Who started the Catholic religion and why?

Answer 1

The Catholic Faith was started by Jesus. The term "Catholic" was coined in the early 100's by St. Ignasus of Antioch as he was being brought to Rome to be fed to the lions. He preached of a "universal" faith that is open to all people slave or free, male or female, Jew or Gentile. Jesus, Paul and others preached the same thing. They just didn't coin the word "universal" to describe it. The word "catholic" (small 'c') means universal. The Catholic Church was not started by any one person; it was founded by Jesus Christ, acting in the fullness of His divinity. Catholics believe it to be the original form of Christianity; as promised, the Holy Spirit has continued to guide the understanding of the Church, and Her doctrine has developed over the course of 2000 years. At first the Christians were not organized into any official structure, though from the New Testament we see that there were leaders. The recognized leaders were the Apostles, and the congregations of each locality had local leaders, called "elders", "presbyters", or "pastor/teachers". The Apostles, as shown in the Book of the Acts, approved of and laid hands on these local presbyters---that is, they had to pass on the authority Christ granted them. This is today called Apostolic Succession. For one special question, the Apostles and the rest of the church met together in Jerusalem (Acts 15, 1-35) in what is called the Council of Jerusalem: there was disagreement regarding (a) whether or not Christianity should be taken beyonf Judaism (b) whether non-Jewish Christians had to observe Jewish laws. In this meeting, the leaders of the early Church settled these matters: the decision was to send people to the Gentiles and not to burden them with observing Jewish laws, even though the Jewish Christians continued to do so. Catholics believe that immediately after the Ascension of Christ, Peter was the first leader (spokesperson) of the Church. As predicted by the Apostles, a variety of different ideas about Christ and about God were advanced by people claiming to be Christians. These doctrines had to be tested against the teachings of the Apostles; remember, there was not yet a written body of Christian texts. The Apostolic Tradition, those things taught orally by the Apostles, was to be the guide for Truth. This was in accordance with the directive Christ gave when he said, "Whoever hears you, hears Me." It was to the apostles (that is, the authoratative Church) that this statement was made. It was NOT made to the body of believers at large. Teachings at variance with apostolic tradition were rejected as "heresies", that is, as false teachings. Eventually, in the 4th century, these apostolic traditions became the basis for the establishment of the Canon, that is, the collection of sacred writings Christians worldwide today call the Bible. The Church reviewed thousands of texts, measuring each against apostolic tradition, and included only those which did not differ from those traditions. All the writings held sacred by the Jews (called the Hebrew Scriptures or Old Testament) were automatically accepted as God's word. Gradually, even though it was still illegal to be Christian, a certain amount of organizational structure began to develop. Because it happened in the Roman Empire, the pattern and names from Roman government were adopted by the church. When it finally became legal to be Christian, the Catholic Church flourished as never before. Answer Jesus started the Catholic Church and chose Peter to be the leader of the church after his Ascension. Mt 16, 13-20 (Before Jesus' death) - When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." No human, but rather the Father revealed to Peter that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus stated that Peter would be the foundation of his church. Jon 21, 15-19 (Following Jesus' Resurrection) When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." He then said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him "Yes, Lord, you know I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me" and he said to him, "Feed my sheep. Amen, amen I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stetch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go. He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this,he said to him, "Follow me." Before Jesus' death Peter denied Jesus multiple times here after the Resurrection the Lord puts the question to him and he affirms Jesus multiple times and Jesus tells him three times to take care of his sheep. God told Peter he would be the shepherd over the whole flock. Acts 15, 7-9 (following Jesus' Ascension) After much debate had taken place, Peter got up and said to them, "My brothers, you are well aware that from early days God made his choice among you that through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by granting them the Holy Spirit just as he did us. He made no distinction between us and them, for by faith he purified their hearts." Peter states what Jesus had said in Apostles presence, that he was chosen to lead the church and "tend to the Lord's flock" and to expand it to all.

Answer 2

. Catholic Answer

Catholicism was started by Our Blessed Lord, Jesus Christ, in Jerusalem, around 33 A.D. Its beginnings were all through His ministry, particularly when He made St. Peter head of His Church, see St. Matthew Gospel 16:17-19, and then the Catholic Church was born from His side as He hung on the cross and was pierced with the lance. Then it was shown to the world on Pentecost when Our Blessed Lord sent the Holy Spirit on the infant Church. Note: for those who ask about "Roman Catholicism." There really is no such religion, the phrase "Roman Catholicism" came about in England after the protestant revolt, it was a not very nice slur on Catholicism, that has been used in the English speaking world for so long, that even some Catholics think of themselves as Roman Catholic!

Answer 3

Roman Catholic AnswerThe Catholic faith emanated from God from the beginning of time, and was established on earth definitively from the side of Christ on the cross outside in Jerusalem when He side was pierced by a spear. Then it was shown to the world at Pentecost with the coming of the Holy Spirit.

from The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, English translation 1994

759 "The eternal Father, in accordance with the utterly gratuitous and mysterious design of his wisdom and goodness, created the whole universe and chose to raise up men to share his own divine life." (Lumen gentium 2) to which he calls all men in his Son. "The Father . . . determined to call together in a holy Church those who should believe in Christ." (Lumen gentium 2) This "family of God" is gradually formed and takes shape during the stages of human history, in keeping with the Father's plan. In fact, "already present in figure at the beginning of the world, this Church was prepared in marvelous fashion in the history of the people of Israel and the old Alliance. Established in this last age of the world and made manifest in the outpouring of the Spirit, it will be brought to glorious completion at the end of time. (Lumen gentium 2)

766 The Church is born primarily of Christ's total self-giving for our salvation, anticipated in the institution of the Eucharist and fulfilled on the cross. "The origin and growth of the church are symbolized by the blood and water which flowed from the open side of Christ as he slept the sleep of death upon the cross that there came forth the 'wondrous sacrament of the whole Church.'" Sacrosanctum concilium 5) As Eve was formed from the sleeping Adam's side, so the church was born from the pierced heart of Christ hanging dead on the cross. (Cf. St. Ambrose, In Luc. 2, 85-89: J.P. Migne, ed., Patrologia Latina {Paris: 1841-1855} 15, 1666-1668)

767 "When the work which the Father gave the Son to do on earth was accomplished, the Holy Spirit was sent on the day of Pentecost in order that he might continually sanctify the Church." (Lumen gentium 4; cf. Jn 17:4) The "the Church was openly displayed to the crowds and the spread of the gospel among the nations, through preaching, was begun." (Ad gentes 4) As the "convocation" of all men for salvation, the Church in her very nature is missionary, sent by Christ to all the nations to make disciples of them. (Cf. Mt 28:19-20; Ad gentes 2; 5-6)

Answer 4

Jesus Christ through his apostles started the Catholic Church.
Christ Did, when He Chose St. Peter as His Rock (St. Matthew, chapter 16).
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Catholic AnswerFirst a few things. There is NO "Roman Catholic denomination." "Roman" was a slang term first in common use in England after the protestant revolt, it has never been used by the Catholic Church. Second, there is no such thing as a "Catholic denomination." Denomination is a term invented by protestants as a way of working around the fact that they are actually 30,000 different religions. The Catholic Church was started by Our Blessed Lord, Jesus Christ, on His Apostle, St. Peter:

St. Matthew 16:17-19:

And Jesus answering, said to him [Peter]: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.

The Church was considered to have been born from the side of Christ when the soldier opened his side with a lance and blood and water flowed out. It was formally started at Pentecost, fifty days later, when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles to confirm them in all truth and lead them to preach to and baptize all nations.
Jesus Christ

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Catholic AnswerNo one, it wasn't created, the Catholic faith emanated from God from the beginning of time, and was established on earth definitively from the side of Jesus Christ on the cross outside of Jerusalem when He side was pierced by a spear, around 33 A.D.. Then it was shown to the world at Pentecost with the coming of the Holy Spirit, fifty-three days later. The Church thus is not "created" but, being the Mystical Body of Our Blessed Lord is part of Him.

from

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, English translation 1994

766 The Church is born primarily of Christ's total self-giving for our salvation, anticipated in the institution of the Eucharist and fulfilled on the cross. "The origin and growth of the church are symbolized by the blood and water which flowed from the open side of Christ as he slept the sleep of death upon the cross that there came forth the 'wondrous sacrament of the whole Church.'" Sacrosanctum concilium 5) As Eve was formed from the sleeping Adam's side, so the church was born from the pierced heart of Christ hanging dead on the cross. (Cf. St. Ambrose, In Luc. 2, 85-89: J.P. Migne, ed., Patrologia Latina {Paris: 1841-1855} 15, 1666-1668)

767 "When the work which the Father gave the Son to do on earth was accomplished, the Holy Spirit was sent on the day of Pentecost in order that he might continually sanctify the Church." (Lumen gentium 4; cf. Jn 17:4) The "the Church was openly displayed to the crowds and the spread of the gospel among the nations, through preaching, was begun." (Ad gentes 4) As the "convocation" of all men for salvation, the Church in her very nature is missionary, sent by Christ to all the nations to make disciples of them. (Cf. Mt 28:19-20; Ad gentes 2; 5-6)

Answer 5

Catholicism started when Jesus Christ gave Peter the keys to Heaven. This symbolizes that Christ intended for his Church to continue. He also gave the apostles different authorities. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven.

Answer 6

The Roman Catholic Church, to give the Catholic Church its full name as used by the Vatican, almost by definition began in Rome. Up until the Great Schism of 1054, there was only one Christian Church of any siginficant size, at least in the Roman Empire. The Great Schism resulted in the Roman Catholic Church in the west and the Orthodox Church in the east.

For more information, please visit: http://christianity.answers.com/catholicism/a-brief-history-of-the-early-popes

Answer 7

The Roman Catholic Church, to give the Catholic Church its full name as used by the Vatican, almost by definition began in Rome. Up until the Great Schism of 1054, there was only one Christian Church of any significant size, at least in the Roman Empire. The Great Schism resulted in the Roman Catholic Church in the west and the Orthodox Church in the east.

For more information, please visit: http://christianity.answers.com/catholicism/a-brief-history-of-the-early-popes

Answer 8

Catholic Answer
Catholicism was started by Our Blessed Lord, Jesus Christ, in Jerusalem, around 33 A.D. Its beginnings were all through His ministry, particularly when He made St. Peter head of His Church, see St. Matthew Gospel 16:17-19, and then the Catholic Church was born from His side as He hung on the cross and was pierced with the lance. Then it was shown to the world on Pentecost when Our Blessed Lord sent the Holy Spirit on the infant Church. Note: for those who ask about "Roman Catholicism." There really is no such religion, the phrase "Roman Catholicism" came about in England after the protestant revolt, it was a not very nice slur on Catholicism, that has been used in the English speaking world for so long, that even some Catholics think of themselves as Roman Catholic!

Answer 9

Roman Catholic AnswerGod, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit started the Catholic Religion at Pentecost to save man from his sins and enable him to return to a state of grace as a child of God, and live with Him eternally, in everlasting happiness.

Answer 10

Our Blessed Lord, Jesus Christ, founded Catholicism, and appointed the first twelve Bishops (the Apostles) and the first Pope (St. Peter: see St. Matthew 16:17-19), later He returned and appointed St. Paul, these thirteen fanned out throughout the known world (at that time) and spread Catholicism, until now, twenty centuries later it is all through the world.