Joseph

Rome was the center of the Empire and thus at the heart of the Greco-Roman world, hence the Church was centered there also. 

In 70 CE Jerusalem was destroyed and Christians moved out, very many to Antioch.

God bless,


NoelFitz.
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In necessariis, unitas; in dubiis, libertas; in omnibus, caritas.
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Joseph,

The Holy Spirit called Peter and Paul to Rome.  Some necessary circumstances included the need to preach to the Gentiles, the destruction of Jerusalem (which was foretold by Jesus).  Safety was a big concern for Jewish Christians in Jerusalem.  After Stephen’s ministry and martyrdom (Acts 6:8 and Acts 7:60) Luke lists places (Acts 11:19-21) that the early believers scattered to-Phoenicia (modern-day Lebanon), the Greek island of Cyprus and Antioch in Syria, the third-largest city in the Roman Empire (Alexndria in Egypt was second largest and Rome was the largest city.)

I recommend a book Upon This Rock by Stephen K. Ray.  The author struggled with the same questions that you may have.  He writes about St. Peter and the Primacy of Rome in Scripture and the Early Church.  The book takes a journey back in time to the New Testament period and the generations that followed in the footsteps and the teachings of Jesus and his apostles and the writings of the Early Fathers of the Church. An overview from Upon This Rock page 67:

30 The death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus; Pentecost

30-37 Peter the head of the Church in Jerusalem

38-39 Peter’s missionary journeys in Samaria and on the coast of Palestine

40-41 Peter in Antioch

42 Imprisonment in Jerusalem, escape and departure to “another place.”

42-49 First sojourn in Rome

49 Expulsion from Rome by the edict of Claudius against its Jews

50 In Jerusalem for the Apostolic Council.

(This first general council of the Church, presided over by Peter, the Apostles, and the elders, resulted in an authoritative decree of the Church, which was binding upon all believers. Precedent was set for future Ecumenical Councils.)

50-54 In Antioch, Bithynia, Pontus, Asia and Cappodocia (some of the places)

54-57 Second sojourn in Rome; Gospel of Mark written under Peter’s direction

57-62 In Bithynia, Pontus and Cappodicia (some of the places)

62-67 Third sojourn in Rome: canonical Epistles of Peter; Mark with Peter in Rome

67 Martyrdom in Rome and burial near the Necropolis at the Vatican

Let me clarify that I do not think that Catholicism is Judaism, only that it incorporated many if not most of its structure first from Judaism and then from the Roman Empire.  This complicated and often convoluted growth is why there has been such debate between Catholics, Jews, and Protestants over the "center of Christianity."

I'm not sure that I agree with the statement that, "Christ gave Rome to the Catholics for their suffering."  Who knows, it may be accurate but I cannot find evidence in Scripture to substantiate that position.

Joseph Bailey

bhokuto,

Just so you'll know, I have a New American Bible and yes, I have read those "books not in a Protestant one, have a copy of the CCC of which I am halfway through completing, have read the Bible through three times and much of it many more times as when I exercise or driving I listen to the Bible on tape.  It is that listening to it repeatedly that one discerns more than just reading.  Also, I am a regular reader of Zenit, New Advent, Catholic Culture, Catholic World News, a somtimes viewer of EWTN and sometimes listener of it via shortwave before that device broke on me. 

The history is vast and that is why anyone who claims to be a Christian (Catholic or otherwise) would do well to study in-depth that "vast history."  I have a minor in History, besides a BA, MA, and hours beyond that MA.  It is in seeing the "big picture" and studying history that has me asking the questions that I have been for such a long time.  I will be the first to state out loud and in a clear voice that when it comes to Christmas, the Catholic Church seems to do it better than anyone-if that makes sense.  Protestants were right about the need to study the Word yourself but often the role of liturgy in a Protestant church is neglected and that is not so in a Mass.  Ritual has its place, something that has been misunderstood by those thinking I am attacking Catholicism.  It is just that it should be part of a balanced approach to worship and be sincere, not just going through the motions of it.

Joseph Bailey 

Free Will Baptist are truly a work of art.  I will probably get kicked off of here for what I am about to write but I both respect and think that FWB are in another world, 99% of their own making.  I cannot begin to tell you that they are as different from Southern Baptists as night/day but suffice to say that one, they believe in "losing salvation."  Two, they will argue up one side and down the other that time stood still from the Resurrection until about 1800, when they came into being, roughly.  They believe no other Christian is gonna be in heaven and when they preach they start that heaving and yelping like "they got the Holy Ghost."  EXTREMELY fundamentalist and you absolutely cannot have any type whatsoever of discussion with them about Christianity.

Joseph Bailey

Yes but Isreal of the Old Testament is not the Catholic Church.  I believe this is one of the main issues of contentions here in this debate/discussion.  What God gave to the Isrealites in the Old Testament was part of the old covenant and not the new convenant formed through Christ.

Joseph Bailey 

But if we discard what God gave to the Israelites in the Old Testament completely, are we not throwing out the baby with the bath water, so to speak? By his fulfilling the law, Christ came to finish what had been started thousands of years before. There was a plan of salvation, the original "contractors" botched it up, so Jesus was sent. The new plan included the original people plus those heretofore excluded (the Gentiles). If the Jews had recognized and embraced Jesus as the Messiah, then how would the Church look today? Probably a lot like the Catholic Church I'd wager. The shared history belongs to both the Jews and the Christians. I've heard some criticism that there are Jews who think Christians hijacked their faith. In many ways your comments suggest that you see the hijacking yourself on the part of the Catholic Church. 

Did we just change lanes?

"The Catholic Church frames the Christian life as one in which you must exercise virtue—not because virtue saves you, but because that's the way God's grace gets manifested." Dr. Francis J. Beckwith

Agreed.

However I think I answered the question in my original reply to Joseph.

God bless,


NoelFitz.
_________________________________________________
In necessariis, unitas; in dubiis, libertas; in omnibus, caritas.
_________________________________________________

I do think that the "hijacking" is a decent way to describe what happened after the Resurrection and how what is known as the Catholic Church came to take many aspects of Judaism and claim it as its own, for whatever reason that happened at that time.  I dare say that no Jewsih religious leader today or any from history will back the claim that Catholicism is the new Isreal and that the center of religious life be in Rome.  However, that does not negate what the Church as done because there was no need for it claim so much of Judaism as its own.  The new convenant was here and whatever the connection (and Christians should know it) to any heritage with Judaism, that was all that needed, a knowing of the heritage.  Once the sacrifice and Resurrection were complete it was that message that Christians were charged with to tell the world.  The plan that the Almighty had used with Judaism was always meant to be a plan for the world to know Him and now the price was paid for humanities sins.

Joseph Bailey

Guys, let's do Joseph the courtesy of completely reading his posts.

He has already said on his post of Saturday, 12/01/2007 at 10:32pm that he has a NAB Bible and is halfway through the CCC. I personally prefer the RSV(Catholic Edition), but the NAB and the Jerusalem Bible are both also approved for use at Mass.

I think the reason the Church is based in Rome instead of anywhere else because that is where the chair of Peter is - where Peter was bishop when he died.  I do not know why Peter left Antioch for Rome, which is where he was bishop before he went to Rome, nor why he left Jerusalem for Antioch. Maybe some historians out there know more abou that.

But go to Rome he did. And there we are.

Joseph, I apologize for overlooking your post of Sat, 12/01/2007 - 9:32pm. which states that you are reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa - through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievious fault.

I’m an ordinary cradle Catholic and I must refer to the CCC often for information.  I learn more each time I look up a topic.   

Thank you, PTR, for pointing out the oversight.  I appreciate your help.  You’re very knowledgeable on many topics about the Catholic faith.