Christian Churches / Traditions in Scotland Today

                                                    The Roman Catholic Church

                                             Father Peter Randall of Sacred Heart Church, Lauriston

What does you Church tradition understand to be the irreducible core of the Christian Faith?

The New Testament, with an appreciation of its roots in Hebrew Scriptures.

The Nicene Creed.

The work of the Holy Spirit within the created order, but expressed and interpreted through the Teaching Authority in Christian Tradition, particularly in the Ecumenical Councils through the centuries, the specific office of the Pope, the college of Bishops, and the Magisterium of the Church. But please note, the breath of the Spirit is not confined to the Roman Catholic Church!

What does your tradition consider to be absolutely integral to becoming and being a Christian?

Faith.   Baptism.    Joining in the worship and fellowship of the Church, i.e. this is not a completely individual journey.

What does your tradition share in common with other traditions in Christianity?

The revelation of God in Jesus Christ, seen in Scripture, and expressed in the Creed.

Baptism, and traditions in liturgy     Grace     Faith.

The teaching tradition of the Early Fathers.

What are the main unique features of your tradition? 

The authority of the Church expressed in the Papacy.

There are other features associated with Catholicism, but many of these are not unique to the Catholic Church.

Why would you encourage a seeking person to explore your particular tradition?

The universal vision of the Church, expressed in history and tradition from the Church's beginning, liturgy, teaching, and social/pastoral/ political action.

The Sacraments as encounters with Christ.

A richness of spirituality shown in different traditions within the Church.

How would you begin helping that person to discover the treasures of your tradition?

Help them to connect with the deepest desires of their own heart.

Encourage them to articulate their faith, and the movements of the indwelling Spirit.

What is prayer for them?  What is their image of God?

If they find it hard to talk to me, I'd ask them about who they might talk to.

If they wanted to go further, The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is the recommended way forward.    

Offer them Scripture, and other sources for reflection.

How would you help that person to grow in their faith?

See above.

Contacts:

Monsignor David Gemmell & Fr Hugh Purcell

St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Cathedral House. 61 York Place, EH1 3JD  

0131 556 1798

www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk

Frs. Peter Randall SJ & Jim Henderson SJ 

Sacred Heart Church, 28 Lauriston Street,  EH3 9DJ      

0131 229 9821      

www.rc.net/standed/sacredheart

Very Rev. Ed Hone CSsR. & Frs Richard Reid & Michael Henessy. 

St Patrick's, 5 South Gray's Close, 40 High Street, EH1 1TQ   

0131 556 1973   

www.stpatricksparish.co.uk

Frs. Martin Ganeri OP & Neil Ferguson OP  

Blackfriars, 25 George  Square,  EH8 9 LD  

0131 650 0900

http://scotland.op.org/edinburgh/

Further Reading:

Introduction to Christianity. Joseph. Ratzinger.  Ignatius Press. San Francisco. 1990.

Why Be Catholic? Understanding Our Experience and Tradition.  Richard Rohr & Joseph Martos.  St Anthony Messenger Press. 1989.

Questions of Faith.  Michael Paul Gallagher SJ.  Veritas. Dublin. 1996.

Christianity. An Introduction.  Denise Lardner Carmody  & John Tully Carmody.  Wadsworth Inc. Belmont.  1995.

Living Catholicism.  Roderick Strange.  Darton, Longman & Todd. London.  2001.    

Notes on The Orthodox Church

Notes on The Scottish Episcopal Church

Notes on The Church of Scotland

Notes on The Free Church of Scotland

Notes on The Pentecostal and "new" Churches

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