“Our profession of faith begins with God, for God is the First and the Last, the beginning and the end of everything. The Credo begins with God the Father, for the Father is the first divine person of the Most Holy Trinity; our Creed begins with the creation of heaven and earth, for creation is the beginning and the foundation of all God’s works.”[1]
Catholic belief is succinctly expressed in the profession of faith or credo called the Nicene Creed:
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.[2]
A more complete explanation of what we Catholics believe in is contained in a series of documents listed below and found on the USCCB website usccb.org.[3]
- Bible
- Canon Law
- Complementary Norms
- Catechism of the Catholic Church
- Compendium
- Conformity Review
- U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults (USCCA)
- Catholic Social Teaching
- Love and Sexuality
- Morality
- Stewardship
All of the above refers to humans and human behavior. However, we must also be very respectful and protective of everything GOD has created-all living things, the air we breathe and the water we drink. Living things includes all animals-those on land, those in the air, and those in the water. It also includes all plant life. We also need subsistence so, to some extent, that takes precedence over protecting what GOD has created. [4]
[1] Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 198
[2] I.B.I.D.
[3] I.B.I.D.
[4] Pope Francis, On Care For Our Common Home. May 24, 2011