The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) is the oldest of the nine A congregation is a group of people gathered together. It has at least three uses. The most common is a congregation as the group of members who make up a local Christian church or Jewish synagogue (or those who are present at a service thereat), as opposed to the building... congregations of the The Roman Curia is the complex of the organs and the authorities that constitute the administrative apparatus of the Holy See, coordinating and providing the necessary organisation for the correct functioning of the Roman Catholic Church and the achievement of its goals. It is generally considered as representing the government... Roman Curia. Among the most active of the major Curial institutions, it oversees the The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. Members generally prefer the term Catholic Church, but this term has multiple meanings (see Catholicism); the term Roman Catholic Church is used in this article to avoid... Roman Catholic Church Doctrine, from Latin doctrina, (compare doctor), means a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system. The Greek analogy is the etymology of catechism. Often doctrine specifically connotes a corpus of religious dogma as it is... doctrine. It is historically related to the The Inquisition was an office of the Roman Catholic Church charged with suppressing heresy. Their actions and interactions with the local governments are subjects of considerable historical inquiry. Origin The Inquisition was a permanent institution in the Catholic Church charged with the eradication of heresies. Unlike many other religions (e... Inquisition.

Role

According to Article 48 of the Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia, Pastor Bonus, promulgated by Official papal image of John Paul II. His Holiness Pope John Paul II, né Karol Józef Wojtyła (born May 18, 1920 in Wadowice, Poland), is the current Pope — the Bishop of Rome and head of the Roman Catholic Church. He was elected on October 16, 1978... Pope John Paul II on This article is in need of attention. Please improve it in any way you see fit. (Some entries on this page have been duplicated on August 1. See Talk:August_1. The correct dates for such events need to be determined.) June 28 is the 179th day of the year (180th... June 28, 1988 is a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. Events Environmental change Zebra mussels found in the Great lakes December 2 - Cyclone in Bangladesh leaves 5 million homeless - thousands dead December 7 - In Armenia an earthquake 6.9 on the Richter scale killed nearly 25.000... 1988: "the duty proper to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is to promote and safeguard the doctrine on the faith and morals throughout the Catholic world: for this reason everything which in any way touches such matter falls within its competence."

History

On July 21 is the 202nd day (203rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 163 days remaining. Events 1200-1899 1298 - Battle of Falkirk (1298): Englands Edward Longshank defeats William Wallaces Scottish rebels 1568 - Battle of Jemmingen: Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alva... July 21, Events War resumes between Francis I of France and Emperor Charles V. This time Henry VIII of England is allied to the Emperor, while James V of Scotland and Sultan Suleiman I are allied to the French. November 25 - Battle of Solway Moss. An English army invades Scotland and defeats... 1542 Pope Paul III, (1543) portrait by Titian (Tiziano Vecelli), Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte, Naples Paul III, né Alessandro Farnese (February 29, 1468 - November 10, 1549) was pope from 1534 to 1549. He also called the Council of Trent in 1545. Born Alessandro Farnese in Carino, in Tuscany, he came through... Pope Paul III, with the Constitution Licet ab initio, established the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition, staffed with A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official in the Roman Catholic Church, ranking just below the Pope and appointed by him as a member of the College of Cardinals, during a consistory. The duties of the College include counselling the Pope, leading many of the archdioceses, running the Roman Curia... cardinals and other officials whose task it was "to maintain and defend the integrity of the This article discusses faith in a religious context. For other uses, see faith (disambiguation). The best starting point, before digging into subjective human associations with the heavily-loaded word, is reviewing the very simple dictionary definitions of faith. The word faith has various uses; its central meaning is equivalent to... faith and to examine and proscribe errors and false doctrines".

This body was renamed The Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office in 1908 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). Events January-February January 1 - A ball signifying New Years Day drops in New York Citys Times Square for the first time January 8 - A train collision occurs in the Park Avenue Tunnel in... 1908 by Pope Pius X (1903-1914), pictured in 1904, wearing the 1834 Triple Tiara of Pope Gregory XVI Saint Pius X, né Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, (2 June 1835 - 20 August 1914) was Pope from 1903 to 1914, succeeding Pope Leo XIII. He was the first pope since the Counter-Reformation Pope... Pope Pius X. It was changed to Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on December 7 is the 341st day (342nd on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 24 days remaining. Events 1732 - The Royal Opera House opens at Covent Garden, London. 1787 - Delaware becomes the first state to ratify the United States Constitution. 1815 - Michel Ney, Marshal of... December 7, 1965 was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). Events January-February January 4 - United States President Lyndon Johnson proclaims his Great Society during his State of the Union address. January 12 - Bodies of 2 15 year olds Christine Sharrock + Marrine Schmidt found... 1965, at the end of the The Second Vatican Council, or Vatican II, was an Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church opened under Pope John XXIII in 1962 and closed under Pope Paul VI in 1965. However, a small minority of Catholics do not accept it. Some attribute to it a lesser binding authority than... Second Vatican Council. In 1983 is an integer and composite number that represents a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. Events January January 1 - Beat Raaflaub became Basel Boys Choirs new conductor January 1 - the ARPANET officially changes to use the Internet Protocol, creating the Internet. January 1 - compulsory wearing... 1983, with the new code of In Western culture, canon law is the law of the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches. The Eastern Orthodox concept of canon law is similar to but not identical to the more legislative and juridical model of the West. In both traditions, a canon is a rule adopted by a council... canon law, "Sacred" was dropped from the names of Vatican Congregations. It has become the supervisory body of local The Roman Inquisition began in 1542 when Pope Paul III established the Holy Office as the final court of appeal in trials of heresy and served as an important part of the Counter-Reformation. In reaction to the excesses of the Spanish Inquisition, it was tightly controlled by strict procedural... Roman Inquisitions.

Organization

The Pope John Paul II has reigned since 22 Oct 1978. The Pope is the Catholic bishop and patriarch of Rome, and head of Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches (note that the name within the communion is simply the one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church). In addition to... Pope himself held the title of prefect until 1968 was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). Events Undated Booker Prize for Fiction is established by Booker plc. 1968 is known as the year of the Prague Spring and also the year of the Paris riots. The ASCII character code is... 1968 but never exercised this office. Instead, he appointed one of the cardinals to preside over the meetings, first as Secretary, then as Pro-Prefect.

Since 1968, the Cardinal head of the Dicasteries (from Greek: δικαστ, judge/juror) are the central offices of the Roman Curia in which the stewardship of the Roman Catholic Church is entrusted. Examples of dicasteries are the Secretariat of State, Congregations, Tribunals, Councils and Offices, like the Apostolic Camera, the Administration of... dicastery has borne the title of full Prefect. There are usually ten other cardinals on the Congregation, as well as a A prelate is a member of the clergy having a special canonical jurisdiction over a territory or a group of people; usually, a prelate is a bishop. Prelate sometimes refers to the clergy of a state church with a formal hierarchy, and suggests that the prelate enjoys legal privileges and... prelate and two assistants.

The work of the Congregation is divided into four sections: the doctrinal office, the disciplinary office, the matrimonial office and that for priests. The Congregation holds plenary assemblies annually.

Members (2002):

• Prefect: Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger - in 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. Events January Iraqi police officers hold up their index fingers marked with purple indelible ink, a security measure to prevent double voting. Worldwide aid effort continues to develop in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. January 3... 2005 he became His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, officially in Latin Benedictus XVI, born Joseph Alois Ratzinger (Latin: Iosephus Ratzinger) ( April 16, 1927), was elected Pope of the Roman Catholic Church on April 19, 2005. As such, he is Bishop of Rome, Sovereign of the Vatican City State and head of the Roman... Pope Benedict XVI
• Secretary: Angelo Amato
• Under-secretary: P. Joseph Augustine Di Noia
• Promotor of Justice: Charles Scicluna
• Staff of 33
• 25 members: cardinals, In Christianity, an archbishop is an elevated bishop heading a diocese of particular importance due to either its size, history, or both, called an archdiocese. When a bishop becomes an archbishop, he is not in any sense being ordained nor otherwise receiving any sacrament; by contrast (in the Anglican, Catholic... archbishops and Bishop (disambiguation). A bishop is an ordained priest who holds a specific position of authority in any of a number of Christian churches. Bishops in the New Testament The bishops role is typically called the episcopacy, because the word bishop is derived ultimately from the Greek word episkopos (ε... bishops
• 28 consultors

Recent opinions and publications

• Dominus Iesus ( Latin for Jesus (the) Lord) is a document by Pope Benedict XVI, written when he was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and the Congregations then secretary, Tarcisio Bertone. The document, published on August 6, 2000, is subtitled On the... Dominus Iesus ( 2000 - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes.css; @import /skins/monobook/IE55Fixes.css; @import /skins/monobook/IE60Fixes.css; /**/ 2000 From Wikipedia 2000 is a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. Popular culture also holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd... 2000)
• Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons ( 2002 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. It was designated: International Year of Ecotourism and Mountains National Science Year in the United Kingdom Autism Awareness Year in the United Kingdom Events January Euro banknotes in circulation throughout the twelve countries of the European Union that... 2002)[1]  (http://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDfhomun.HTM)
• (Unknown title- the document was not made public) Banned A transsexual (sometimes transexual) person establishes a permanent identity with the opposite gender to their assigned (usually at birth) sex. Transsexual men and women make or desire to make a transition from their birth sex to that of the opposite sex, with some type of medical alteration (gender reassignment therapy... transsexuals from entering consecrated life, orders expulsion of all current transsexual consecrates, and orders church workers not to change baptismal records or otherwise accommodate transsexual worshippers. (2003)

Prefects

• Alfredo Cardinal Ottaviani ( October 29, 1890 - August 3, 1979) was Secretary of the Holy Office of the Roman Curia from 1959 to 1966 when that dicastery was reorganized as the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, in which he served as Pro-Prefect. He was the leader of the... Alfredo Cardinal Ottaviani ( November 7 is the 311th day of the year (312th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 54 days remaining. Events 1665 - The London Gazette, the oldest surviving journal, is first published. 1783 - A man convicted of forgery is the last to be publicly hanged at Londons Tyburn... November 7, 1959 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). Events January-February January 1 - Cultivars of plants named after this date must be named in a modern language, not in Latin. January 1 - Cuba: Fulgencio Batista flees Havana when forces of Fidel Castro advance January... 1959- January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 359 days remaining (360 in leap years). Events 1066 - Harold Godwinson crowned King of England 1205 - Philip of Swabia becomes King of the Romans 1540 - King Henry VIII of England marries Anne of Cleves. 1579... January 6, 1968 was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). Events Undated Booker Prize for Fiction is established by Booker plc. 1968 is known as the year of the Prague Spring and also the year of the Paris riots. The ASCII character code is... 1968) First titled Secretary, then Pro-Prefect, after retirement Prefect Emeritus
• Franjo Cardinal Seper ( January 8 is the 8th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 357 days remaining (358 in leap years). Events 871 - Battle of Ashdown - Ethelred of Wessex defeats Danish invasion army. 1198 - Innocent III becomes Pope. 1734 - Premiere of George Frideric Handels Ariodante at the Royal... January 8, 1968 was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). Events Undated Booker Prize for Fiction is established by Booker plc. 1968 is known as the year of the Prague Spring and also the year of the Paris riots. The ASCII character code is... 1968 - November 25 is the 329th (in leap years the 330th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 36 days remaining. Events 1000-1899 1034 - Malcolm II of Scotland died. Duncan, the son of his second daughter, instead of Macbeth, the son of his eldest daughter, inherited the... November 25, 1981 is a common year starting on Thursday. Events January-February January - Sarawak Chamber found January 1 - Greece enters the EEC January 1 - Palau becomes self-governing January 4 - Sheffield police arrests Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper January 10 Townsville International Airport opens (aus) January 16 - Protestant gunmen shoot and... 1981)
• His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, officially in Latin Benedictus XVI, born Joseph Alois Ratzinger (Latin: Iosephus Ratzinger) ( April 16, 1927), was elected Pope of the Roman Catholic Church on April 19, 2005. As such, he is Bishop of Rome, Sovereign of the Vatican City State and head of the Roman... Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (November 25, 1981 - April 2 is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 273 days remaining. Events 1453 - Mehmed II begins his siege of Constantinople (İstanbul), which would fall on May 29 1513 - Juan Ponce de Leon sets foot on Florida becoming the first... April 2, 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. Events January Iraqi police officers hold up their index fingers marked with purple indelible ink, a security measure to prevent double voting. Worldwide aid effort continues to develop in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. January 3... 2005) - As required by church law, he ceased functioning as Prefect after the death of Official papal image of John Paul II. His Holiness Pope John Paul II, né Karol Józef Wojtyła (born May 18, 1920 in Wadowice, Poland), is the current Pope — the Bishop of Rome and head of the Roman Catholic Church. He was elected on October 16, 1978... John Paul II. With his subsequent election as His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, officially in Latin Benedictus XVI, born Joseph Alois Ratzinger (Latin: Iosephus Ratzinger) ( April 16, 1927), was elected Pope of the Roman Catholic Church on April 19, 2005. As such, he is Bishop of Rome, Sovereign of the Vatican City State and head of the Roman... Pope Benedict XVI, he will select his own sucessor.

Secretaries

• Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val y Zulueta ( October 10, 1865- February 26, 1930) was a Roman Catholic Cardinal ( Cardinal Priest of S. Prassede) from 1903 until his death. He was born in London to Spanish diplomatic parents and lived in the United Kingdom until 1878. He was ordained a priest... Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val ( October 14 is the 287th day of the year (288th in Leap years). There are 78 days remaining. Events 1066 - Norman Conquest: Battle of Hastings - In England on Senlac Hill, seven miles from Hastings, the Norman invasion forces of William the Conqueror defeat the English army and kill King Harold... October 14, 1914 is a common year starting on Thursday. (see link for calendar) Events January 4 - 77 seal hunters freeze to death on ice near Labrador. January 5 - Ford Motor Company announces an eight-hour workday and a minimum wage of $5 for a days labor. February 13 - Copyright: In... 1914 - February 26 is the 57th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 308 days remaining, 309 in leap years. Events 747 BC - Epoch (origin) of Ptolemys Nabonassar Era. 1266 - Battle of Benevento: French forces, under Charles of Anjou, overcome a combined German- Sicilian force. 1797 - The... February 26, 1930 is a common year starting on Wednesday. Events January-February January 6 - The first diesel-engine automobile trip is completed (Indianapolis, Indiana, to New York City). January 27 - Miguel Primo de Rivera resigns January 30 - General Damaso Berenquer becomes the new prime minister of Spain February 18 - While studying... 1930) (his death)
• Donato Cardinal Sbarretti ( July 4 is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 180 days remaining. Events 993 - Saint Ulrich of Augsburg canonized. 1054 - A supernova is observed by the Chinese and Amerindians near the star ζ Tauri. For several months it remains bright enough... July 4, 1930 is a common year starting on Wednesday. Events January-February January 6 - The first diesel-engine automobile trip is completed (Indianapolis, Indiana, to New York City). January 27 - Miguel Primo de Rivera resigns January 30 - General Damaso Berenquer becomes the new prime minister of Spain February 18 - While studying... 1930- April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne. 1318 - Berwick-upon-Tweed is captured by the Scottish from... April 1, 1939 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). Events January-June January 2 - End of term for Frank Finley Merriam, 28th Governor of California. He is succeeded by Culbert Levy Olson. January 24 - Earthquake kills 30.000 in Chile – about 50.000 sq... 1939) (his death)
• Francesco Cardinal Marchetti-Selvaggiani ( April 30 is the 120th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (121st in leap years). There are 245 days remaining. Events 313 - Roman emperor Licinius unifies the entire Eastern Roman Empire under his rule. 1492 - Spain gives Christopher Columbus his commission of exploration. 1671 - Petar Zrinski, the Croatian... April 30, 1939 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). Events January-June January 2 - End of term for Frank Finley Merriam, 28th Governor of California. He is succeeded by Culbert Levy Olson. January 24 - Earthquake kills 30.000 in Chile – about 50.000 sq... 1939- January 13 is the 13th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. It is still celebrated as New Years Eve by those on the Julian calendar. There are 352 days remaining (353 in a leap year). Events 888 - Odo, Count of Paris becomes King of the Franks. 1328... January 13, Global Metrics Human security Major Armed Conflicts: Total Deaths in Battle: 700,000 people Violent Deaths caused by Government (Other than War): Violent Deaths caused by other humans: Juvenile Violent Crime: Political security Nations Holding Multi-party Elections: Percentage Living under a Fully Democratic System of Governance: Free Countries: Percentage... 1951) (his death)
• Giuseppe Cardinal Pizzardo (July 13, 1877-August 1, 1970) was named a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Pius XI in the consistory of 1937. Born in Savona, Italy, he was ordained a priest in 1903 and entered the Roman Curia in 1909. In 1930 he was consecrated... Giuseppe Pizzardo ( February 16 is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 318 days remaining (319 in leap years). Events 1742 - Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilmington, becomes British Prime Minister. 1804 - First Barbary War: Stephen Decatur leads a raid to burn the pirate-held frigate Philadelphia. 1838... February 16, Global Metrics Human security Major Armed Conflicts: Total Deaths in Battle: 700,000 people Violent Deaths caused by Government (Other than War): Violent Deaths caused by other humans: Juvenile Violent Crime: Political security Nations Holding Multi-party Elections: Percentage Living under a Fully Democratic System of Governance: Free Countries: Percentage... 1951- October 12 is the 285th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (286th in leap years). There are 80 days remaining. Events 1400-1899 1492 - Christopher Columbuss expedition makes landfall in the Caribbean. The explorer believes he has reached East Asia. 1609 - Three Blind Mice published by London... October 12, 1959 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). Events January-February January 1 - Cultivars of plants named after this date must be named in a modern language, not in Latin. January 1 - Cuba: Fulgencio Batista flees Havana when forces of Fidel Castro advance January... 1959)
• Subsequently the head of the dicastery has been Prefect.

See also

• The Index Librorum Prohibitorum (Index of Prohibited Books)—also called Index Expurgatorius—is a list of publications which Roman Catholics were banned from reading, pernicious books, and also the rules of the Church relating to books. The aim of the list was to prevent the reading of immoral... Index Librorum Prohibitorum
• Crimen sollicitationis is a secret document issued by the Holy Office of the Vatican (now the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) in 1962, instructing bishops about how to handle cases in which priests were accused of using the privacy of the confessional to make sexual advances to penitents... Crimen sollicitationis

External links

• Homepage on Holy See website (http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/)
• Brief presentation on Holy See website (http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_pro_14071997_en.html)