Traditions 

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One beliefs that makes Catholics different from other Christians is the importance of the Church. The Church is not a human organisation, but the People of God � chosen and guided by God. No Christian is an individual alone. Christians must gather together to worship God and to pass on their faith. Jesus said "where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them". (Matthew 18:20)

Jesus prayed that his followers should be one, as he is one with his Father. All Christians are united by Baptism. The Catholic Church believes itself to be the fullness of the One Church � unity of all Catholics under the Pope is important. However, some Christians are not part of the Catholic Church (e.g. Anglicans, Methodists) so it is important to pray and work for Christian unity.

The Church is Holy not because its members are good, but because it is made by God. The Church is called �the body of Christ� and it is Christ who makes it holy. The Holy Spirit is said to live in the Church. Church members are holy because they are chosen by God and God will forgive them if they do wrong. The sacraments are not just religious ceremonies, but the Spirit acting through people and things.

Catholic means two things: Universal and Whole. The Church is universal because it is spread all over the world, and includes all different kinds of people. The Catholic Church is not a national church. Neither is it a Church for the young only or old only or rich only or the poor only. It is for everyone. The Church is whole because it holds the Christian faith in its fullness � not leaving bits out that are uncomfortable or difficult.

Apostolic means �from the apostles�, who were sent to preach the Good News about Jesus. The Church is descended from the apostles, and the faith has been handed down from generation to generation. The Bishops of the Church take the place of the apostles today, and are historically descended from them (this is called the apostolic succession). The Pope is the chief bishop today, and is said to be the successor of St Peter, who was the chief apostle.

In 1 Corinthians 12, St Paul describes the Church as being �the Body of Christ� with Christ as the Head and the people as its members. Everyone has a role to play in the Church, though each role is different. The Church is a holy body, and is doing the work of Christ today. The term �Body of Christ� also reminds Catholics of the Mass, which is the most important act of worship in the Church, and the physical body of Jesus, which died and rose from the dead.

�Saint� means �holy person�, so in a way every Christian, every member of the Church, is a saint. Communion means that all Christians � living and dead � are in one fellowship together. The letter to the Hebrews describes the Christian life like a race, being cheered on by �a great cloud of witnesses�. This includes the Church in heaven as well as the Church on earth. Saints in heaven �cheer us on� by praying for the saints (christians) on earth.

The leadership of the Church is organised in three �orders�.

A bishop is usually in charge of an area called a Diocese, which contains many parishes. In England a Diocese covers two or three counties, on average. The bishop ordains and appoints priests, takes confirmations, and is generally in charge of the Diocese.

A priest is ordained by the bishop. Most priests are in charge of parishes, but some are chaplains or have other jobs. Priests can say mass, take confession, the sacrament of the sick, marriages, baptisms, funerals. He has many responsibilities in his parish, and is in overall charge of running the parish.

A deacon is also ordained by the bishop. At one time, men served as deacons for only a short time before being ordained priest, but nowadays there are also permanent deacons. Deacons assist the bishop and the priest at mass. They can baptise and conduct weddings and funerals, but cannot say mass or hear confessions. Some deacons have been put in charge of parishes.

Everyone ordained priest must already be a deacon, and everyone ordained bishop must already be a priest.

By long tradition, perhaps to the days of the apostles, Catholic bishops, priests and deacons are not allowed to marry. However married men can be ordained deacon, and in a few fairly rare cases, permission can be given for married men to be ordained priest. Most priests, however, have to make a commitment to celibacy before they are ordained, that is, they promise never to marry.

The reasons for this include: a priest is married to his parish, so can devote himself to caring for people; he can be sent anywhere by the bishop at very short notice; he can work in very rough or difficult areas without having to worry about children�s schools or his wife�s job; he can live on a very low income; he is not free to marry or have relationships, so he can be impartial with people in the parish.

Reasons against include: priests get lonely and may suffer from depression; many good priests have left the priesthood to get married; many more people would come forward for ordination if they could be married; it is not natural to forbid someone from marrying; married men might have a better understanding of people�s problems.

Only men can be ordained to holy orders. In other Christians bodies (e.g. Church of England) there are women ministers. Women have always been able to become nuns or religious sisters in the Catholic Church, and some have a lot of responsibility, but they cannot be priests.

Reasons in favour of this teaching are: it is a tradition that goes back to the very first Christians � there have never been women priests or bishops; Jesus had many women followers, but chose 12 apostles who were all men; a priest represents Christ (a man) when he stands at the altar.

Reasons in favour of ordaining women include: other traditions have changed; this rule is sexist, it keeps women out of the leadership of the Church; a woman can just as easily represent Jesus; women would bring a lot to the priesthood; some people might prefer to speak confidentially to a woman.

A lay person is a catholic who is not a bishop, priest or deacon nor a member of a holy order (monk or nun). The vast majoirity of Catholics (more than 90%) are lay people.

Lay people do many things because of their commitment to the Church. In Church they do jobs like read at mass, or be Eucharistic Minister, or serve at the altar; outside of church they can do many other things: by helping people, giving to charity, praying, living a good life and trying to bring up their children in the faith. Traditionally there are seven �corporal works of mercy� which Christians can do: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, give shelter to the homeless, visit the sick, visit those in prison and bury the dead.

The Bible is a collection of books which make up the Christian holy writings or Scriptures. It is in two main parts: the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament is the Bible of the Jewish people and contains Laws, History, Prophecy and Poetry. The New Testament is about Jesus and the first Christians and contains the Gospels (Jesus�s life and teaching), and letters written by the first Christians.

Christians use the Bible in private prayer and study, for help and guidance, and in worship. Although it was written many centuries ago, they believe it has wisdom for every age. Every act of worship contains readings from the Bible � usually a Gospel � and at Mass there is a reading from the Old Testament, the New Testament and the Gospel.

Christians believe that the Bible is the Word of God, but it still needs to be interpreted by people. The Catholic Church teaches that this interpretation has to be done with other Christians, in the Church. Other Christians believe that individuals can understand Scripture for themselves. Some of these Christians are fundamentalists or literalists � they believe that the Bible is always historically true, just as it is written. Other non-Catholic Christians are liberals. They believe that much of the Bible is symbolic or mythical, but still has religious truth. Others take a conservative view that although the Bible is generally reliable, some of its religious truth is in the form of poetry or imaginative writing. The Catholic Church is generally conservative in its approach to Scripture.

The Catholic Church believes it has a duty from God to teach the Faith. This is done in two ways.

1. Teaching to preserve Unity. Shared Christian belief holds Christians together in Unity. There can be, and often are, differences of belief and opinion amongst Catholics, but if those differences threaten the unity of the Church, then the Church has to make a ruling to say who is right and wrong.
2. Teaching to hand on the tradition. The Church also has to explain and apply the teaching of earlier ages. The Church hands on the faith from age to age.

The teaching role of the Church is known as the Magisterium (from the Latin word for teacher). The Bishop is the chief teacher in his diocese, and the Pope is the chief teacher of the Church. When necessary, the Pope can speak on behalf of the whole Church.

Because the Church is given its role by God, when it teaches in a definitive (definite, clear and public) way, God protects it from serious error. This is called infallibility. Infallibility does not mean that the Church never makes mistakes. What it does mean is that God never lets its mistakes completely remove its role as teacher.

Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is a very important figure for Catholics. The Church teaches that she was chosen by God from the first moment of her existence to be Mother of Jesus, and so protected from sin. This is called the Immaculate Conception. They believe that at the end of her life on earth, she was taken up into heaven to be with Jesus. This is called the Assumption.

Mary is the most important human being because she gave birth to and raised Jesus. She rarely appears in the New Testament, but when she does they are important moments: she stands at the foot of the cross, and is praying with the apostles on the day of Pentecost.

Catholics do not worship Mary, but they do ask her to pray for them. Many traditional forms of prayer involve Mary � for example the Rosary. Catholics believe that as she was so close to Jesus in life, so in heaven her prayers have special effect. For this reason she is called by many titles, but especially Mother of the Church.

Matthew 18:20 When people get together in Jesus� name, he is with them.

John 17:21 Jesus prays that his followers should be one

1 Corinithans 12:12-30 One Body, many parts

Matthew 25:31-46 The works of mercy

John 19:25-27 Jesus gives his mother to the Church

Hebrews 12:1 A cloud of witnesses - Communion of Saints

The Church: 751-752; The Four Marks of the Church: 811-865; Body of Christ: 787-795; Communion of Saints: 946-947; Holy Orders: 1554-1571;Ordination of Women: 1577; Celibacy:1579; Laity: 897-900; The Bible: 101-133; The Teaching Office of the Church: 888-892; Mary: 963-972

Communion of Saints: That all the baptised those present, absent living or dead are joined together and can help each other through their prayers.

Laity: Members of the church who are not ordained deacons, priests or bishops and who are not monks or nuns.

Ordination: Sacrament by which a man is made a priest.

Celibacy: Remaining unmarried so as to be able to serve the church.

Magisterium: The teaching office of the Church. The Pope and the bishops interpret the Bible and tradition for Christians today.

Assumption: The belief that the Virgin Mary was taken up to heaven body and soul to be with God.