Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church is a church that claims to have Apostolic succession with its popes (see the current office holder, The Pope). In 1054, the churches now known as the Roman Catholic (with the bishop of Rome, being the Pope) and the Eastern Orthodox church (which consists of a plurality of different bishops), split in 1046 in what is known as the “Great Schism”.

The Roman Catholic church over time began introducing traditions, such as the veneration of Mary (and other saints), having priests (as distinguished from laity, which violates the priesthood of all believers), the concept of purgatory, and the selling of indulgences. During the middle ages, different individuals or groups began comparing the official teachings and the practices of the church with that of the Scriptures, and began translating the Word of God into other common languages. The Roman church barred the translating of God’s Word, only allowing it to be in the Latin Vulgate and be taught from a priest (and not able to be read directly). Most notably, on October 31, 1517, German monk Martin Luther nailed the 95 theses (different points of debate) to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. This event was the first of a series events that led to political and religious changes in Europe, what is now known as the Protestant Reformation.

The Roman church denies the doctrine of the Five Solaes (salvation being by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone, according to the Scriptures alone, all for the glory of God alone). Between 1545 and 1563, theRoman Catholic church held the Council of Trent, which declared anathemas against doctrines it deemed heretical, most notably those associated with the Protestant Reformation, such as justification by faith alone. The church also engaged in the persecution of Christian believers, along with pro-Catholic rulers of various states, resulting in the execution or warfare against Christians.

References:

• https://carm.org/roman-catholicism
• https://www.gotquestions.org/catholicism.html