The Catholic Church has stood strong through the 21st century despite challenges. While some see the Church's beliefs as outdated or misogynistic, the Church has been progressive in establishing institutions like universities and hospitals. The Church also developed concepts of justice, mercy, and generosity. Individual Catholics have also made significant artistic, literary, and architectural contributions. The Church continues to survive through its unbreakable lineage to Jesus Christ and by treasuring revelation, scripture, tradition, and reason - allowing it to adapt to modern beliefs while maintaining core teachings.

1. The Catholic Church
Stands Strong in the
Twenty-First Century
By Derrick Burrell

2. It is no secret to the members of the
Catholic Church that perhaps the
modern twenty-first century man or
woman might struggle with the inherent
supposed outdated and misogynistic
beliefs held by the religion.

3. The momentum of history has suggested
that the beliefs of the Catholic Church are
behind the times, with their anti-LGBT
and anti-science notations.

4. However, according to an article recently
completed by The Catholic World Report,
this is not always the case in the
viewpoints actually held by the Church;
the religion, the article argues, deserves
its due for its survival thus far in the
momentum of history.

5. The Catholic Church has been
progressive in its concession of new ideas
and institutions. The Church is
responsible for creating such things as
universities and hospitals.

6. The Church also created the very
concepts of universal justice, mercy and
generosity; prior to this invention, only
the elite was granted the privilege of
human and legal rights.

7. Catholics have contributed other things to
society, both by the authorities of the
Church and from individual members. In
direct contradiction of the belief that the
Church is limiting or constrictive against
creative endeavors, many Catholics have
created infamous depictions of Scripture
and the Church through art, literature
and architecture.

8. The Church has also worked to improve the
good of all people, through bold stands
against opposing authorities, such as
Thomas More’s words to Henry VIII and
Joan of Arc’s words against her inquisitors.
These members are able to do so through
the authority of the Church, which traces
back to Jesus Christ in an unbreakable line.

9. This unbreakable lineage to Jesus Christ
does not mean the Church or its members
are without their faults. There have been
many miscreants in their Church in the
history of its existence—humans who have
made human errors and mistakes—and
still the Church has survived.

10. That alone is a testament to the strength
of the organization. In the words of Pope
Francis, the Church is a field hospital for
sinners, which enables them to be
absolved of their crimes through the
simple acts of confession.

11. But the Church has survived more than
simply the misguided actions of its
members. Through endless cycles of
oppressive leaders and governments, the
Church has continued to stand.

12. The Church has stood against science as
well, providing several physical
phenomenon and miracles that science
alone cannot explain. However, this has
not hindered its survival; several scientists
over the course of time have been devout
Catholics.

13. The continued strength of the Catholic
Church—especially in the face of
science—can be attributed to three of
the most revered aspects of the religion.

14. Catholics treasure Revelation – Scripture,
tested Tradition and reason; this has
allowed scholars and mystics to open many
windows to the Divine; therefore, it is not a
surprise that the Church continues to
move forward, even in the light of science
and the modern beliefs held by those in the
twenty-first century.