divisions
The Catholic Faith Video Series: Your Tough Questions Answered [Video #15]
Question: How many branches of Christianity are there? How come there are different branches of Christianity, what do they agree and differ with that made them branch off?
Please watch video below for answer:
If you prefer to read, below is Fr. Mark’s Answer:
There are many branches within Christianity. In fact, one of the challenges of Christianity from the very beginning was to maintain unity. Jesus himself in John’s Gospel, in his great prayer to the Father on his last evening, prays that his followers may be one as he and the Father are one. The apostles and first believers had disagreements and tensions. The letters of Paul constantly refer to divisions and disputes among the believers and Paul is always encouraging them to be united and not to separate into various factions.
In the first centuries there were great disputes over the Church’s teaching about the identity of Christ. This led to some groups separating into their own churches.
Historically a major cause of tension was the split of the Roman Empire into an Eastern and Western side. Over time, different practices, liturgical rites, and so on led to difficulties. This combined with political issues led to the first great schism of the church in 1054 when both East and West excommunicated the other.
The Eastern Church became what we refer to as the Orthodox Churches who were no long in union with the Pope, the bishop of Rome. Over the centuries there were efforts to restore unity between East and West which were not successful. But, it did lead to some churches of the East being formed that were once again in union with the Bishop of Rome within the Catholic Church.
We see them today in various Catholic Eastern Rites such as the Ukrainian Catholics, Greek Catholics, Maronite Catholics and so on. We saw one of these Catholic Eastern Rites when the Pope recently visited Iraq. The largest church there is the Chaldean Catholic Church which is in union with Rome. These Eastern Catholic Churches have their own Rites, languages, traditions and practices. But, they are fully in communion with the Catholic Church in union with the Pope.
The next great division within Christianity took place in the Western Church. We refer to it as the Protestant Reformation beginning with Martin Luther in the 16th Century.
Beginning as a desire to reform the Catholic Church, human sin and failings on both sides led to division. The Protestant communities gradually divided into many different sects and groups. Later on the Church of England split from Rome under King Henry VIII, forming what we now know as the Anglican Church.
Beginning in the twentieth century new efforts began, first of all among Protestant missionaries, to strive for greater Christian unity for the sake of the mission of evangelizing. We refer to this as the ecumenical movement.
At first the Catholic Church was not involved in any formal way with this movement. But, at Vatican Council II in the 1960’s the Catholic Church officially embraced a commitment to strive for Christian unity. It was expressed in the Decree on Ecumenism. This began a great movement with theological dialogues between the Catholic Church and the various Orthodox and Protestant churches and communities. It led to great change as we began to see other Christians not as heretics or as people to be avoided, but as brothers and sisters in Christ. We now pray together, work together on social needs, and continue to look for greater unity as the Church of Christ.
The Catholic Church is committed to the ecumenical efforts for Christian unity. The unity of the Church is not seen as uniformity, but unity in diversity. This commitment to unity is rooted in the will of Jesus that his followers be one. Theologically it is rooted in the Trinity, one God in a diversity of Persons. The Church is called to such a communion. Rather than being in competition with other Christian churches, we are to see them as brothers and sisters in Christ. Rather than looking at differences, we see it as gift sharing, as we share our diversity and the gifts we bring to the Christian mission.
Unfortunately Christianity has experienced divisions through the centuries. We as Catholics today are called to be instruments of unity, to work and pray for unity, to see other Christians as brothers and sisters in Christ. Each Catholic is called to embrace an ecumenical spirituality, being guided by the Spirit into the unity that Jesus wills for his church. Our parish community will be called upon to be in good relation with the other Christian communities within our parish area. To find ways to pray and work together. All of us need to be open to a change of heart, a true conversion. As we are led to deeper unity with Christ it will lead to deeper unity among each other.
Brothers And Sisters All
29th Sunday In Ordinary Time
Fr. Mark Gatto
Preached: October 18, 2020
There are certain lines from Scripture that are very familiar to almost everyone, even people who are not religious or who have never opened a Bible. Today we have one line spoken by Jesus that most people have heard before, even if they do not realize it comes from the Bible.
“Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God”
This one statement by Jesus has been discussed and debated for the past 2000 years. It has been argued about with people using it to justify many different positions. Issues such as the relation between religion and politics, church and state, and so on.
Jesus was not interested in those debates. The Pharisees were trying to get him caught up in their battles, Jesus moved the issue beyond all of that. They divided and Jesus was interested in uniting.
The question they confront Jesus with would be similar to someone asking you as a Catholic about Patriotism. If someone asked you, do you love Canada or do you love God? How would you answer? Most of us as Catholics would see that such a question is wrong in itself. It creates a division that is not required by true Faith. It is possible to be patriotic and to love God. In fact, true Faith and love of God will help us to have a healthier patriotism, a patriotism that makes room for solidarity with people from other countries.
In fact, at times, it is a good and necessary thing to see the failures of our own country, to challenge our own country when it is following a path that is harmful to the human family or to fundamental moral issues.
St. Thomas More expressed the way of Jesus in his life. He was a man who deeply loved his country but he was convicted of treason for refusing to acknowledge the king as the supreme head of the church in England. His words were, “I am the king’s good servant, but God’s first.”
Pope Francis has just published a new Encyclical called Fratelli Tutti, which is Italian for the first words in a letter from St. Francis of Assisi, which means Brothers and Sisters All. It is a call not just to all Catholics, it is a call to all humanity, to see each other as brothers and sisters. To strive for social unity.
It points out that in our world today we are seeing once again age-old divisions between peoples, racism, nationalistic populism that excludes and separates human beings. Enormous economic inequalities that leave some parts of the world in poverty, and even within our rich nations, sees certain segments of society left on the margins.
This Encyclical Letter of Pope Francis points to one of the basic principles of Catholic social Teaching. This is the call to the Common Good. Governments, politicians, religious leaders, and each one of us within society, are called to reflect on the common good. The common good versus private individual goods. When we analyze issues, look at social circumstances, we need to see it in light of the common good.
During this Covid Pandemic, it has brought to light the extreme ways in which the Common Good has been ignored for many years in certain areas. Seniors have often suffered most during this time. One reason has been a long term neglect, failing to provide proper resources to nursing homes and to supports for seniors to be able to remain at home. The common good does not allow us to neglect people who are not seen as productive or useful.
In the past few months we have seen visible and public ways in which racism continues to be a reality within the human family. Even something like white supremacist groups are coming into the open. Our societies at times have long histories and structural roots maintaining racism.
Forgiveness is not enough, we also need to face honestly any ways in which racism is within the structures of our society, our church and within my own heart.
In writing this letter, the Pope was in dialogue with others, including with the Grand Imam of Al Azhar in Egypt, Sheik Ahmed El-Tayeb. Our church needs to lead in efforts for good relations between all religions. Pope Francis is inspired by the way of St. Francis of Assisi. We are reminded of the dialogue that St. Francis of Assisi attempted with the Sultan in his time when the Crusades were in place and Muslims and Christians were seeing each other as enemies.
Last week a mosque in Toronto had to be closed due to violent threats being received. We as Catholics are called to be instruments of peace and dialogue with all people and reject any hatred based on religious identity. We need to actively oppose any hatred in the name of religion.
“Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God”
Jesus is not interested in our ways that create divisions. That separate people in the name ofreligion or in the name of God.
An important mission of the Catholic Church today is to be an instrument of unity, focused on the common good and solidarity among all humanity.
The Church should be a home among homes, for all peoples, of all races, of all countries, of all religions, of all generations, rich and poor. All Catholics are to strive for social friendship across borders and boundaries.
Our vision should see one human family, brothers and sisters all, living in one common home.