LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - There are some things that everybody knows about the Catholic Church, even if you aren't a Christian. For example, most people know that Roman Catholic priests wear roman collars, and remain celibate. There are notable exceptions; such as former Anglican Ministers becoming Catholic priests after being received into full communion and Eastern Catholic priests who, like the Orthodox Clergy, can be chosen from among both celibate and married men. Everyone knows who the Pope is and that he lives in Vatican City, ensconced in Rome. But there are some surprising things even faithful Catholics don't know. Read these six things Catholics don't know about their church and see how many surprise you.

The Catholic Church once 'killed' the Olympics! With the summer Olympics coming to London, the entire world is atwitter with excitement. Many of those athletes will be Catholic and the Catholic Church in London will be celebrating a special opening mass for the games. But few, outside of church scholars and historians, may know that the Catholic Church once killed the Olympics. It's true!

The downfall of the ancient Olympics games began largely with Emperor Theodosius I, who passed a series of laws banning the degrading and dehumanizing practices of Roman paganism. While he did not specifically ban the games, he did ban many of the rituals associated with the games and their pagan origins. With the attendant rituals banned, including rites of worship to Zeus, to whom the games were dedicated, the games lost much of their perceived "religious" motivation. The last official games were held in 394 AD, although some historians claim the games persisted into the fifth century. 

In any case, the decline and end of the ancient games was a direct result of the influence of the Catholic Church in the political and daily realm of the late Roman Empire and its culture. In an effort to stamp out dehumanizing and degrading practices of paganism and to unify the people under the one true religion, the ancient Olympics had to go. 

Hospitals
Many modern hospitals are named for saints and are closely associated with the Church and religious orders.  However, fewer people understand that the first modern hospitals were industries of the Catholic Church. The Church has always viewed the provision of care to the sick as a part of the continuing admonisition of Jesus to heal the sick and the charge found in the 25th chapter of Matthew's Gospel to care for Jesus who is revealed in the poor whom He so loves.  

The Catholic Church was the original healthcare provider, establishing the first hospitals for the care of the sick and the poor in ancient Rome after the legalization of Christianity. The homes of early bishops and wealthy Christians were popular places for treatment of the sick. Later, special places were built to house patients as well as pilgrims. Health care was made available to all.

Just who built the first dedicated hospital and when remains under dispute, but by the start of the fifth century they were being referenced by the early Church fathers in their writings. Between the fall of the Roman Empire and the ascendance of Charlemagne, (476 - 800 AD), a period often (incorrectly) referred to as "the dark ages" more than a dozen hospitals were founded across Europe. By the medieval period, numerous religious and military orders sprang up to care for the sick and it was in these institutions that the best care of the age could be found. 

To this day, the Catholic Church is a leading provider of health services around the world, still providing care to young and old alike, regardless of their station or means. This is at the heart of her mission and her service to the common good. It is also at risk in the currently charged environment occasioned by the HHS Mandate.

Innocent until proven guilty
Catholic scholars should know this, but the average layperson does not. Many of the legal concepts that form the basis of law in western society are direct descendants of the efforts of Pope Gregory VII (d 1085) and the influence of great Catholic theologians and philosophers such as the "angelic doctor," St. Thomas Aquinas. Gregory's efforts resulted in a widespread effort to combine philosophy with law. The results were generally very positive and fair. Concepts such as presumption of innocence, equality before the law, and reasonable doubt are all direct products of the Catholic Church. Along with one that isn't so popular today in some circles -- the understanding of corporate personhood. 

Accounting
Accountants should know that they owe much ...