Catholic Church

Definition and Name

The Catholic Church, also called Catholicism or the Roman Catholic Church, is a Christian church under the leadership of the Pope in Rome. The word "Catholic" comes from a Greek term meaning "universal." The Korean name Cheonjugyo derives from Cheonju (天主, "Lord of Heaven"), an older Korean translation for God. Together with Protestantism and the Orthodox Church, it is regarded as one of the three main branches of Christianity. In Korea, Catholicism is sometimes called the "old religion" (gugyo) and Protestantism the "new religion" (singyo).

Biblical and Historical Background

The Catholic Church holds that the office entrusted to the apostle Peter passes to the Bishop of Rome, that is, the Pope. It cites Matthew 16:18 as the basis for this view. Protestants do not accept this interpretation. After the division between the Eastern and Western churches in 1054, the Catholic Church carried on the tradition of the Western church. Following the Reformation, which began with Martin Luther in 1517, it became separated from the Protestant churches. At the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), the Catholic Church accepted the celebration of the Mass in vernacular languages and dialogue with other churches.

Principal Differences from Protestantism

• Authority: The Catholic Church regards Sacred Tradition (the teaching handed down by the Church) and the Magisterium (the Church's authority to teach officially) as authoritative alongside Scripture. Protestants regard Scripture as the final authority.
• Scripture: The Catholic Bible contains 73 books because it includes the deuterocanonical books, which Protestants call the "Apocrypha." The Protestant Bible contains 66 books.
• Salvation: The Catholic Church teaches that a person is made righteous by God's grace, accompanied by faith and works of love. Protestants emphasize justification, being declared righteous by faith alone.
• Sacraments: The Catholic Church observes seven sacraments. Most Protestants recognize only two, baptism and the Lord's Supper, as sacraments.
• Mary and the Saints: The Catholic Church venerates Mary and the saints and asks for their intercession (prayer to God on one's behalf). It explains, however, that worship is offered to God alone. Protestants consider the biblical basis for this practice to be weak.
• Clergy: Catholic priests do not marry. Protestant pastors may marry.

Practice in Korea

Korean Catholicism is generally dated to 1784, when Yi Seung-hun returned from Beijing after being baptized there. A distinctive feature of its history is that laypeople embraced the faith before any missionaries arrived. Many believers were martyred in persecutions such as the Sinyu Persecution (1801) and the Byeongin Persecution (1866). In 1984, Pope John Paul II canonized 103 Korean martyrs.

In Korean, Catholics call God Haneunim, while Protestants call God Hananim. In 1977, the Common Translation Bible, translated jointly by the two churches, was published. The Catholic Church permits ancestral rites within certain limits, whereas Protestants generally hold a memorial service in their place.

Protestant attitudes toward the Catholic Church vary by denomination. The National Council of Churches in Korea has engaged with the Catholic Church through joint prayer services for unity and similar activities. The Anglican Church of Korea and the Lutheran Church in Korea have forms of worship close to those of the Catholic Church. Some conservative denominations and church members, however, voice caution about such engagement on the grounds of doctrinal differences.