The National Catholic Church of America
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Roman Catholic Church |
Leadership:
Governed by an elected Bishop-Primate. The Bishop of Rome (the Pope) is honored as first among
equals of the world’s bishops, but not accorded universal jurisdiction. Papal Infallibility
is rejected in favor of the more scriptural idea of the indefectibility of the Church, as a whole.
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Leadership:
Governed by the Bishop of Rome (the Pope). He has universal jurisdiction and is
ascribed personal infallibility when speaking ex cathedra on matters of faith and morals.
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The Creeds: The Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed are accepted as
statements of core beliefs.
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The Creeds: The Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed are accepted as
statements of core beliefs.
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Scripture: The Holy Bible, consisting of 72
canonically recognized books, is seen as the inspired “Word of
God”, which needs to be interpreted in order to be properly
understood. Supports on-going scripture scholarship.
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Scripture: The Holy Bible, consisting of 72
canonically recognized books,
is seen as the inspired “Word of
God”, which needs to be
interpreted in order to be properly
understood. Supports on-going
scripture scholarship.
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The Sacraments: Seven in number,
instituted by Christ, to give
grace.
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The Sacraments: Seven in number,
instituted by Christ, to give
grace.
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Church Councils: Recognizes doctrinal
authority of First Seven
Ecumenical Councils of
the Undivided Church.
Accepts teachings of all
councils which are not
contrary to Scripture or
Tradition.
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Church Councils: Recognizes doctrinal
authority of 21 Church
councils. Many of Vatican
II decrees (as well as other
councils) have been
modified by subsequent
documents.
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Clergy: Bishops, priests and deacons (male
& female) ordained within valid
apostolic lines. Optional celibacy.
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Clergy: Bishops, priests and deacons (male
only) ordained within valid apostolic
lines. Celibacy required for Latin
Rite priests and bishops.
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Marriage: Permanent and indissoluble,
although marriage can “fail”
spiritually. Follows Orthodox
practice of permitting two
subsequent marriages for those
with civil divorces. Has
annulment process. Marriage
limited to union of two people,
without regard to gender.
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Marriage: Permanent and indissoluble,
although many valid marriages
have been dissolved by papal
decree. Has annulment tribunal.
Marriage limited to union of
one man and one woman.
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Holy Eucharist:
Believe that during the Mass, through the
action of the priest and by the power of the
Holy Spirit, bread and wine are changed, in
their substance, into the Body, Blood, Soul
and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. This
sacrament is the symbol and source of
Christian Unity. Reception offered to
baptized Christians and is not denied to the
divorced and remarried.
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Holy Eucharist:
Believe that during the Mass, through the
action of the priest and by the power of the
Holy Spirit, bread and wine are changed, in
their substance, into the Body, Blood, Soul
and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. This
sacrament is the symbol of
Christian Unity.
Reception limited to Roman Catholics, with some
exceptions. Usually denied to divorced and
remarried.
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Mary: The Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother
of God, is held in special reverence
because of her unique role in
salvation history and her heroic
degree of obedience to the Divine
Will. While the Marian feasts of the
Assumption and the Immaculate
Conception are observed by the
Church, belief in these doctrines is
not considered binding upon the
faithful.
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Mary: The Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother
of God, is held in special reverence
because of her unique role in
salvation history and her heroic
degree of obedience to the Divine
Will. The Marian feasts of the
Assumption and the Immaculate
Conception are observed by the
Church and belief in them is
considered binding upon the
faithful.
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Saints: All those enjoying eternal life in the
presence of God are saints. In
addition to those saints informally
acclaimed as such throughout
history, there are also those saints
formally declared (canonized) by
competent Church authority, and
who are commemmorated in the
Church’s Liturgical Calendar.
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Saints: All those enjoying eternal life in the
presence of God are saints. In
addition to those saints informally
acclaimed as such throughout
history, there are also those saints
formally declared (canonized) by
competent Church authority, and
who are commemmorated in the
Church’s Liturgical Calendar.
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Penance: The Sacrament of Reconciliation
(Penance) is administered by a
bishop or priest having faculties to
do so. Auricular confession of
specific sins is encouraged but
not required. General Absolution
is usually administered at the
beginning of all Sunday
celebrations of the Holy
Eucharist (Mass) as part of the
Penitential Rite.
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Penance: The Sacrament of Reconciliation
(Penance) is administered by a
bishop or priest having faculties to
do so. Auricular confession of
specific sins is normally required.
The use of General Absolution is
highly restricted.
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Anointing: This sacrament of healing is
administered by a bishop or priest
in case of any serious illness
(physical, mental or spiritual), at
any time, not only when in
danger of death. In the absence
of a priest, a deacon may provide a non-sacramental anointing.
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Anointing: This sacrament of healing is
administered by a bishop or
priest in case of any serious
illness (physical, mental or
spiritual), at any time, not only
when in danger of death.
Deacons may not anoint.
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Parishes: While parishes are established by,
and operate under the authority
of, The Primate, parish property is
locally owned (either by
parishioners or clergy, or both).
Parishes are required to be
financially self-supporting and to
support the work of the Church
according to their means.
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Parishes: Parish property is owned either
by the diocese or by the diocesan
bishop (Ordinary) on behalf of
the diocese. Parish property may
be sold, or otherwise disposed of,
at the bishop’s discretion.
Poorer parishes often receive aid
from the diocese. Most parishes
pay an annual assessment to the
diocese.
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