BASIC BELIEFS OF
CATHOLICISM
Catholics are, first and foremost, Christians who believe that
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Catholicism shares some beliefs
with other Christian practices, but essential Catholic beliefs
include the following:
The Bible is the inspired, error-free, and revealed word of
God.
Baptism, the rite of becoming a Christian, is necessary for
salvation — whether the Baptism occurs by water, blood,
or desire.
God’s Ten Commandments provide a moral compass — an
ethical standard to live by.
The existence of the Holy Trinity — one God in three
persons. Catholics embrace the belief that God, the one
Supreme Being, is made up of three persons: God the
Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Catholics also believe that since Adam and Eve disobeyed God
in the Garden of Eden, all humans are born with original sin,
which only Baptism removes. A happier belief is in grace, a
totally free, unmerited gift from God. Grace is a sharing in the
divine; the inspiration to do God’s will. Take a look at
these common Catholic prayers.
Catholics recognize the unity of body and soul for each human
being. So the whole religion centers on the truth that humankind
stands between the two worlds of matter and spirit. The physical
world is considered part of God’s creation and is, therefore,
inherently good until an individual misuses it. Catholics also
recognize the ten commandments.
For more on the basics of Catholicism, refer to the Twelve
Articles of Catholic Faith.
Basic Facts
1. Vatican City has the highest crime rate in the world! With a population
around 500 people and a little over one crime per day, the Vatican crime
rate is above 100 percent, per capita. Although the fact is shocking it
should be remembered that the Vatican is about one square mile in size,
and has nearly 20 million visitors annually. Most of the crimes are
pickpockets, purse snatching and other petty offenses done by outsiders.
2. The ONLY Christian church in existence for the first 1,000 years of
Christian history was the Roman Catholic Church. All other Christian
churches which exist today can trace their linage back to the Roman
Catholic Church. Most non-Catholic churches which exist today are less
than a century or two old by comparison.
3. The Catholic Church consists of more than just the Roman Catholic
Church. There are 22 Eastern Rites that are in full communion with Rome
and although they go by different names, they are every bit as much a
part of the Catholic Church.
4. Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press, was Catholic
and the first book ever printed was the Catholic Bible.
5. The Catholic Church is entirely responsible for the composition of the
Bible, which books are included, as well as the breakup of the chapters
and verses. Protestants have removed some books of the Bible because
some of the verses were inconsistent with their theology. Martin Luther was
a prime offender in this regard, removing Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2
Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach and Baruch. He also made an effort to
remove James and Revelations, but this was rejected by his followers and
those two books were kept. Catholics are often accused of "adding" the
books, but despite this common belief, it is false. Older, pre-Protestant,
Catholic translations of the Bible include them.
6. How many saints are recognized by the Catholic Church? There does
not seem to be an official number, but it exceeds 10,000. Of course, any
person who enters heaven is a saint, by definition, so it is certain the
number of actual saints in existence is much greater than the number
recognized by the Church.
7. Any Catholic may perform an emergency baptism, such as if a person
is in grave danger of death. In such a case, the validity of the baptism
only depends upon the wishes of the person being baptized, that they
desire the baptism. There are specific guidelines for such practices that
Catholics should follow. Anyone wishing to be prepared for such a case
should refer to the catechism for a deeper understanding of this
allowance. Generally, such practices ought to be left to trained clergy.
8. About 15 percent of all hospitals in the United States are Catholic
hospitals. In some parts of the world, the Catholic Church provides the
only healthcare, education and social services available to people.
9. The Catholic Church spends more money than Apple brings in.
Expenditures by the Catholic Church, largely on charity, exceeded $170
billion in 2012, according to The Economist magazine. In that same year,
Apple took in $157 billion in revenue.
This is an image of the semi-secret arsenal of weapons available to the Swiss Papal
Guard.
10. The Pope is protected by the Swiss Papal Guard. Wearing uniforms
designed by Michelangelo and commonly armed with halberds, they are
capable of using heavier weapons if needed. Each member is Catholic,
male, and Swiss, and must complete military training in Switzerland. They
must demonstrate good conduct and be at least five-foot-eight in height.
Those who are chosen are granted a private audience with the pope
along with their families. In extreme circumstances, they are expected to
guard the Holy Father with their lives. The Swiss Papal Guard is the oldest
active military unit in continual existence since 1506.
