What is a Christian?
A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ. Christians
believe that the eternal only-begotten Son of God condescended to
take flesh and walk among us. He taught us the truth. By His incarnation,
life, death, and resurrection, He saved us from sin, and gave us the
gift of eternal life. Christians believe that Jesus started a community
which we call the Church, and the Church preserves the teaching of
Jesus Christs. Christians believe that the Bible is God's word, and
that the New Testament contains the teachings of Jesus as preserved
by the early Church.
What is a Catholic?
Catholics are Christians who continue to worship and
believe the traditional teachings of Jesus and did not change at the
time of the reformation. Catholics have a strong belief in Church
unity, and believe the Church should not be divided into denominations.
Catholics believe the Church should not be divided up by nationality,
race, wealth, education, or by any other division. Catholics believe
that the Church has preserved the authentic teachings of Jesus for
2000 years without error by the power of the Holy Spirit. Catholics
have a continuous institutional authority which begins with the 12
apostles. Catholics believe that it is important to be in full communion
with the Bishop of Rome, the successor to Peter, in order to maintain
Church unity. Catholics believe that Jesus established the office
of Peter in the sixteenth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. Catholics
have great respect for all Christians, and especially for the eastern
Orthodox churches.
What is a Byzantine Catholic?
In the 1500's there was a large region of eastern Europe
which entered into full communion with Rome. This region of eastern
Europe had been in communion with the Patriarch of Constantinople
and followed Eastern Orthodox traditions. Different parts of this
region came into communion with Rome at different times and for different
reasons. The faithful in this region continued to follow the same
ancient form of Christianity. Among other things, the faithful retained
their liturgies, which includes the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.
They also retained the eastern tradition that married men may become
parish priests, but not bishops. Today, this region of Eastern Europe
is spread through Ukraine, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, former
Yugoslavia.
What is a Greek Catholic?
In Europe, all Catholics that use the Liturgy of St.
John Chrysostom are called Greek Catholics. In the United States,
the Ruthenian Church changed its name to Byzantine Catholic to avoid
confusion with ethnic Greeks.
Do Catholics worship Mary and the Saints?
Just as we have heroes in sports and the military, Catholics
especially honor men and women who are spiritual heroes. In order
to qualify as a spiritual hero, a person must love God above all else,
and must teach others to worship God alone. So it would make no sense
to worship such a person. We call these heroes "saints". Catholics
ask Mary and the saints to pray for us, just as we ask each other
for prayers. We believe that the saints are members of the Church
too, and so they can pray for us.
Why do Catholics call Mary the Mother of God? How can
God have a Mother?
Of course Mary is not the Mother of God the Father,
God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. However, Mary is the Mother
of Jesus Christ. Early Christians began to call Mary the Theotokos
(a Greek word which many translate as the Mother of God) because Jesus
is truly God. As time went by, certain heretics began to attack the
belief that Jesus was really God. They tried to split the person of
Jesus into two parts, and they said that Mary was only the mother
of the man Jesus. In order to defend the teaching that Jesus is one
person who is true God and true man, the Church decided that it is
appropriate to use the title Theotokos for Mary. This title is an
expression of the mystery of the incarnation, the birth of Jesus.
It does not mean that Mary predated God, nor does it mean that Mary
created God. Catholics recognize that the incarnation was a gift from
God to Mary, just as it is a gift to the entire human race. Catholics
recognize that Mary is a creature, as we are, who owes her very existence
to God.
Is your church really Catholic?
Yes. Our bishop, William Skurla, was appointed to our
diocese by the Holy Father, John Paul II, the Pope of Rome. We are
in full communion with the Pope of Rome. The pastor of our church
is allowed to concelebrate with the Pope in Rome, and the Pope is
allowed to concelebrate with our pastor here. Our members may receive
communion and absolution in a Roman Catholic church, and a Roman Catholic
may receive communion and absolution in our church. Below is a picture
of our hierarchy visiting with Pope John Paul II. (Unfortunately,
it is an out of date picture, but it still makes the point.)
How can I tell if a church is really Catholic?
You may always look up a church in the U.S. Catholic
Directory published by P.J. Kennedy. You can find a copy in almost
any Roman Catholic church. This directory is recognized by the Holy
Father, the U. S. bishops, and an even higher authority, the IRS.
Our church in Portland, Oregon is listed as the Byzantine Catholic
Community of Portland under the Byzantine Eparchy of Van Nuys. The
community did not receive the name Saint Irene until the summer of
1998.
Do Byzantine Catholics have the same seven Sacraments
as the Roman Catholics?
Yes. Byzantine Catholics have the same seven Sacraments,
but prefer to call them Mysteries instead of Sacraments.
