Catholic Church Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===Latin and Eastern churches=== {{anchor|Autonomous particular churches|Particular churches ''sui iuris''}} {{Main|Catholic particular churches and liturgical rites|Latin Church|Eastern Catholic Churches}} {{Major Sui Iuris Catholic Churches}} In the first thousand years of Catholic history, different varieties of Christianity developed in the Western and [[Eastern Christian]] areas of Europe, Asia and Africa. Though most Eastern-tradition churches are no longer in communion with the Catholic Church after the [[East–West Schism|Great Schism]] of 1054 (as well as the earlier [[Nestorian Schism]] and [[Council of Chalcedon#Consequences: Chalcedonian Schism|Chalcedonian Schism]]), 23 autonomous [[particular churches]] of eastern traditions participate in the Catholic communion, also known as "churches ''[[sui iuris]]''" ({{lang-la|"of one's own right}}"). The largest and most well known is the Latin Church, the only Western-tradition church, with more than 1 billion members worldwide. Relatively small in terms of adherents compared to the Latin Church, are the 23 self-governing Eastern Catholic Churches with a combined membership of 17.3 million {{As of|2010|lc=y}}.<ref name="Roberson">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnewa.org/default.aspx?ID=125&pagetypeID=1&sitecode=HQ&pageno=1 |author=Ronald G. Roberson |title=Eastern Catholic Churches Statistics 2010 |work=CNEWA |access-date=30 April 2011 |archive-date=18 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518233329/http://www.cnewa.org/default.aspx?ID=125&pagetypeID=1&sitecode=HQ&pageno=1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Gunton">Colin Gunton. "Christianity among the Religions in the Encyclopedia of Religion", Religious Studies, Vol. 24, number 1, p. 14. In a review of an article from the ''Encyclopedia of Religion'', Gunton writes "... [T] he article [on Catholicism in the encyclopedia] rightly suggests caution, suggesting at the outset that Roman Catholicism is marked by ''several different doctrinal and theological emphases''."</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19641121_orientalium-ecclesiarum_en.html |title=Orientalium Ecclesiarum |work=[[Vatican Council II]] |access-date=30 April 2011 |at=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000901223734/https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19641121_orientalium-ecclesiarum_en.html |archive-date=1 September 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/catholic-contributions/the-other-catholics-a-short-guide-to-the-eastern-catholic-churches.html |title=The Other Catholics: A Short Guide to the Eastern Catholic Churches |author=Kevin R. Yurkus |website=Catholic Education Resource Center |access-date=20 June 2017 |archive-date=27 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227183405/https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/catholic-contributions/the-other-catholics-a-short-guide-to-the-eastern-catholic-churches.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The Latin Church is governed by the pope and diocesan bishops directly appointed by him. The pope exercises a direct [[patriarch]]al role over the Latin Church, which is considered to form the original and still major part of [[Western Christianity]], a heritage of certain beliefs and customs originating in Europe and northwestern Africa, some of which are inherited by many [[Christian denominations]] that trace their origins to the Protestant Reformation.<ref name="west_christ">[http://www.philtar.ac.uk/encyclopedia/christ/west/westessay.html "General Essay on Western Christianity"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428000510/http://www.philtar.ac.uk/encyclopedia/christ/west/westessay.html |date=28 April 2017 }}, [http://www.philtar.ac.uk/encyclopedia/christ/west/westrc.html "Western Church/Roman Catholicism"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225133021/http://www.philtar.ac.uk/encyclopedia/christ/west/westrc.html |date=25 February 2021 }} ''Overview of World Religions''. Division of Religion and Philosophy, University of Cumbria. 1998/9 ELMAR Project. Accessed 26 March 2015.</ref> The Eastern Catholic Churches follow the traditions and spirituality of [[Eastern Christianity]] and are churches that have always remained in full communion with the Catholic Church or who have chosen to re-enter full communion in the centuries following the [[East–West Schism]] or earlier divisions. These churches are communities of Catholic Christians whose forms of worship reflect distinct historical and cultural influences rather than differences in doctrine. The pope's recognition of Eastern Catholic Churches, though, has caused controversy in [[Catholic–Eastern Orthodox relations|ecumenical relations with the Eastern Orthodox]] and other eastern churches. Historically, pressure to conform to the norms of the Western Christianity practised by the majority Latin Church led to a degree of encroachment ([[Liturgical Latinisation]]) on some of the Eastern Catholic traditions. The [[Second Vatican Council]] document, ''[[Orientalium Ecclesiarum]]'', built on previous reforms to reaffirm the right of Eastern Catholics to maintain their distinct liturgical practices.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity |date=1999 |publisher=Blackwell Publishing |isbn=0-631-23203-6 |editor-last=Parry |editor-first=Ken |location=Malden, MA |editor2=David Melling}}</ref> A church ''sui iuris'' is defined in the ''[[Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches|Code of Canons for the Eastern Churches]]'' as a "group of Christian faithful united by a hierarchy" that is recognized by the pope in his capacity as the [[papal supremacy|supreme authority]] on matters of doctrine within the church.{{refn|{{cite web |url=http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG1199/_PR.HTM |title=Code of Canons for the Eastern Churches, Title 2 |publisher=intratext.com |date=1992}}}} The Eastern Catholic Churches are in [[full communion]] with the pope, but have governance structures and liturgical traditions separate from that of the Latin Church.<ref name="Gunton"/><!--Each church is headed by a [[patriarch]] or [[major archbishop]],<ref name=CCEO56>[http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG1199/_P1K.HTM "''CCEO'', Canon 56."]. Intratext.com (English Translation). 1990.</ref>--> While the Latin Church's canons do not explicitly use the term, it is tacitly recognized as equivalent. Some Eastern Catholic churches are governed by a patriarch who is elected by the [[synod]] of the bishops of that church,<ref name="CCEO55_150">[http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG1199/_P1R.HTM "''CCEO'', Canons 55–150"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224135155/http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG1199/_P1R.HTM |date=24 February 2021 }}. Intratext.com (English Translation). 1990.</ref> others are headed by a [[major archbishop]],<ref name="CCEO151_154">"''CCEO'', Canons 151–154". 1990.</ref> others are under a [[metropolitan bishop|metropolitan]],<ref name="CCEO155_173">"''CCEO'', Canons 155–173". 1990.</ref> and others are organized as individual [[eparchy|eparchies]].<ref name="CCEO">"''CCEO'', Canons 174–176". 1990.</ref> Each church has authority over the particulars of its internal organization, [[Catholic liturgical rites|liturgical rites]], [[General Roman Calendar|liturgical calendar]] and other aspects of its spirituality, subject only to the authority of the pope.<ref name="CCEO27_7">[http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG1199/_PR.HTM "''CCEO'', Canon 27–28."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722181249/http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG1199/_PR.HTM |date=22 July 2011 }}. Intratext.com (English Translation). 1990.</ref> The Roman Curia has a specific department, the [[Congregation for the Oriental Churches]], to maintain relations with them.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/orientchurch/profilo/rc_con_corient_pro_20030320_profile.html |title=Congregation for the Oriental Churches: Profile |publisher=Vatican.va |location=Rome |access-date=2 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514004919/https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/orientchurch/profilo/rc_con_corient_pro_20030320_profile.html |archive-date=14 May 2011}}</ref> The pope does not generally appoint bishops or clergy in the Eastern Catholic Churches, deferring to their internal governance structures, but may intervene if he feels it necessary. Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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