There's More Than This
This is just the tip of the iceberg; to learn more go to Useful Resources, particularly the Catechism.
- We believe that God loves all people and desires to be in relationship with each person.
- We believe that God’s reveals himself in numerous ways, but particularly through the revelation of his Word, which comes to us in two forms – Sacred Scripture (written) and Tradition (unwritten). The ultimate sign of God’s revelation is the Incarnation – God becoming human in Jesus Christ. The Incarnation is the ultimate sign of God’s love for God’s people.
- We believe that human beings were created by God in love and that everything God creates is good and created out of love. While we have the capacity for sin, the Church believes in the dignity of the human person above all else.
- We also believe that goodness infuses all of God’s wondrous creation. All creation, made by God, reflects that goodness. Catholics see the world and its beauty, renewed by the Incarnation, as sacramental – speaking of God’s goodness and love.
- We believe in stewardship. Everything is given to us by God and our Catholic responsibility is to share our time, talent and treasure with those around us.
- We believe in the Holy Trinity, that God has revealed himself to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit – a communion of knowledge and love – and has created us to share in that life.
- We believe in community and a living Church – believers are a part of the living Body of Christ and, as such, we are a reflection of the communal nature of the Trinity.
- We believe in the communion of the saints – models of faith who help and guide us in our efforts to - like them - give ourselves fully to Christ.
- We believe in Jesus’ crucifixion, death and resurrection, and we hope that one day we will rise to new life with him.
The beliefs of the Catholic Church and her beautiful teachings are consistent through the ages.
If you hear of the Church changing something (like the language of the Mass)...
That's because a "discipline" or "practice" can change with times and cultures. But the truth of Christ's teaching (dogma/doctrine/principles) is not within the realm of being changed or updated because Christ is Truth itself.
If you hear of the Church "coming up with a new idea"...
It's never really a new idea. There cannot be a Church teaching that's pulled out of nowhere. There cannot be a Church teaching that contradicts Scripture. There cannot be a Church teaching that is based on personal opinion. If anything, the Church might have come to a better understanding or expression of the faith.
Consider the concept of the "Trinity": although the concept had been there since Genesis, that word is not in Scripture. It took more than a little while for the Church to piece together the idea and its implications; when it became a matter of doctrine, it was not "new", just "clearer".
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