Title: Catholic Church - Wikipedia
Headings: Catholic Church
Catholic Church
Contents
Name
History
Apostolic era and papacy
Antiquity and Roman Empire
Middle Ages and Renaissance
Age of Discovery
Protestant Reformation and Counter-Reformation
Enlightenment and modern period
20th century
Second Vatican Council
John Paul II
21st century
Pope Francis
Organisation
Holy See, papacy, Roman Curia, and College of Cardinals
Canon law
Latin and Eastern churches
Dioceses, parishes, organisations and institutes
Membership
Doctrine
Nature of God
Nature of the church
Final judgement
Saints and devotions
Virgin Mary
Further information: Mary, mother of Jesus
Sacraments
Sacraments of initiation
Baptism
Confirmation
Eucharist
Sacraments of healing
Penance
Anointing of the sick
Sacraments at the service of communion
Holy Orders
Matrimony
Liturgy
Western rites
Eastern rites
Social and cultural issues
Catholic social teaching
Social services
Sexual morality
Divorce and declarations of nullity
Contraception
Homosexuality
Holy orders and women
Sexual abuse cases
See also
Notes
References
Bibliography
External links

Content: In the 16th century, the Reformation led to Protestantism also breaking away. From the late 20th century, the Catholic Church has been criticised for its teachings on sexuality, its inability to ordain women, and its handling of sexual abuse cases involving clergy. Contents
1 Name
2 History
2.1 Apostolic era and papacy
2.2 Antiquity and Roman Empire
2.3 Middle Ages and Renaissance
2.4 Age of Discovery
2.5 Protestant Reformation and Counter-Reformation
2.6 Enlightenment and modern period
2.7 20th century
2.7.1 Second Vatican Council
2.7.2 John Paul II
2.8 21st century
2.8.1 Pope Francis
3 Organisation
3.1 Holy See, papacy, Roman Curia, and College of Cardinals
3.2 Canon law
3.3 Latin and Eastern churches
3.4 Dioceses, parishes, organisations and institutes
3.5 Membership
4 Doctrine
4.1 Nature of God
4.2 Nature of the church
4.3 Final judgement
4.4 Saints and devotions
4.5 Virgin Mary
5 Sacraments
5.1 Sacraments of initiation
5.1.1 Baptism
5.1.2 Confirmation
5.1.3 Eucharist
5.2 Sacraments of healing
5.2.1 Penance
5.2.2 Anointing of the sick
5.3 Sacraments at the service of communion
5.3.1 Holy Orders
5.3.2 Matrimony
6 Liturgy
6.1 Western rites
6.2 Eastern rites
7 Social and cultural issues
7.1 Catholic social teaching
7.2 Social services
7.3 Sexual morality
7.3.1 Divorce and declarations of nullity
7.3.2 Contraception
7.3.3 Homosexuality
7.4 Holy orders and women
7.5 Sexual abuse cases
8 See also
9 Notes
10 References
11 Bibliography
12 External links
Name
Further information: Catholic (term) and Roman Catholic (term)
The first use of the term "Catholic Church" (literally meaning "universal church") was by the church father Saint Ignatius of Antioch in his Letter to the Smyrnaeans ( c. 110 AD). Ignatius of Antioch is also attributed the earliest recorded use of the term "Christianity" (Greek: Χριστιανισμός) c. 100 AD. He died in Rome, with his relics located in the Basilica of San Clemente al Laterano. Catholic (from Greek: καθολικός, romanized : katholikos, lit. '