Catholic Perspectives on the History of the Church

This seminar will focus on the origins and development of the Catholic church. Topics to be covered include: the life of Jesus, the apostles and the early church, the church in the Roman empire, the Reformation, church councils, and the modern church hierarchy. Resources will be Scripture, church documents, and historical works. The sessions will be held at 9-11 a.m. in the Convent on September 13, 20, and 27, and October 4, 11, and 18. Seminar leaders will be Prof. Greg Hussey and Prof. Jim Bolner, Sr.  For more information please write to jimbolnersr@cox.net or phone 766.5987.

Tentative Outline

I. Jesus and the Founding of the Church
   The Promise of a Savior
   Jesus: biography
   Jesus: teachings
   The New Testament

II. The Apostles and the Early Church
     The Twelve
     St. Paul
     The Early Christians
     Bishops, Priests, and Deacons
 
III. Church Councils and the Papacy
     Major Councils
     Theological Questions
     Schisms and Conflicts

IV. The Church in the Roman Empire
      Persecutions
      The Christian Religion Becomes the State Religion
      The Holy Roman Empire and the Papal States
      The Monastic Movement

V. The Reformation
     Background
     Church Policies and the Rise of Protestantism
     The Counter-Reformation

VI. Vatican II and Current Challenges and Issues
      The Modern Papacy
       Bishops and Priests

 

Resources

        Christian History Timeline 

        The 11th to the 13th Centuries: Innocent III and The Great Schism 

Ecumenical Councils of the Church [http://www.catholicism.org/pages/ecumenic.htm]

Major Councils of the Church  [http://www.dailycatholic.org/history/councils.htm#rc-21]

Major Heresies

The Catechism - Text on Authority in the Church [From the Vatican website

The Code of Canon Law (1983) [Second Site: The Code of Canon Law]

The College of Cardinals
(http://www.catholic-pages.com/hierarchy/cardinals.asp)

The Roman Curia (http://www.catholic-pages.com/vatican/curia.asp)

Thomas J. Reese, S.J., "Papal Transition" (America, October 24, 2003) 

Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J., "The Papacy for a Global Church" (America, July 15, 2000)

Francis A. Sullivan "The Magisterium in the New Millennium" (America, August 27, 2001)

Frederick W. Gluck, "Crisis Management in the Church" (America, December 1, 2003)

James D. Davidson, "Fewer and Fewer"  (America, December 1, 2003) 

Jane Lampman, "The Ongoing Evolution of Christianity" (The Christian Science Monitor, May 15, 2003. [Discusses the work of Elaine Pagels.]

 

          General Resources

        The Vatican and Vatican Radio 

        Catholic.net 

        The Catechism of the Catholic Church  [Vatican website]

        The Dogmatic Constitution of the Church - Lumen Gentium  

        Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World - Gaudium et Spes 

        Catholic Resources on the Internet 

        Religious Resources on the Internet

        Voice of the Faithful       

 Michael Paulson, "Bishops may punish politicians: Proabortion position of Catholic lawmakers a source of frustration," The Boston Globe, November 11, 2003