[GipperCT]

Catholicism is the oldest of the Christian sects and, until relatively recently, its most conservative voice.

Hello!? Forgetting that the Catholic church began as a split from the Greek Orthodox in 1054 are we? The Greek Orthodox church is the only church that can trace it's roots back to the Apostles. Greek Orthodox have their own issues to deal with, but unmarried "clergy" jumping kids ain't one of them....

[Cicero]

I think you will find similar problems in the Orthodox Church. For instance, most or all of the bishops in Russia belonged to the KGB, and they have always had a problem of being too close to the political authorities. The Church split in 1054, but it's not as clear as you seem to think which is the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church of the creeds, and which is in schism.

[Aquinasfan]

Isaiah 22:22, Matthew 16:19, Revelation 3:7

[ArrogantBustard]

Forgetting that the Catholic church began as a split from the Greek Orthodox in 1054 are we?
That's a matter of perspective. I'd put it the other way around.

The Greek Orthodox church is the only church that can trace it's roots back to the Apostles.
That's just plain false.

AB

[johnqueuepublic]

Dont think so.

The schism originated because the Eastern church would not recognize Jesus as part of the Godhead, the filioque clause inserted into the Nicene Creed caused the Eastern church to separate itself because they could not accept the Holy Spirit coming both from God and his Son.

I think the statement is correct, the Roman Catholic sect is the oldest the Eastern sect started in 1054 so it's younger than Islam.

[Snuffington]

Forgetting that the Catholic church began as a split from the Greek Orthodox in 1054 are we? The Greek Orthodox church is the only church that can trace it's roots back to the Apostles.

A silly mischaracterization of Church history. Neither one "began" when the schism occured. Both the Western and Eastern Churches easily trace their roots to the apostles. The schism between them is the greatest wound to the body of Christ since the crucifixion.