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To: boatbums
Catholic is a denomination of Christianity

No it is not. Denominations are abhorrent to God who did not want any:

That they all may be one, as thou, Father, in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us (John 17:21)

The Catholic Church is not a denomination. Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians (all 100 of them) are denominations, and they are the ugly product of the so-called Reformation. The Church is simply the One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church that Christ founded.

7,272 posted on 02/28/2011 6:55:43 PM PST by annalex (http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php)
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To: annalex
The Catholic Church is not a denomination.

If what you mean by “denomination” is any ecclesial body that retains a “jurisdiction”, or a semi-autonomy, then you will have to admit that even the Catholic Church is not "one". According to David A. Barrett’s World Christian Encyclopedia: A Comparative Survey of Churches and Religions in the Modern World A.D. 1900—2000 (ed. David A. Barrett; New York: Oxford University Press, 1982), there are seven major ecclesiastical “blocs” under which these 22,190 distinct denominations fall (Barrett, 14-15): (1) Roman Catholicism, which accounts for 223 denominations; (2) Protestant, which accounts for 8,196 denominations; (3) Orthodox, which accounts for 580 denominations; (4) Non-White Indigenous, which accounts for 10,956 denominations; (5) Anglican, which accounts for 240 denominations; (6) Marginal Protestant, which includes Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, New Age groups, and all cults (Barrett, 14), and which accounts for 1,490 denominations; and (7) Catholic (Non-Roman), which accounts for 504 denominations.

The Orthodox have nineteen traditions, while the Roman Catholic has sixteen of which are including Latin-rite local, Latin-rite catholic, Latin/Eastern-rite local, Latin/Eastern-rite catholic, Syro-Malabarese, Ukrainian, Romanian, Maronite, Melkite, Chaldean, Ruthenian, Hungarian, plural Oriental rites, Syro-Malankarese, Slovak, and Coptic.

There are four major groups within Roman Catholicism: (1) Catholic Pentecostals (Roman Catholics involved in the organized Catholic Charismatic Renewal); (2) Christo-Pagans (Latin American Roman Catholics who combine folk-Catholicism with traditional Amerindian paganism); (3) Evangelical Catholics (Roman Catholics who also regard themselves as Evangelicals); and (4) Spiritist Catholics (Roman Catholics who are active in organized high or low spiritism, including syncretistic spirit-possession cults). And of course, we all know that this list can be supplemented by distinctions between moderate Roman Catholics (represented by almost all Roman Catholic scholars), Conservative Roman Catholics (represented by Scott Hahn and most Roman Catholic apologists), Traditionalist Roman Catholics (represented by apologist Gerry Matatics), and Sedevacantist Roman Catholics (those who believe the chair of Peter is currently vacant).

So, I know, Annalex, you probably would love if everyone saw your religion as unified, but in reality, there are divisions and various beliefs among the people who identify as Catholic. The unity that Christ prayed for IS an answered prayer because those who trust in him as their savior are all members of the same spiritual body, the outward labels or signs on doors may be different but there is still unity on the major tenets that make up the Christian faith. Your organization does NOT have dominion over the name Christian. It is Jesus' body and he says who belongs within it.

7,281 posted on 02/28/2011 8:17:41 PM PST by boatbums (God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to him.)
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