What is "catholic church"

Church \Church\ (ch[^u]rch), n. [OE. chirche, chireche, cherche, Scot. kirk, from AS. circe, cyrice; akin to D. kerk, Icel. kirkja, Sw. kyrka, Dan. kirke, G. kirche, OHG. chirihha; all fr. Gr. kyriako`n the Lord's house, fr. kyriako`s concerning a master or lord, fr. ky`rios master, lord, fr. ky^ros power, might; akin to Skr. [,c][=u]ra hero, Zend. [,c]ura strong, OIr. caur, cur, hero. Cf. Kirk.]

1. A building set apart for Christian worship.

2. A Jewish or heathen temple. [Obs.]
   --Acts xix. 37.

3. A formally organized body of Christian believers worshiping together. ``When they had ordained them elders in every church.''
   --Acts xiv. 23.

4. A body of Christian believers, holding the same creed, observing the same rites, and acknowledging the same ecclesiastical authority; a denomination; as, the Roman Catholic church; the Presbyterian church.

5. The collective body of Christians.

6. Any body of worshipers; as, the Jewish church; the church of Brahm.

7. The aggregate of religious influences in a community; ecclesiastical influence, authority, etc.; as, to array the power of the church against some moral evil.

   Remember that both church and state are properly the rulers of the people, only because they are their benefactors.
   --Bulwer.

   Note: Church is often used in composition to denote something belonging or relating to the church; as, church authority; church history; church member; church music, etc.

   Apostolic church. See under Apostolic.

   Broad church. See Broad Church.

   Catholic church or Universal church, the whole body of believers in Christ throughout the world.

   Church of England, or English church, the Episcopal church established and endowed in England by law.

   Church living, a benefice in an established church.

   Church militant. See under Militant.

   Church owl (Zo["o]l.), the white owl. See Barn owl.

   Church rate, a tax levied on parishioners for the maintenance of the church and its services.

   Church session. See under Session.

   Church triumphant. See under Triumphant.

   Church work, work on, or in behalf of, a church; the work of a particular church for the spread of religion.

   Established church, the church maintained by the civil authority; a state church.

The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the church in communion with the Bishop of Rome (the Pope), the largest Christian church in the world.

Catholic Church, Catholic church, catholic Church and catholic church may also refer to:

• Any of 24 autonomous particular churches (1 Western/Latin, 23 Eastern) within the Catholic Church
• The Christian Church in general (the "Catholic Church", "catholic Church", "Church Catholic" or "Church catholic")
• Any church claiming the apostolic origins and historical traditions of Catholicism. These are not in full communion with the Bishop of Rome.
  • The Eastern Orthodox Churches
  • The Anglican Communion
  • The Independent Catholic Churches
  • The American Catholic Church in the United States
  • The Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church
  • The Antiochian Catholic Church in America
  • The Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church
  • The Christ Catholic Church
  • The Ecumenical Catholic Church
  • The Evangelical Catholic Church
  • The Liberal Catholic Church
  • The National Catholic Church of America
  • The Old Catholic Church
  • The Old Roman Catholic Church in North America
  • The Orthodox-Catholic Church of America
  • The Polish National Catholic Church

The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church , is the largest Christian church, with more than 1.27 billion members. As one of the oldest religious institutions in the world, it has played a prominent role in the history of Western civilisation. Headed by the Bishop of Rome, known as the pope,

its doctrines are summarised in the Nicene Creed. The Catholic Church is notable within Western Christianity for its sacred tradition and seven sacraments.

The Catholic Church teaches that it is the one true church founded by Jesus Christ, that its bishops are the successors of Christ's apostles, and that the pope is the successor to Saint Peter. The Catholic Church maintains that the doctrine on faith and morals that it declares as definitive is infallible. The Latin Church, the Eastern Catholic Churches and institutes such as the Jesuits, mendicant orders and enclosed monastic orders, reflect a variety of theological emphases in the Church.

Of the seven sacraments, the principal one is the Eucharist, celebrated liturgically in the Mass. The church teaches that through consecration by a priest the sacrificial bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ. The Catholic Church practises closed communion, with only baptised members in a state of grace ordinarily permitted to receive the Eucharist.

Mary is venerated in the Catholic Church as Queen of Heaven and honoured in numerous Marian devotions. The Catholic Church has defined four Marian dogmas: the Immaculate Conception, the dogma that Mary was conceived without original sin; her status, as the mother of Jesus, of Mother of God; her perpetual virginity; and her bodily assumption into Heaven at the end of her earthly life.

Catholic spiritual teaching includes spreading the Gospel while Catholic social teaching emphasises support for the sick, the poor and the afflicted through the corporal works of mercy. The Catholic Church is the largest non-government provider of education and medical services in the world.

From the late 20th century, the Catholic Church has been criticised for its doctrines on sexuality, its refusal to ordain women and its handling of sexual abuse cases.