I have 2 Concerns about the Catholic Church............?

23 rites does not equal 23 churches. Rites are merely differences in format and tradition, not doctrinal differences.

The Catholics and Orthodox *both* have Jesus as their historical founder. This position is especially defensible for these two churches in light of the fact that they are regional and did not significantly overlap until international travel become more commonplace. That is because they both grew out of the exact same tradition, in different parts of the world that were politically separated. These churches did not split in the same sense that the Protestant churches did; it was a gradual drifing apart that was cemented by various historical events.

1. Each of the 23 Catholic churches share all the same government, rites, sacraments, and creed. The different Catholic "rites" and "churches" reflect various nationalities and cultures ... and certain accomodations that the Latin church has made to provide for the free expression of their authentic and complete Catholic faith.

2. Like the Roman (Latin) Church, the Orthodox churches were founded by apostles, they have valid sacraments, a valid priesthood, and they agree with most all of the Catholic creed.

The 11th century schism that split the Catholic church in half was an unfortunate political matter that has never been resolved.

As a result, the Orthodox churches have been without the guidance of the Pope, and without the benefit of the authentic government of the Catholic Church, for a thousand years.

Some have remained relatively strong. Others have degenerated over time.

The fact that they were originally constituted as authentic churches, by authentic apostles who were empowered by Christ, means that they are still a part of the true and authentic Catholic Church, but they suffer from what they lack, as a result of the unfortunate schism.

The Latin (Roman) Catholic Church alone remains completely and divinely constituted, precisely as Jesus personally set things up.

>>If there can be no division in the body of Christ, then why are there 23 different Catholic Churches, isn't that a division in the body of Christ?<<

The rites are just different ways of doing things; we all still believe the same teachings and are all in communion with the Pope and each other.

>>How is the Catholic Church the only Church that can trace its roots to Jesus and the Apostles if the Orthodox, as a historical fact have Jesus Christ as there founder. How can both the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church have Jesus Christ as their founder?<<

We were one Church until 1054. The Orthodox Church says the Catholic Church went into schism, and the Catholic Church says the Orthodox Church went into schism. You’ll have to decide for yourself which you believe, but here’s how I look at it: where is Peter? Jesus left Peter in charge of His Church (Matthew 16:18-19; John 21:15-17), and how can Peter be in schism from himself? So, which organization has the successor of Peter? (Hint: the leader of the Orthodox, Bartholomew I, says he is the successor of Andrew.)

It's not only Catholic Churches that are "divided" (more on this below) but all Christian Churches. A state of affairs that is not optimal or desirous.

The Catholic Church has a long and colorful history, part of which occurred in the days before mass communication. Though all Churches ultimately grew out of the preaching of the apostles, naturally, local churches (e.g., in Rome, Antioch, Alexandria, Constantinople) developed their own ways of worshiping that took into account local languages and customs. (BTW, it is one of the classic slanders against the Catholic Church the "the Vatican" imposes complete uniformity on the Church. This was much less so in the earlier days of the Church.

At the time of the Great Schism in 1054, the Eastern and Western parts of the Church split up over a variety of differences in doctrine and polity -- i.e, being in communion with the Pope. Long story. It was at this time that the Orthodox Church (which Catholics recognize as having apostolic succession) split from the Western Church (which also has apostolic succession). Though a large bloc of Orthodoxy split away (and hasn't been back since) quite few smaller Orthodox-style Churches remain in communion with the Holy Father. These were allowed to retain their local rites and languages and are considered part of the Catholic Church, which (in spite of the diversity of worship styles and languages) remains one, holy catholic (universal) and apostolic.

Regarding division in the Church:

There will be always division everywhere. It started from the time of Cain and Able. Even Christ himself had Judas to betray him. (That’s division enough among his disciples), but just like Christ, the Catholic Church will reign triumphant since it is the Church Jesus Christ Founded.

Although you are mistaken about having 23 different kinds of Catholic Churces. We are united with 23 different rites, of which the Roman Rite is the most well-known. The only thing that divides the Church are the rotten apples which is just a new Judas of our times.

There is only one catholic Church but there are 23 =Rites or ritual churches that compose the church the way American states compose one America:there is one "president': the Pope and oneunited Church in communion,faith and doctrinal voice The Catholic Church is not just a vague federation of churches.

The Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church were the same Church for over 1000years

For Protestantism to work, we have to compare the model of what we have today and try to match it with scripture. It is fits, then we’re good; if it doesn’t, then we know something is wrong. So, does it fit?

Lets examine a few basics. Protestantism relies on personal interpretation of scripture, and no outside biblical authority to interpret the sacred texts. This means they can read the bible, make their own interpretations, and teach that version to others.

Did the Apostles do that? In other words, when Jesus taught the Apostles, were they free to take what they’d learned from Him, interpret it their own way, and teach THAT version to others, OR were they only able to teach the ONE Faith set down by Jesus Christ?

OBVIOUSLY everyone knows they received and taught ONE Faith. It was not open to personal interpretation, hence the constant fights against heresy, and if anyone had a question or dispute, it was settled by the Apostles (there’s your Church authority).

Plus, we have one more detail to consider. Everything of the Protestant movement is based entirely on scripture. It is a religion of the book. What happens, then, when we look at history and find out that the bible wasn’t always there? By Protestant claims, all truth can only be found in the bible. Well, this is where history shuts it down. Jesus died in 33 AD. The first book of scripture, Thessalonians, wasn’t written until 17 YEARS LATER, around 50 AD. That’s a gap of nearly 2 decades with no written scripture! How was the faith taught? How were disputes settled? Did Christianity come to a grinding halt for 17 years until someone decided to sit down and write something on paper?

So then even before Protestants get started on comparing themselves to the early church found in scripture, they have to account for a period of time when there was NO BIBLE, a fact that completely unravels their book-based religion. Yet, in the absence of the written word, Christianity was still being taught and practiced. How was that possible?

Sacred Tradition. The Faith was preserved by the teaching authority of the Church, which Jesus gave to the Apostles, and which they handed on to their successors, all the way to our present day.

There is only one Church that can actually lay claim to having apostolic origin WITH the proof to back it up, both then and now. That is the Roman Catholic Church.

You asked:

"why are there 23 different Catholic Churches"

I'm not certain if you mean 23 different churches with "catholic" in their name, or 23 Catholic Churches. The Catholic Church exists in many different countries, and these countries are separated in East and West. The word "catholic" means "universal", and is a more or less adopted generic word that is often given a specific meaning. Any church can put the word "catholic" in their name, but there is only one "Catholic" Church. Sometimes the language is confusing.

You ask"

"How can both the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church have Jesus Christ as their founder?"

The Catholic and Orthodox Churches are both the original Christian Church. Before the Great Schism there was only one Christian Church, existing as individual Patriarchates around the world. Those Churches still exist, and are both the Original Church, and have as their founder Jesus Christ.

There will always be only one Christian Church, and that Church is, sadly, split in half between Catholicism and Orthodoxy.

.

1. The different rites in the Catholic church differ in the way we worship God not in what we believe about God. This is diversity not division.

We share a common set of beliefs but we respect each of our liturgical traditions, many of which go back over a thousand years.

In addition to the Latin Rite (Roman) Catholic Church, the Eastern Rite Catholic Churches are in full communion with the Pope, and are part of the same worldwide Catholic Church.

Eastern Rite Catholic Churches include:

Alexandrian liturgical tradition

+ Coptic Catholic Church

+ Ethiopic Catholic Church

Antiochian (Antiochene or West-Syrian) liturgical tradition

+ Maronite Church

+ Syrian Catholic Church

+ Syro-Malankara Catholic Church

Armenian liturgical tradition:

+ Armenian Catholic Church

Chaldean or East Syrian liturgical tradition:

+ Chaldean Catholic Church

+ Syro-Malabar Church

Byzantine (Constantinopolitan) liturgical tradition:

http://www.byzcath.org/index.php?option=com_conten...

+ Albanian Byzantine Catholic Church

+ Belarusian Greek Catholic Church

+ Bulgarian Greek Catholic Church

+ Byzantine Church of the Eparchy of Križevci

+ Greek Byzantine Catholic Church

+ Hungarian Greek Catholic Church

+ Italo-Albanian Catholic Church

+ Macedonian Greek Catholic Church

+ Melkite Greek Catholic Church

+ Romanian Church

+ Russian Byzantine Catholic Church

+ Ruthenian Catholic Church

+ Slovak Greek Catholic Church

+ Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13121a.htm

2. The Catholic Church fully acknowledges the apostolic succession of the bishops of the Orthodox Churches.

The Orthodox and Catholic Chruches were one and the same until they separated from one another in 1054.

There are very few theological differences.

Pope John Paul II said of the Orthodox Churches in Orientale Lumen, "A particularly close link already binds us. We have almost everything in common."

For the entire document, see: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apo...

+ With love in Christ.

1. You're correct. There's also division within the Catholic church itself (what people would call the "Roman Catholic church") -- you have liberal Catholics and conservative Catholics, and Catholics in this country wanting the pope to approve of things while Catholics in other countries don't believe those things are right. Doesn't sound very "unified" to me.

2. The Catholic church only CLAIMS to trace its roots to the apostles. A large number of Catholic doctrine cannot be found anywhere in the teachings of the apostles in the Bible. The fact is that Jesus made it clear that His church was the entire community of believers -- Jew and Greek, male and female. Acts 15, the first "church council," makes it very VERY clear that one does NOT have to be a particular denomination in order to obtain salvation by grace through faith, because it's all about Jesus, not the name on the marquee.