How old is the Catholic Church?And why is Catholicism so consistent throughout the years unlike Protestantism?

Question

And why is it the only one that has stood the same from the beginning until now unlike many Protestant denominations and Protestantism?

Answer 1

I love the analogy of the ship and how it has held a steady course through the storms. This indeed describes the Catholic Church which is described in the Scriptures as the “bulwark and ground of the truth”. It is the ark in which humanity may be safe from the temptations and desires of the world and the flesh. The Church has been true to Christ’s words that the “gates of hell will not prevail” and has persisted in fulfilling Christ’s desire in His last prayer that we all be one in the One, Holy, Apostolic Church.

It is interesting as the posts on this thread indicate that the attacks against the Church always focus on the failures of mortal humans and never on the Church who is harmed in testimony by such human failings but remains all that Christ promised humanity that the Church would be as the enduring Church until the Parousia. Does not the Bible say in prophetic words that the Church will be attacked from both outside and from within yet survive and not fall into apostasy.

So many hate the Church for what they perceive it teaches. One cleric on this thread is critical of the Church for expecting its priests to be celibate claiming that this is a dogma of the Church; it is not but a discipline of the Church instead. Yet, one hears no criticisms for St. Paul and Jesus being celibate, only His Church who asks that their priests and bishops emulate their example. I say this and yet I am a married priest that respects the discipline of the Latin Rite Church.
One of the bishops of the Church that I greatly admire said the following that I find appropriate for this thread:

Bishop Fulton Sheen

"There are not over a hundred people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions, however, who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church—which is, of course, quite a different thing. These millions can hardly be blamed for hating Catholics because Catholics “adore statues;” because they “put the Blessed Mother on the same level with God;” because they “say indulgence is a permission to commit sin;” because the Pope “is a Fascist;” because the Church “is the defender of Capitalism.” If the Church taught or believed any one of these things, it should be hated, but the fact is that the Church does not believe nor teach any one of them. It follows then that the hatred of the millions is directed against error and not against truth. As a matter of fact, if we Catholics believed all of the untruths and lies which were said against the Church, we probably would hate the Church a thousand times more than they do.

If I were not a Catholic, and were looking for the true Church in the world today, I would look for the one Church which did not get along well with the world; in other words, I would look for the Church which the world hates. My reason for doing this would be, that if Christ is in any one of the churches of the world today, He must still be hated as He was when He was on earth in the flesh. If you would find Christ today, then find the Church that does not get along with the world. Look for the Church that is hated by the world, as Christ was hated by the world. Look for the Church which is accused of being behind the times, as Our Lord was accused of being ignorant and never having learned. Look for the Church which men sneer at as socially inferior, as they sneered at Our Lord because He came from Nazareth. Look for the Church which is accused of having a devil, as Our Lord was accused of being possessed by Beelzebub, the Prince of Devils. Look for the Church which the world rejects because it claims it is infallible, as Pilate rejected Christ because he called Himself the Truth. Look for the Church which amid the confusion of conflicting opinions, its members love as they love Christ, and respect its voice as the very voice of its Founder, and the suspicion will grow, that if the Church is unpopular with the spirit of the world, then it is unworldly, and if it is unworldly, it is other-worldly. Since it is other-worldly, it is infinitely loved and infinitely hated as was Christ Himself. ... the Catholic Church is the only Church existing today which goes back to the time of Christ. History is so very clear on this point, it is curious how many miss its obviousness..."

In Christ
Fr. Joseph

Answer 2

Good point: Since the Catholic Apostles and Fathers were much closer in time to the gospel events, they likely had better knowledge of those events and of the language and customs of the era. In addition, they had recourse to the oral traditions that predated the written gospels and that supply critical background knowledge for understanding them. John makes this point at the end of his gospel 21:25): "Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." This means that we need contemporary accounts to fully understand Jesus' words and actions. Protestants who dismiss Catholic doctrines claim to do so on the basis of the Bible, but that also presents a problem. They don't seem to understand the the New Testament was commissioned, selected, and canonized by the Catholic-Orthodox Christians of Jesus' original church. It doesn't make sense that those who issued the New Testament do not understand it, and that those reading their texts 15-20 centuries later got it right. Cheers, Bruce

Answer 3

The catholic church has a rich history of division. Starting with a period in which their were two popes ( the loser was called the anit-pope) this happened more than once, splitting the catholic church (France claiming they had a true Pope who became the anti-pop, I think around 1500ad, another happened around 750ad).

The Greek orthodox church is a split off from the original church as well.
By the time protestantism came around, the church was ready for a definitive split, and it did.
After that, the idea that the church could splinter into different groups became common.
Oh, and the catholic church was able to do so well because it filled the void of the fallen Roman Empire. The swiftly set themselves up to become an economic power, acquiring land and money at a horrific rate. They managed to keep control of the regional governments by loaning out vast sums of money and holding those debts over their heads, along with the promise of more funds. It was the first alternate route to comfort and security outside of being nobility or risking the perils of becoming the merchant class.

Answer 4

Maybe it is fair to make the analogy of a large sailing ship. The Catholic Church continues to sail slowly and steadily toward home, changing course only slightly at times to avoid turbulence, but ultimately always headed toward the same port. The ship has had some wonderful captains...and some who have been less than wonderful. The stability of the ship makes it an easy target, but it also provides a degree of certainty to the passengers. The ship has passed through many storms. Some of the passengers complain and even threaten mutiny at times. Some opt to jump off and speed away in their own direction. Some of those who stay on board engage in pretty questionable behavior at times. It is, of course, a ship full of sinners trying to find their way. But the ship keeps moving steadily and surely toward home. Best of all, it was assured by Christ Himself that the ship will eventually arrive safely at home.

This is a fascinating question, in part because of the widely varying responses. It reminds me of G.K. Chesterton's observation that the Catholic Church is attacked from all directions and therefore must be at the center of all things. A question like this is bound to bring out the angry and sarcastic comments from many sources.
As others have mentioned, the Catholic Church traces its origin to Christ's statement, "You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church." (See Matthew Chapter 16) Despite vehement denials by some who prefer to attack Catholicism, the Catholic Church can trace its history to the apostle Peter.
Most other Christian denominations came into being during the Reformation. A notable exception would be the Eastern Orthodox Church that also traces its history to the earliest days of Christianity. Obviously all Christian Churches have Christ as their source. Catholicism maintains its stability largely through the teaching authority of the Pope and Bishops. The Church has maintained its course for 2000 years.

Answer 5

The early Christian Church was started on Pentecost in about 33 CE.

This Church was called the Catholic Church by 107 CE (about 10 years after the last book of the New Testament was written), when the term appears in the Letter of St. Ignatius of Antioch to the Smyrnaeans:

"Wherever the bishop appear, there let the multitude be; even as wherever Christ Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church."

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/ignatius-smyrnaeans-hoole.html

We do not know how long they had been using the term "Catholic" before it was included in this letter.

All of this was long before the Council of Nicea and the Nicene Creed from 325 A.D. which states, "We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church."

With love in Christ.

Answer 6

I will pass by the obvious answers, simply to point out the fact that if you really dig into the subject, you will find that Catholicism isn't as 'consistent' as you may have been lead to believe. I was raised Catholic and respect many (but not all) of the tenets enshrined in its current practice. Unfortunately, it (like pretty much all mainstream religions) tends to get corrupted by human interpretation that is more self-serving then divine. Blessings...

Answer 7

The Roman Catholic Church was founded about 800 AD when the five equal Bishops of the church at that time started to ex communicate each other.

It is not the same as it was, since it keeps changing. Every time a new something comes from the Pope, it changes.

Inconsistancies like in about 1431 AD, Joan of Arc was burned alive at the stake because she was a witch. Then in 1919 AD she was declared to be a Saint by Pope Benedict XV.

I have a five page long Microsoft Word Document which contains five pages of such inconsistancies.

I'll E-mail it, via regular E-mail to anyone who asks for it.

The document is called Catholic Questions.

Pastor Art

Answer 8

Wow. Great question. Love to see the responses.

The Catholic Church is 2,000 years old. She is the original church founded by Christ. Everything else is a rebellion.

The reason Protestantism is so inconsistent is because it’s all based on personal opinion. If one person doesn’t like a certain teaching/doctrine or whatever else, they leave and start their own church. This fracturing effect is more or less built in to Protestantism, which is why it will continue to break apart.

The Catholic Church is the only one with authority from Christ, and it is this authority that gives Her unity. “…and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (paraphrasing). She’s been around for 2,000 years, and will be around for another 2,000 until Christ comes again.

God bless and take care.

Answer 9

How do you define 'consistent'? As in creating numerous terror groups like the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) for the express purpose of killing and torturing Christians, Jews, and anyone else that refused to worship the Roman Catholic Dogma as the only way to salvation, or consistent in twisting the Scriptures to their own ends, rather than the Truth? Or consistent in pandering to every known pagan religion to gain acceptance, on every continent on earth? Or consistent in acceptance of sexual and other moral perversions by its own hierarchy including the Popes since its origin? Just wondering what your question really is, and the motivation behind it.

Light and Dark cannot exist in the same place.

Answer 10

I seemed to have missed something. The Catholic church has not remained the same. Most of the doctrines have evolved along the way. The position of pope has been sold at times. Popes have financed both sides of wars because they wanted to be on the winning side.
The Catholic church was friendly with Hitler.
Consistent?? Consistently backing the wrong side.
Consistently against the Bible.
Maybe you are right, they have been consistent.