The Catholic Church is the descendent of an unbroken line of succession originating in the Christian church founded by the apostles of Jesus Christ

The Catholic Church is the descendent of an unbroken line of succession originating in the Christian church founded by the apostles of Jesus Christ
Subjects
Apostolic succession	Christianity
Roman Catholic Church	Theology
Linking arguments
Apostolic succession is a valid source of spiritual authority The Assyrian Church of the East is the descendent of an unbroken line of succession originating in the Christian church founded by the apostles of Jesus Christ All Christians should belong to the same church All Christians should be Catholic The Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church is the descendent of an unbroken line of succession originating in the Christian church founded by the apostles of Jesus Christ The Bible contains all of the knowledge necessary to attain salvation Christians should anoint people with oil Christians should confess their sins to priests Christian monarchs rule with authority granted by God Christians can be absolved of sin by confessing them to priests ordained in the Catholic Church The Eastern Orthodox Church is the descendent of an unbroken line of succession originating in the Christian church founded by the apostles of Jesus Christ The Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem is the descendent of an unbroken line of succession originating in the Christian church founded by the apostles of Jesus Christ The Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria is the descendent of an unbroken line of succession originating in the Christian church founded by the apostles of Jesus Christ The Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch is the descendent of an unbroken line of succession originating in the Christian church founded by the apostles of Jesus Christ The Moravian Church is the descendent of an unbroken line of succession originating in the Christian church founded by the apostles of Jesus Christ Only the Catholic Church continues to possess a valid claim of apostolic succession today The Orthodox Church of Constantinople is the descendent of an unbroken line of succession originating in the Christian church founded by the apostles of Jesus Christ The Pope is the spiritually supreme ordained leader in Christendom Popes of the Catholic Church are part of an unbroken lineage of church leaders going back to St. Peter Sacred traditions passed down through apostolic succession have equal authority as the Bible The Syriac Orthodox Church is the descendent of an unbroken line of succession originating in the Christian church founded by the apostles of Jesus Christ

Supporting arguments

The apostolic succession of the Catholic Church is supported by the testimony of Saints Tertullian, Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp of Smyrna, Cyprian of Carthage and Augustine of Hippo.   Related argument: People should venerate figures who are recognized as saints in the Roman Catholic tradition.

Saint Irenaeus documented and promulgated the idea of apostolic succession, and claimed that it was possessed by the Catholic Church.  Related argument: People should venerate figures who are recognized as saints in the Roman Catholic tradition. Related argument: Saint Irenaeus supported apostolic succession.

The modern Pope of the Catholic Church has inherited his position in a line that stretches back to St. Peter.  Related argument: Popes of the Catholic Church are part of an unbroken lineage of church leaders going back to St. Peter.

The Biblical Apostles founded a Church which developed into the modern Roman Catholic Church. This line of succession is unbroken. 

It can be seen in the New Testament of the Bible that the original church was led by the apostles, and that they passed down their positions to the next bishops as the church developed. This succession developed into the many branches of Christianity today, some of which still possession valid claims to apostolic succession.

Apostolic succession continues today in the Catholic Church and only in the Catholic Church, because that is the only institution that has apostolic roots and has not become schismatic.  Related argument: Only the Catholic Church continues to possess a valid claim of apostolic succession today.

Opposing arguments

The Eastern Orthodox Church does not recognize any claims of apostolic validity to churches outside of the Orthodox tradition.  Related argument: Apostolic succession continues today in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Apostolic succession has had practical value in resolving disputes in church history, but it is not an inherent part of Christianity. Formal legalistic ordination in the modern sense didn't exist in the apostles' times.  Related argument: Apostolic succession is a valid source of spiritual authority.

Christians should use the Bible and nothing else as their source of spiritual authority, not any claim to apostolic succession.  Related argument: The Bible is the only infallible source of knowledge about Christian doctrine. Related argument: Sacred traditions passed down through apostolic succession have equal authority as the Bible.

The Catholic Church formerly gave offices and titles, including bishop to people as political favors, which was an invalid purpose. It is likely that, during this time, the Catholic Church's claim to proper apostolic succession was broken through these invalid ordinations.

The chain of apostolic succession was broken when Pope Sylvester I accepted the Donation of Constantine. 

The Catholic Church has demonstrated fallibility and outright dishonesty, which are not features of the true church of Jesus. Thus, it is reasonable to conclude that the chain of apostolic succession has been broken. 

The text of the New Testament supports neither the supremacy of Peter nor the succession of his throne into the Catholic Church.

There is no Biblical support for the idea of apostolic succession, which is completely illegitimate.

Notes

Wiki articles by viewpoint
Neutral wikis	Wikipedia: Apostolic succession Citizendium (Academic): None Debatepedia (Debates): None	Viewpoints	Wikinfo (Sympathetic): Apostolic succession WhyItIsTerrible (Critical): None
Philosophies and topics	Atheism Wiki (Atheist): None FreeThoughtPedia (FreeThought): None Objectivism Wiki (Objectivist): None RationalWiki (Skeptic): None WikiSynergy (Conspiracy theories, inclusive): None EvoWiki (Evolutionary science): None LGBT Project (LGBT): None Religion Wiki (Religious): Apostolic succession	Politics	Mises.org (Austro-libertarian): None Conservapedia (US right-wing, Christian conservative): None Ameriwiki (US right-wing, Christian conservative): None dKosopedia (US left-wing): None LeftSpace (US left-wing): None Liberapedia (US left-wing): None Metapedia (Neo-Nazi): None
Christian wikis	IronChariots (Biblical, counter-apologetics): None Christianity Knowledge Base (Christian): None WikiChristian (Christian): Apostolic succession A Storehouse of Knowledge (Christian): Apostolic succession Creation Wiki (Creationist): None Theopedia (Evangelical Protestant): Apostolic Fathers OrthodoxWiki (Orthodox Christian): Apostolic succession Catholic Wiki (Roman Catholic): None Theologia (Christian, ecumenical): None	Other religious wikis	WikiIslam (anti-Islamic): None Bahaikipedia (Bahá’í): None Dhamma (Buddhist, Theravada): None Hindupedia (Hindu): None Judaism Wiki (Jewish): None Messianic (Messianic Jewish): None MuslimWiki (Muslim): None Wikipagan (Neopagan): None Scientology (Scientology, independent): None SikhiWiki (Sikh): None