188 views
Martin Luther's take on Roman Catholic clergy individuals living (immediately) before him
Is there any evidence that Martin Luther considered any of the Roman Catholic clergymen who lived in the centuries preceding his own lifetime (evidence related to those living in the centuries ...
2
votes
2answers
155 views
Seeking a richer Catholic understanding of passion vs intellect as it applies to our first parents
I was tempted to answer this question about freewill and Adam and Eve but I chose not to because all I've got it conjecture and I'm not even sure if it's not borderline heresy on the matter. What I'd ...
1
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2answers
165 views
How does a Catholic church support itself without Tithe?
Usually, in Protestant churches, the church's income is mostly from tithes and then offerings, and secondarily from any outside sponsors the church may have. I am less informed how the Catholic church ...
1
vote
2answers
119 views
According to Roman Catholic teaching, did people who died in Old Testament times spend time in Purgatory?
I understand that the Roman Catholic Church teaches that people today spend time in Purgatory after they die prior to going to heaven.
However, this teaching does not appear to have been taught in ...
1
vote
1answer
145 views
Is it true that Luther claimed Popes and priests commonly practiced sodomy?
This is a simple historical Q & A question regarding the rumor that Luther made this fairly inflammatory accusation. The question is simple. Is there any solid proof that Luther really thought ...
1
vote
0answers
202 views
What's the pope's justification today? [closed]
I heard in college that the first popes basically used this to claim power over the christian world:
The Donatio Constantini, which proved to be a falsification in the early Renaissance. It was ...
