Introduction

All Christians look to the Bible to find out what they should and shouldn't believe, and how they should and shouldn't behave.

Some Christians, especially Roman Catholic Christians, also look to the teachings the church has made in the past.

Roman Catholics believe that the Church has the Magisterium , the authority to teach church members what to believe.

So what is the church? Church literally means the body of Christ, the people who make the Church, not the Church building.

Roman Catholics believe it is the church that has the authority to teach the church (the magisterium) but in practice, this authority lies with the Pope and the bishops. This authority includes the right to announce moral principles, telling Roman Catholics how they should live their lives.