I. Group Profile
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Name:
Roman Catholicism
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The Founding:
The apostles of Jesus Christ formed the beginnings of the Christian Church. They
helped spread the Gospel and provided structure for the early Church. It is hard to
differentiate the beginnings of the Roman Catholic church from that of the early
Christian church.
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The apostle, Peter, also known as Simon, was of central importance. The Church
was organized and presided over by Peter. According to the Scriptures, Matthew 16:13-
19, Christ said to Peter: "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build
my church."
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In 313, the Roman Catholic Church was legally recognized by the Roman Emperor
Constantine, and, in 380 it became the official religion of the Roman Empire.
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Sacred or Revered Texts:
The Bible.
Different from the Protestant Bible, the Roman Catholic Bible contains the
Apocrypha. The Apocrypha consists of books contained in the Greek Old Testament
(Septuagint), but not included in the Hebrew Scriptures.
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In addition, many
theological writings
are included in the church doctrine. These include the writings of people such as
Thomas Aquinas.
5
The
Canon Law
is a collection of rules and regulations that form the basic law of the Roman
Catholic Church.
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Size of Group:
Today, Roman Catholics make up the largest branch of Christianity. There are over one
billion followers of Roman Catholicism worldwide.
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A large number of these followers live in Central and Southern Europe, Latin
America, and Ireland.
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See
http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_romcath.html
for a list of the largest Catholic communities in the United States and worldwide.
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World Religion
:
Roman Catholicism is a world religion. According to Huston Smith, "Every religion
mixes universal principles with local peculiarities. The former, when lifted out and
made clear, speak to what is generically human in us all. The latter, rich compounds of
rites and legends, are not easy for outsiders to comprehend." In studying world
religions, we benefitand grow from being able to see the world through different
perspectives.
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Cult or Sect
:
Negative sentiments are typically implied when the concepts "cult" and "sect" are
employed in popular discourse. Since the Religious Movements Homepage seeks to promote
religious tolerance and appreciation of the positive benefits of pluralism and religious
diversity in human cultures, we encourage the use of alternative concepts that do not
carry implicit negative stereotypes. For a more detailed discussion of both scholarly
and popular usage of the concepts "cult" and "sect," please visit our
Conceptualizing
"Cult" and "Sect"
page, where you will find additional links to related issues.
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Profile
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History
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Beliefs
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Bibliography
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References
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II. History
After the Church became the Roman Empire's official religion in 380, it remained united
until 1054. At this time, the Eastern Orthodox Church separated from the Roman Catholic
Church, which from that point on would be identified as the western Church.
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There were many reasons for the schism, but the major issue concerned the Pope's
claim of primacy.
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The next schism that occurred in the Roman Catholic Church was in the sixteenth
century, with the Protestant Reformation.
12
Roman Catholics, however, "regard the [Roman Catholic] Church under the successor
of Peter as the one, universal Church; other Christians are held to be 'in a certain,
although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church.'"
13
Said differently, "for Roman Catholicism . . . the Catholic church and the
Catholic tradition are normative for other Christian churches and traditions."
14
The Roman Catholic Church has held three councils since the Reformation -- the Council
of Trent (1545-1563), the Vatican I Council (1869-1870), and the Vatican II Council
(1962-1965). These three councils, in addition to the pope, defined the Church's
beliefs.
The Council of Trent began the Counter-Reformation and differentiated between the doctrines of
the Roman Catholic Church from those of the Reformers.
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Trent "articulated Catholic doctrine on nature and grace . . . defined the seven
sacraments, created the Index of Forbidden Books, and established seminaries for the
education and formation of future priests."
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The next council, Vatican I, asserted the infallibility and primacy of the pope,
declaring that the "infallible teachings of the people are irreformable, that is, not
subject to the consent of any higher ecclesiastical body or authority."
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And finally, Vatican II brought forth "drastic changes, such as the use of the
vernacular in the church, greater participation of the laity in worship, and a new
ecumenical spirit of cooperation with Protestantism and Eastern Orthodoxy."
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III. Organization and Structure
The Roman Catholic Church is organized as an authoritative hierarchy. At the head of
the Roman Catholic Church is the Pope, who is said to be a successor of Peter. The Pope
resides in Rome at the Vatican. The current Pope, John Paul II, is the 265th successor.
For a chronological list of all of the popes see
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12272b.htm
.
17
Authority in the Roman Catholic Church is described as apostolic, "'because she
is founded on the apostles,' and 'continues to be taught, sanctified, and guided by the
apostles . . . through their successors.'"
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When a pope dies, the College of Cardinals elect his successor. Cardinals are
appointed by the Pope and make up the advisory board of the church.
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The Church is divided into Dioceses, which are the "fundamental unit[s] of
organization in the Roman Catholic Church," and are each headed by a bishop named by the
Pope.
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The bishops' duties include administering the sacraments of Holy Orders and
Confirmation and controlling his assigned diocese. Archdioceses are similar to
dioceses, without the special jurisdiction of nearby bishops. Each of the dioceses are
divided into Parishes which are headed by a priest.
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IV. Beliefs and Practices
A summary of the basic beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church can be found by reading
the Nicene Creed, as follows:
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that
is seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only son of God, eternally begotten of the
Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one
in Being with the Father. Throughhim all things were made. For us men and our
salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the
Virgin Mary, and became a man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;he
suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the
Scriptures; he ascended intoheaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He
will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no
end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the
Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has
spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for
the forgiveness of sins.We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the
world to come. Amen.
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In addition to the beliefs specific to the Roman Catholic Church, Roman Catholics
believe in many basic Christian traditions, including the Trinity of God. As spoken in
the Nicene Creed, the trinity consists of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
Moreover, Roman Catholicism is based on the idea of faith, "what moves us to believe is
not the fact that revealed truths appear as true and intelligible in the light of our
natural reason: we believe 'because of the authority of God himself who reveals them,
who can neither deceive nor be deceived.'"
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The beliefs of Roman Catholics are defined by the Pope, who, when he speaks on
these beliefs and morals, is considered infallible. Official church doctrines emanating
from the teaching of the Pope are called
encyclicals.
Roman Catholicism states that because of original sin, man is inherently sinful and
needs to be saved. This original sin is described in the story of Adam and Eve in the
Book of Genesis. Jesus Christ died on the cross as atonement for Adam's failure and
assures Roman Catholics eternal life with God in Heaven. Salvation may only be achieved
through God's grace; the Sacraments are a means by which to sustain that grace.
27
The seven Sacraments are: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of
the Sick, Holy Orders, and Marriage. The Eucharist, also referred to as the Holy Mass,
is the center of the Church's life. During mass, Catholics believe that the bread and
wine that they consume has been changed into the body and blood of Christ. The Mass is the
center of Catholic worship.
28
Easter and Christmas are the two most important high holy days celebrated by the Roman
Catholic Church. Easter celebrates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and
Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Roman Catholicism also recognizes
holy days celebrating the Saints, especially Mary, the Virgin mother of Jesus Christ.
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V. Links to Roman Catholic Web Sites
Official Website
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The Vatican
The official website of the Roman Catholic Church. Available in six languages.
http://www.vatican.va
Guides to Internet Resources
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Wabash
Center
Website with a variety of electronic resources about theology and religion. Includes:
teaching resources, electronic texts, electronic journals, websites, bibliographies, and
discussion groups. Hosted by Wabash University.
http://www.wabashcenter.wabash.edu/Internet/catholic.htm
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New Advent
Website with resources to learn more about the Catholic Faith. Includes an electronic
Catholic encyclopedia, daily news, and other related links.
http://www.newadvent.org/
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Roman Catholic Resources
This site is maintained by the Graduate Theological Union library and includes links
to Official Church sites, Church documents, Liturgical & Devotional resources,
Catechetical works, and other links of interest.
http://www.gtu.edu/library/LibRC.html
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Catholic Files
American University's links to Roman Catholic Resources and information on orders,
news, etc. . .
http://listserv.american.edu/catholic
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The Catholic Goldmine
Provides links to Catholic news & information, Apologetics, Prayers & Devotions, and
groups. Maintained by Christopher J. Miller.
http://www.catholicgoldmine.com
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Catholic
Resources on the Net
Maintained by John Ockerbloom at Carnegie Mellon University. Topics include: Liturgy
& Worship, Teaching, Culture, People, and Organizations.
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/Web/People/spok/catholic.html
Links for Reference Materials
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The Catholic Encyclopedia
The electronic version of a reference work that is designed "to give its readers full
and authoritative information on the entire cycle of Catholic interests, action, and
doctrine."
http://newadvent.org/cathen
Information and News Links
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Catholic Online
This comprehensive site provides news, shopping, a bookstore, community interaction,
and a search option.
http://www.catholic.org
Links for Documents and Texts
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Documents
of the Roman Catholic Church
Hosted by American University, this site contains documents about the Roman Catholic
Church. Some of these are: The Documents of the Council of Trent, Vatican Statements,
etc...
http://listserv.american.edu/catholic/church/church.html
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Documents of Vatican
II
Documents from this important council of the Roman Catholic Church.
http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/v1.html
Bibliographic Links
Anti-Catholicism Links
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Anti-Catholicism on the Net
Maintained by David Cruz-Uribe, this site is "dedicated to identifying anti-
catholicism on the net."
http://www2.trincoll.edu/~dcruzuri/anti-catholic/anti-catholic.html
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Chick Publications
Jack Chick is a major figure in anti-catholicism in the United States and provides
literature on this subject.
http://www.chick.com/
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VI. Bibliography
General Books and References on Religion
- Bowker, John. ed. 1997.
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The Oxford Dictionary of World Religions.
New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 821-823.
- Eliade, Mircea, ed. 1987.
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The Encyclopedia of Religion. (vol.12).
New York: MacMillan Publishing Company. pp. 429-445.
- Hinnells, John R, ed. 1995.
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A New Dictionary of Religions.
Massachusets: Blackwell Publishers Inc. pp. 429-430.
- Levinson, David. 1996.
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Religion: A Cross-Cultural Encyclopedia.
New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 194-200.
Catholic Encyclopedias and Dictionaries
- Collinge, William J. 1997.
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Historical Dictionary of Catholicism.
Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.
- Glazier, Michael and Monica Hellwig, eds. 1994.
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The Modern Catholic Encyclopedia.
Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press.
- McBrien, Richard P., ed. 1995.
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The HarperCollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism.
San Francisco: Harper SanFrancisco.
Books on American Catholicism
- Carey, Patrick W. 1996.
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The Roman Catholics in America.
Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.
- Ellis, John Tracy. 1969.
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American Catholicism.
Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
- Faherty, William B. 1991.
American Catholic Heritage: Stories of Growth.
Franklin, WI: Sheed & Ward.
- Froehle, Bryan T., and Mary L. Gautier, 2000.
- Catholicism USA: A Portrait of the Catholic Church in the United States. Maryknoll, NY:
Orbis Books.
- Gillis, Chester. 1999.
- Roman Catholicism in America. New York: Columbia University Press.
- Hennesey, James J. 1981.
- American Catholics: A History of the Roman Catholic Community in the United States.
New York: Oxford University Press.
Books With Different Perspectives on Roman Catholicism
- Boettner, Lorraine. 1985.
- Roman Catholicism.
Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Pub. Co.
- Carson, Herbert M. 1996.
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The Faith of the Vatican: A Fresh Look at Roman Catholicism.
Durham: Evangelical Press.
- Jones, Rick. 1995.
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Understanding Roman Catholicism: 37 Roman Catholic Doctrines Explained.
- Ontario, CA: Chick Publications, Incorporated.
- Lockwood, Robert P., ed. 2000.
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Anti-Catholicism in American Culture.
Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing.
- Schrotenboer, Paul G., ed. 1987.
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Roman Catholicism: A Contemporary Evangelical Perspective.
Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.
Other Books on Catholicism
- Ankerberg, John & John Welden. 1993.
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The Facts on Roman Catholicism.
Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers.
- Brown, Raymond E. 1983.
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Antioch & Rome: New Testament Cradles of Catholic Christianity.
Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press.
- Bullough, Sebastian. 1963.
- Roman Catholicism. Baltimore: Penguin Books.
- Burns, Robert A. 2001.
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Roman Catholicism after Vatican II.
Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press.
- Burns, Robert A. 1992.
- Roman Catholicism Yesterday and Today.
Chicago: Loyola University.
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Catechism of the Catholic Church.
1994. New York: Doubleday.
- Coleman, Lisa M., et al. 2000.
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Basics of the Catholic Faith.
Mystic, CT: Twenty-Third Publications/Bayard.
- Cunningham, L.S. 1983.
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The Catholic Heritage.
New York: Crossroad Publishing Company.
- Flannery, Austin, ed. 1996.
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Documents of the Vatican Council.
Northport, NY: Costello Publishing Co., Inc.
- Flannery, Austin, ed. 1975.
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Documents of Vatican II.
Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing.
- McBrien, Richard P. 1994.
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Catholicism.
San Francisco: Harper SanFrancisco.
- Minnich, N.H., et al., ed. 1985.
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Studies in Catholic History: In Honor of John Tracy Ellis.
Wilmington, DE: Michael Glazier.
- Reese, Thomas J. 1996.
- Inside the Vatican: The Politics and Organization of the Catholic Church.
- Raab, Kelley A. 2000.
- When Women Become Priests: The Catholic Women's Ordination Debate. New York: Columbia University Press. 313 pp.
- Ruether, Rosemary. 1987.
- Contemporary Roman Catholicism: Crises and Challenges. Kansas City: Sheed & Ward.
- Smith, Huston. 1991.
- The World's Religions: Our Greatest Wisdom Traditions. SanFrancisco: HarperSanFrancisco. pp. 347-360.
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VI. References
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Levinson, David. 1996. "Roman Catholicism."
Religion: A Cross-Cultural Encyclopedia.
New York: Oxford University Press. p. 195.
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Smith, Huston. 1991.
The World's Religions: Our Great Wisdom Traditions.
San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco.
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Pelikan, Jaroslav. Jan. 2000. "Roman Catholicism, history of." Britannica.com.
Available at
http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/4/0,5716,117864+1+109699,00.html?kw=roman%20ca
tholicism%20history%20of
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Farneman, William S. 1996.
Roman Catholicism Working Toward an Objective Understanding.
Dallas: Bible Studies Press. Available at
http://www.bible.org/docs/theology/eccles/romanca/romca-03.htm
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Levinson, p. 199.
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Ibid.
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Catholic Net in the World, since 1996.
Available at
http://www.catholicservices.net/ (13 December 2000)
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Adherents.com.
Available at
http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_romcath.html (13 December 2000)
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Ibid., p. 3.
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Ibid.
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Levinson, p. 195.
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Smith, p. 347.
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Bowker, John, ed. 1997. "Roman Catholic Church."
The Oxford Dictionary of World Religions.
New York: Oxford University Press. p. 821.
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McBrien, Richard P. 1987. "Roman Catholicism." Pp. 429-445 in
The Encyclopedia of Religion,
vol. 12, edited by Mircea Eliade. New York: McMillan Publishing Company.
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Bowker, p. 822.
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McBrien, p. 433.
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"The List of Popes."
Catholic Encyclopedia.
Available at
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12272b.htm
.
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Levinson, p. 198.
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Giguere, Pastor Gene. "Roman Catholicism: Beliefs and Pagan Origins (CP101)."
Available at
http://www.harvestcommunity.net/notescp01.htm
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Farneman, p. 8.
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Levinson, p. 198.
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O'Malley, John W., Ph.D. 2000. "Roman Catholic Church." Microsoft Encarta Online
Encyclopedia 2000.
http://encarta.msn.com
(20 Nov. 2000)
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Levinson, p. 199.
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Catechism of the Catholic Church.
1994. New York: Doubleday. p. 56-57.
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Ibid., p. 48.
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Levinson, pp. 198-199.
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Ibid., p. 200.
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Ibid.
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Created by
Nicola R. Pilz
For Soc 257: New Religious Movements
Fall Term, 2000
University of Virginia
Last modified: 12/28/01