Patheos Watermark

You are running a very outdated version of Internet Explorer. Patheos and most other websites will not display properly on this version. To better enjoy Patheos and your overall web experience, consider upgrading to the current version of Internet Explorer. Find more information HERE.

Ethics and Community



Community Organization

The Roman Catholic Church is highly organized, with local parishes as its building blocks and a central government in the Vatican. Roman Catholics are defined as those who are in communion with the pope.

Leadership

The Roman Catholic clergy is comprised of the sacramental roles of deacons, priests, and bishops, with administrative roles extending up to the pope as leader of the world's Catholics. The magisterium is the Church's teaching authority.

Principles of Moral Thought and Structure

Moral thought begins in the conscience informed by natural law. The Ten Commandments and Jesus' life are the foundations for Catholic moral action, which has resulted in the Church's strong social teachings.

Vision for Society

Though Catholics previously envisioned a society in which all people would be Catholic, today they celebrate society's diversity. All of society should be organized around the principle of human dignity.

Gender and Sexuality

Women are excluded from clerical orders in the Roman Catholic Church, although many call for this to change. Catholics have a conservative and sacred view of human sexuality.

Editors' Picks