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CHRISTENDOM. The Christian polity insofar as the principles of Christianity
governed (and still govern) the laws and civil institutions of nations. Its
foundations may be traced to the Jewish traditions of a theocracy, and its history
properly began with the liberation of the Church under Constantine. It developed
through more than a millennium in most of the countries of Europe and with numerous
setbacks remained fairly intact until the Protestant Reformation. In its best
days, Christendom represented the corporate Christian social life, and its impact
on world civilization through the arts and philosophy, law and the medieval
universities has been great and lasting. With the changed conditions in the
world, the Second Vatican Council expressed the Church's new role in civil society:
"By reason of her role and competence, the Church is not identified with
any political community nor bound by ties to any political system. She is at
once the sign and the safeguard of the transcendental dimension of the human
person" (Church in the Modern World, IV, 76).
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Comments are subject to deletion if they are not germane. I have no problem with a bit of colourful language, but blasphemy or depraved profanity will not be allowed. Attacks on the Catholic Faith will not be tolerated. Comments will be deleted that are republican (Yanks! Note the lower case 'r'!), attacks on the legitimacy of Pope Francis as the Vicar of Christ (I know he's a material heretic and a Protector of Perverts, and I definitely want him gone yesterday! However, he is Pope, and I pray for him every day.), the legitimacy of the House of Windsor or of the claims of the Elder Line of the House of France, or attacks on the legitimacy of any of the currently ruling Houses of Europe.