For nearly two thousand years, the Catholic Church has existed as the preeminent religious organization of the Christian faith. The faith's adherents are estimated to be in excess of 1.2 billion people, who look to the Vatican for guidance and interpretation of the Christian Scriptures. While most Catholics strictly adhere to the dictates of their Church, there is a more recent strain of Catholic fundamentalism that is in conflict with modern Catholicism.
This movement has arisen in response to what some priests and laypeople view as an increasingly liberal Vatican leadership. The goal of fundamentalists has been to force the Vatican to reverse its liberalization and return to the traditional doctrines and practices that had been in use for many centuries. This difference has led to serious debate among Catholics.
For most conservatives in the Roman Church, the real problem began at Vatican II. That was the point at which many traditionalists believe that the Vatican decided it needed to liberalize its teachings. Fundamentalists see this as a betrayal of classical Christian teachings, and an abandonment of sound doctrine in favor of trendy nuance on important social issues.
Nor are the areas of disagreement few. They are many, and varying, and extend across nearly the entirety of doctrinal understanding. These fundamentalists are adamant on issues like ordaining women as priests, maintaining celibacy for the priesthood, resisting anything other than natural birth control, and similar social issues on which the liberals would seek to moderate Rome's policies.
In addition, these more conservative Catholics are also opposed to anything other than a Latin Mass, and maintain that Vatican pronouncements are the final say in matters of Scriptural interpretation. They also hold fast to the notion that the Catholic Church is the only true pathway to salvation for Christians and that all other denominations must eventually return to the Roman Church or risk condemnation from God.
More liberal elements within the Church hierarchy steadfastly oppose such dogma, insisting instead on presenting a more accommodating face to the world. They believe that the Gospel is ultimately harmed by such strident insistence on strict doctrine, since they feel that those beliefs paint God as an all-powerful dictator just looking for a reason to punish mankind.
So strong is the split that groups that take fundamentalist positions often find themselves in regular conflict with the Vatican. Some, such as the Society of Saint Pius X, have even been declared to be in schism. As such, they are in a state where they are denied regular Church recognition and fellowship, without being formally excommunicated.
This continuing split demonstrates that the mighty Roman Catholic Church has marched into the current century in anything but a state of united strength. While liberal elements have proven themselves willing to water down many traditional doctrines in an attempt to make Christianity more appealing to modern societies, the fundamentalists believe that such compromises weaken Christ's message and place popularity over the need for sound doctrine and revealed truth.
This movement has arisen in response to what some priests and laypeople view as an increasingly liberal Vatican leadership. The goal of fundamentalists has been to force the Vatican to reverse its liberalization and return to the traditional doctrines and practices that had been in use for many centuries. This difference has led to serious debate among Catholics.
For most conservatives in the Roman Church, the real problem began at Vatican II. That was the point at which many traditionalists believe that the Vatican decided it needed to liberalize its teachings. Fundamentalists see this as a betrayal of classical Christian teachings, and an abandonment of sound doctrine in favor of trendy nuance on important social issues.
Nor are the areas of disagreement few. They are many, and varying, and extend across nearly the entirety of doctrinal understanding. These fundamentalists are adamant on issues like ordaining women as priests, maintaining celibacy for the priesthood, resisting anything other than natural birth control, and similar social issues on which the liberals would seek to moderate Rome's policies.
In addition, these more conservative Catholics are also opposed to anything other than a Latin Mass, and maintain that Vatican pronouncements are the final say in matters of Scriptural interpretation. They also hold fast to the notion that the Catholic Church is the only true pathway to salvation for Christians and that all other denominations must eventually return to the Roman Church or risk condemnation from God.
More liberal elements within the Church hierarchy steadfastly oppose such dogma, insisting instead on presenting a more accommodating face to the world. They believe that the Gospel is ultimately harmed by such strident insistence on strict doctrine, since they feel that those beliefs paint God as an all-powerful dictator just looking for a reason to punish mankind.
So strong is the split that groups that take fundamentalist positions often find themselves in regular conflict with the Vatican. Some, such as the Society of Saint Pius X, have even been declared to be in schism. As such, they are in a state where they are denied regular Church recognition and fellowship, without being formally excommunicated.
This continuing split demonstrates that the mighty Roman Catholic Church has marched into the current century in anything but a state of united strength. While liberal elements have proven themselves willing to water down many traditional doctrines in an attempt to make Christianity more appealing to modern societies, the fundamentalists believe that such compromises weaken Christ's message and place popularity over the need for sound doctrine and revealed truth.
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