After the deaths of the apostles in the first century A.D., a hierarchical system slowly began to develop in the early church. In the Latin-speaking church, situated in the western part of the Roman Empire, the bishop of Rome was considered the supreme bishop of the church. The Greek-speaking church, located in the eastern part of the Roman empire, never accepted the superiority or the bishop of Rome. In 1054,there was a separation between the Roman Catholic Church in the west and the Eastern Orthodox Church.
In A.D. 590, Gregory I secured the supremacy of the bishop of Rome in the western church. Belief in purgatory developed in the sixth century, prayer to Mary and saints began in seventh century. The requirement that priests could not marry began in 1079. Belief in seven sacraments was formed in 1439.
Some of the beliefs are:
- Roman Catholics accept extrabiblical sources of authority.
Three sources of authority:
- The Bible (including the Apocrypha) - Roman Catholics add intertestamental writings to the Bible.
- Church Tradition - This tradition does not refer to customs in the church, but rather to the teachings of the apostles that they believe have been preserved apart from what has been recorded in the Scriptures.
- Magisterium (the teaching ministry of the Church) - Roman Catholics believe that their church has the authority to authentically interpret the Bible. They don't encourage the people to read the Bible.
- Roman Catholics distinguish between categories of sin.
Roman Catholic theology distinguishes between mortal sins and venial sins.
- Mortal Sin: A mortal sin is a serious sin that is capable of destroying the Grace of God in the Christian who commits it. A mortal sin is also done "full knowledge and complete consent." If a Christian dies with a mortal sin on his soul, he forfeits heaven and experiences the eternal death of hell. Once committed, a mortal sin can be removed only by a priest, who has the power to sacramentally forgive the sin.
- Venial Sin: Venial sins do not destroy sanctifying grace. Roman Catholics believe that although you have committed venial sins, you can rid yourself of them by undergoing a process of purification in purgatory, a place where Christians go after death to become worthy to enter heaven.
- Salvation is imparted through Sacraments
Christ's grace is imparted to an individual through the seven sacraments of the church:
- Baptism is necessary for salvation - The sacrament of baptism is believed to remove sin and it's punishment and to provide spiritual rebirth.
- Confirmation bestows the Holy Spirit - The rite of confirmation is said to bring grace, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, spiritual power, and a sealing to the Church.
- Christ's body is received through the Mass - Through the miracle of transubstantiation, Roman Catholics believe that they physically receive Christ in the sacrament of the Eucharist.
- Penance removes the penalty of sins - Roman Catholics believe that confessing their mortal sins to a priest and through penance, mortal sins are removed, and justification before God is restored.
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Order
- Marriage
