In about 700 A-to-Z entries, ""Encyclopedia of Catholicism"" explores a 2,000-year-old religion that has more than 1 billion followers worldwide. Examining its origins and history, this reference also highlights issues the Church currently faces, such as its inculturation in non-European societies, the status of women, and the struggles over sexuality, abortion, euthanasia, and the environment. Coverage includes key people, movements, institutions, practices, and doctrines of this influential religion. This informative encyclopedia also features photographs, a comprehensive introduction that provides an overview of the tradition, a list of popes and antipopes, an extensive chronology, a bibliography, and an index. Entries include: Abbess/abbot, Anti-Semitism, Apocalypse, Baptism, Benedict XVI, Canon, Charismatic renewal, Dorothy Day, Death and dying, Donatism, Meister Eckhart, Ecotheology, France, Galileo Galilei, Greek Catholic Church, Holy Roman Empire, Holy Spirit, Investiture Controversy, Knights Templar, Liberation theology, Liturgical music, Opus Dei, Papal bull, Relics, Oscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdamez, Vatican City, John Wycliffe, and more.