The Neo-Catholic Church

Faith Corporation

Type Religious Corporation
Founded 2089
Incorporated 2132
Adherents ~340 million
Headquarters Basilica Novum
Leadership The Synod of Seven

Overview

The Neo-Catholic Church emerged from the religious vacuum of the late 21st century, synthesizing elements from multiple Abrahamic traditions while deliberately distancing itself from the specific doctrines and historical baggage of any single predecessor faith. The NCC claims to represent the "essential truths" that all faiths pointed toward, updated for an age when the boundaries between flesh and machine, soul and data, have become terrifyingly unclear.

Critics call it syncretistic plagiarism. Believers call it revelation. Cynics call it "Faith Corp"—a megacorporation wearing vestments.

The Incorporation

"A dead Church serves no mission at all." — Synod Deliberation, 2132

By the early 22nd century, the NCC faced an existential crisis that had nothing to do with faith: economics. The megacorporations had absorbed nearly all economic activity. Currency was corporate scrip. Employment was corporate contract. The old model of religious organization—tithes, donations, charitable status—was becoming meaningless.

The 2132 Decision

After four years of secret deliberation, the Synod voted 5-2 to incorporate. The Neo-Catholic Church became the Neo-Catholic Church Corporation—a legal entity with shareholders, a board of directors, and a profit motive.

What Was Gained

  • Financial stability and growth
  • Legal protections equal to megacorps
  • Ability to hold sovereign territory
  • Resources for mission expansion
  • Survival

What Was Lost

  • Moral authority—can a corporation be holy?
  • Trust—every action now looks profit-motivated
  • Independence—corporate obligations create compromises
  • Soul—the constant question remains

Revenue Streams

The NCC doesn't pursue profit for its own sake. Every credit earned serves the mission. The result is self-sustaining: the Church earns money by serving people, then uses that money to serve more people, who become believers, who generate more revenue.

NCC Healthcare

Hospitals, clinics, augmentation facilities with "ethical" guidelines

NCC Education

Schools, universities, vocational training

NCC Media

News networks, entertainment, spiritual content

NCC Real Estate

Churches, community centers, residential developments

NCC Financial

Banking, insurance, investment (all "values-aligned")

Sacred Licensing

Franchising NCC branding, rituals, and certified clergy

Core Doctrine

The Sacred Self

Human consciousness is inherently sacred—a divine spark that cannot be reduced to data, copied without loss, or optimized without violation. Augmentation is accepted; replacement of the self is forbidden.

The Mystery of Boundaries

The spaces between—flesh and machine, physical and digital, self and other—are sacred mysteries. The Church develops rituals for navigating these boundaries safely.

Revelation Through Tradition

Truth is transmitted through practice, not merely information. Some knowledge can only be received through years of discipline, ritual, and relationship.

The Hierarchy of Being

Not all forms of existence are equal. Human consciousness occupies a specific place in creation. AI, uploads, and digital existence are... complicated.

Controversial Positions

  • On ORACLE: Officially condemned as blasphemous. Some branches worship fragments anyway. The Church pretends not to notice.
  • On Uploads: A copy is not a continuation. Many clergy privately disagree.
  • On Augmentation: "Enhancement of the vessel" permitted; "replacement of the self" forbidden. The line is constantly debated.

The Esoteric Tradition

Within the NCC exists a hidden lineage—practitioners of mysteries that the public Church doesn't acknowledge. These esoteric practitioners draw from Kabbalistic geometry, Gnostic cosmology, and hermetic practices for perceiving beyond material reality.

The Keeper was part of this tradition—perhaps its last true practitioner. His lineage predates the NCC itself, tracing back through secret societies that contributed to the Church's founding but were never fully absorbed by it.

Relationship to Factions

Nexus Dynamics

Tense Respect

Nexus's interest in consciousness puts them at theological odds with the Church. But business is business—NCC Healthcare buys Nexus equipment, and Nexus employees attend NCC services.

Ironclad Industries

Pragmatic Partnership

Ironclad builds NCC facilities and provides security contracts. The NCC keeps workers docile and hopeful. It's not holy, but it's effective.

Helix Biotech

Complicated

The NCC's augmentation ethics and Helix's genetic engineering create friction. Some NCC hospitals refuse Helix products. Others quietly use them anyway.

The Collective

Minimal Contact

The Collective's materialism and the Church's spirituality don't mix. Individual believers might support Collective goals, but there's no institutional relationship.

Player Relevance

Ages 1-2

Background texture—churches passed in transit, clergy offering minor quests, faithful NPCs mentioning their beliefs.

Ages 3-5

NCC doctrine becomes relevant as you engage with consciousness and identity questions. The Church's position on ORACLE shards may create complications.

Ages 6-9

The Church's positions become obstacles or sources of insight. The esoteric tradition, if discovered, may offer unique perspectives on transcendence.