History and Beliefs

The Catholic Church is the oldest institution in the Western World - it can trace its history back almost 2000 years. Christianity and Catholicism were once one and the same thing, but the breakaway of first the Orthodox Church in the 11th century and later the Protestant Churches in the 16th Century mean that now it is one of a number of Christian churches in the world.

Today there are almost two billion Catholics across the world, and almost five million of these are in the UK, despite the religious persecution that they suffered after Henry VIII's Reformation of the Church in England.

Catholics attend weekly mass, and are required to attend communion and confession at least during the Easter period, but preferably weekly.

It's ordained ministers are required to be celibate, and only males can enter the priesthood, although women may become nuns. There is a hierarchical structure of clergy (bishops, arch-bishops and cardinals) that leads in a pyramid to the Pope at the top.

As well as following the Bible as the only holy book, the Catholic church has some additional doctrines that are an important part of the faith and which set it apart from other Christian churches. They have a special devotion to the Christ's mother Mary, and they devoutly believe in the virgin birth. They believe that Mary was raised to heaven in body and soul and now occupies a special place in Heaven between God and the Catholic people. Catholics also believe in transubstantiation - that is the belief that during communion the bread and wine become Christ's body and blood, although no outward change in their appearance happens. The Catholic church has a strong stance against any form of contraception as it believes this is contrary to the sacred purpose of sex. It also condemns the practice of abortion, as it believes that life begins at conception.  The church is also strongly opposed to the practice of homosexuality.

Another unique aspect of the Catholic church is its celebration and innate belief in saints and their powers. This is an important part of the religion, and the Church as a body believes that some miracle cures have been effected at shrines around the world.

The Catholic church has always been a constant campaigner for economic and political equaliy and has often intervened to support oppressed peoples in the world.

Links

You can find out more about Catholicism at the website for the Catholic Church in England and Wales at http://www.catholic-ew.org.uk

Locally

You can locate Pendle Catholic churches in our directory.