ROMAN CATHOLICISM:
in the past it was relatively easy to describe Catholicism.
Twentieth century developments make this a much more complex task. The dogmatic
formulation may be found in the decrees of the COUNCIL OF TRENT, the CREED OF POPE PIUS
IV, the decrees of the VATICAN COUNCILS, Papal utterances claiming INFALLIBILITY, and the
body of Roman Catholic CANON law. Alongside these there are the LITURGY, and the
hierarchically organization of the CHURCH. Roman Catholicism claims that the SACRAMENTS
which are ministered by the CHURCH are channels of GRACE that flow from GOD to the
recipient. There are seven SACRAMENTS: Baptism, Confirmation, the Mass, Holy Orders,
Penance, Matrimony, Extreme Unction. The focal point of traditional Roman Catholic WORSHIP
is the Mass. It is interpreted as TRANSUBSTANTIATION, a DOGMA first promulgated in 1215
asserting that the substance of the bread and wine used in the RITUAL actually become the
body, blood, SOUL and DIVINITY of CHRIST. Confession to PRIESTS has played a key role in
Roman Catholicism which alongside the doctrine of PURGATORY led to the practice of the
SALE of INDULGENCES in the sixteenth century. Another prominent feature is the CULT of
MARY which stems from the mother GODDESS of the Mediterranean world who bore such titles
as "Star of the Sea" and played the role of "Our Lady" of various
cities.
