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You would almost think the Emperor Constantine a historical non-event around here. The sort of thing one might expect on a Roman Catholic website...which is apparently what FR is, just look at the threads. Pope this, and Pope that.

Truth is:
Under Constantine, Christianity was virtually made the state religion of the Roman Empire. the spirit of the Roman Empire entered Christianity: Christianity in the garb of the Roman Empire.

The church was founded, not as an institution of authority to force the name of Christ upon the world, but only as a witness-bearing institution to Christ. Constantine was the historical benchmark that changed all that.

The Church, founded in the days of the Roman Empire, gradually developed a form of government like the political world in which it existed, becoming a vast autocratic organization ruled from the top.

The Roman Catholic Church is not the church, but a political machine that took over the church.

I traveled to the so called “experts” site and I will have to throw out all the encyclopedias that teach otherwise. This site has become a catholic circus, where 1 roundhead posts to another and they all agree on their false postings. The world is in the shape it is and whom is the chief religion in charge in the world? The one that teaches the 9 commanments. What are the fruits of romanism? Look around you, clear as ever.

The Church, founded in the days of the Roman Empire, gradually developed a form of government like the political world in which it existed, becoming a vast autocratic organization ruled from the top.

The CATHOLIC CHURCH

Although it is not widely known in our Western world, the Catholic Church is actually a communion of Churches. According to the Constitution on the Church of the Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium, the Catholic Church is understood to be "a corporate body of Churches," united with the Pope of Rome, who serves as the guardian of unity (LG, no. 23). At present there are 22 Churches that comprise the Catholic Church. The new Code of Canon Law, promulgated by Pope John Paul II, uses the phrase "autonomous ritual Churches" to describe these various Churches (canon 112). Each Church has its own hierarchy, spirituality, and theological perspective. Because of the particularities of history, there is only one Western Catholic Church, while there are 21 Eastern Catholic Churches. The Western Church, known officially as the Latin Church, is the largest of the Catholic Churches. It is immediately subject to the Roman Pontiff as Patriarch of the West. The Eastern Catholic Churches are each led by a Patriarch, Major Archbishop, or Metropolitan, who governs their Church together with a synod of bishops. Through the Congregation for Oriental Churches, the Roman Pontiff works to assure the health and well-being of the Eastern Catholic Churches.

While this diversity within the one Catholic Church can appear confusing at first, it in no way compromises the Church's unity. In a certain sense, it is a reflection of the mystery of the Trinity. Just as God is three Persons, yet one God, so the Church is 22 Churches, yet one Church.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church summarizes this nicely:

"From the beginning, this one Church has been marked by a great diversity which comes from both the variety of God's gifts and the diversity of those who receive them... Holding a rightful place in the communion of the Church there are also particular Churches that retain their own traditions. The great richness of such diversity is not opposed to the Church's unity" (CCC no. 814).

Although there are 22 Churches, there are only eight "Rites" that are used among them. A Rite is a "liturgical, theological, spiritual and disciplinary patrimony," (Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, canon 28). "Rite" best refers to the liturgical and disciplinary traditions used in celebrating the sacraments. Many Eastern Catholic Churches use the same Rite, although they are distinct autonomous Churches. For example, the Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Melkite Catholic Church are distinct Churches with their own hierarchies. Yet they both use the Byzantine Rite.

To learn more about the "two lungs" of the Catholic Church, visit this link:

CATHOLIC RITES AND CHURCHES

The Vatican II Council declared that "all should realize it is of supreme importance to understand, venerate, preserve, and foster the exceedingly rich liturgical and spiritual heritage of the Eastern churches, in order faithfully to preserve the fullness of Christian tradition" (Unitatis Redintegrato, 15).

A Roman rite Catholic may attend any Eastern Catholic Liturgy and fulfill his or her obligations at any Eastern Catholic Parish. A Roman rite Catholic may join any Eastern Catholic Parish and receive any sacrament from an Eastern Catholic priest, since all belong to the Catholic Church as a whole. I am a Roman Catholic practicing my faith at a Maronite Catholic Church. Like the Chaldeans, the Maronites retain Aramaic for the Consecration. It is as close as one comes to being at the Last Supper.

You would almost think the Emperor Constantine a historical non-event around here. The sort of thing one might expect on a Roman Catholic website...which is apparently what FR is, just look at the threads. Pope this, and Pope that.

Daily. RSS feed: Roman site syndication. A plethora of papal promotion by those seemingly driven to do so. Perhaps it gains an indulgence each time.