Our Lady of Redemption

Author’s Notes

Strict Player Canon

The material on this page is strictly player canon for roleplay purposes, and does not express or imply any authority over any other player's canon nor assert any standing in the full and official Homecoming setting. This church and the assumptions about the Catholic doctrine that surround it are nevertheless offered to the community as open resources to be used for roleplay, under the assumption that the Church is not damaged, desecrated, or destroyed, and the NPC's who staff it are not harmed or killed.

Religion in the Setting

The content on this page explores a fictionalized version of the Roman Catholic Church specifically adapted for the author's roleplay within the City of Heroes (Primal Earth) universe. While the superhero genre frequently tackles complex themes of justice, power, and morality, it also has a long tradition of integrating spiritual elements -- from demons and blessings to the personal faith of characters like Nightcrawler or Daredevil.

The organizations, doctrines, and historical events described here (such as the Vox Dei Commission) are works of speculative alternate history. They are designed to explore how an ancient real-world institution might react to the sudden existence of superheroes, magic, and aliens. This material is intended solely to provide depth and flavor for roleplay. It is not an endorsement of specific real-world dogmas, nor is it an attempt to proselytize or critique actual religious beliefs. We aim to treat the subject matter with respect while adapting it to the fantastical reality of Paragon City.

Global Theology

The doctrines and organizations detailed represent only the author's personal roleplay canon of the Roman Catholic response to the emergence of the Metahuman. In a world where the supernatural, extraterrestrial, and mutagenic are undeniable realities, it is understood that all major faith traditions—including Protestant denominations, Judaism, Islam, and Eastern philosophies -- have undergone similar periods of theological introspection and adaptation.

Just as the Vox Dei Commission sought to reconcile Catholic dogma with the existence of Superpowers and Superbeings, other faiths would inevitably have convened their own councils, issued their own edicts, and established their own specialized ministries to guide the powered population. The absence of those details here reflects only the specific narrative focus of this article, not an absence of their influence in Paragon City.

The Doctrine of Donum Extraordinarium

In the wake of the 20th Century's explosion of metahuman activity, the Catholic Church faced an existential theological crisis. The official response, codified in the Doctrine of Donum Extraordinarium (The Extraordinary Gift), separates the "Super" from the "Supernatural."

I. Historical Development: The Silent Council

The Era of Binary Simplification (Pre-1938)

For nearly two millennia, the Church managed the existence of the supernatural through a rigid binary lens: the unexplainable was categorized either as a Miracle (derived from God) or Maleficium (derived from the Diabolic).

The Vatican was not ignorant of the arcane. Secret records within the Apostolic Archive hint at centuries of shadow conflicts with "Pagan remnants" (the Circle of Thorns) and the containment of "cursed bloodlines" (latent mutation). However, these incidents were isolated and suppressed. An individual manifesting strange abilities in the 14th century was processed through the machinery of Canonization or the Inquisition. There was no theological framework for "superpowers" -- only Saints and Sorcerers.

The rise of Lord Nemesis and the industrial horrors of the late 19th century began to fracture this worldview. The existence of steam-powered automatons and chemically enhanced soldiers suggested a terrifying third category: power born neither of Heaven nor Hell, but of Man's own hubris. This theological confusion festered quietly in Rome until the dawn of the Golden Age forced the issue into the public eye.

The Crisis of the Golden Age (1938–1954)

As the "Golden Age" of heroism dawned, the Vatican became polarized into two distinct theological camps regarding the nature of the "Metahuman":

• The Integrationists (The "Thomists"): Led largely by Jesuit intellectuals and the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Stefano Conti. They argued that "Grace builds upon Nature". They posited that if a man is born with wings (Mutation), it is a natural variation of God’s design, similar to athletic talent or high intellect.
• The Exclusionists (The "Nephilim Faction"): Led by the hardline traditionalist Bishop Jean-Paul Valerius. This group viewed superpowers as a corruption of the Imago Dei (Image of God). They feared these beings were the return of the biblical Nephilim -- abominations born of unnatural power -- and argued that "To fly is the sin of Icarus made flesh".

The Incident at St. Jude’s (1944)

The theoretical debate turned into tragedy near the end of World War II. In a Chicago parish, a young girl manifested uncontrolled telekinetic powers during Mass, levitating the altar.

The local monsignor, adhering to the Exclusionist view, believed it to be demonic possession and attempted a forceful exorcism. The stress of the ritual caused a psychic aneurysm in the child, killing her instantly and shattering the stained glass, which permanently blinded the monsignor. The event galvanized the Integrationists, who argued that theological ignorance was killing innocent children.

The Vox Dei Commission (1955)

In response to the growing crisis, Cardinal Conti spearheaded a secret pontifical commission known as the Vox Dei ("Voice of God") Commission. Their mandate was to officially categorize superpowers. Their findings, though confidential to the public, revolutionized Church doctrine:

• The Ruling: The "Super Gene" (Mutation) and Scientific Enhancement are biological and physical variations of Creation, not spiritual deviations.
• The Definition: A mutant is declared Imago Dei (made in the image of God) and is capable of salvation.

The "Schism of the Gift"

The acceptance of the Vox Dei findings was not universal. Bishop Valerius refused to accept the ruling. In 1955, he vanished, taking three dozen priests, substantial Vatican funds, and crates of "Dark Artifacts" from the archives.

He formed the Malleus Society (Ordo Malleus), a splinter group dedicated to hunting and "cleansing" mutants and magic users. This created a "Shadow War" within the Church that persists to the modern day, with the Malleus Society often coming into conflict with Church-sanctioned organizations like MAGI.

The Vatican II Addendum (1965)

While the public understood the Second Vatican Council as a reform of liturgy, in the Primal Earth timeline, it also addressed the "Metahuman Question". The Council formally adopted the Vox Dei findings, establishing two key tenets:

1. Morality of Use: Possessing power is not a sin; the use of that power determines the morality.
2. Protectors of the Meek: This paved the way for the acceptance of "Hero Priests" and framed masked vigilantes as distinct from vigilante justice, categorizing them as protectors of the innocent.

Classification of Powers

Current doctrine divides metahuman origins into three theological categories:

1. The Natural (Biological & Scientific): Mutants, Technology, and Science origins. Treated as "Charisms" (talents). No spiritual restrictions.
2. The Arcane (Applied Metaphysics): Magic origins. The Church distinguishes between Goetia (forbidden summoning) and Theurgia (permissible manipulation of ambient dimensional energies). Cooperation with MAGI is maintained to monitor threats.
3. The Plane-Touched (The Complicated): Entities such as Kheldians, Spirits, and Hybrids. Doctrine asserts that the presence of a Human Soul (evidenced by free will and conscience) allows for salvation, regardless of biological casing.

Specialized Organizations

To manage the unique spiritual needs of a powered population, several "quiet" organizations operate within the Church's shadow bureaucracy.

• The Order of St. Albert (The Albertines): Scientist-Priests and Mage-Priests who study the physics of the supernatural.
• The Dicastery for Extraordinary Affairs: The administrative body that tracks infernal threats and authorizes specialized pastoral care.
• Custodians of the Threshold: Priests specially trained to hear the confessions of metahumans, vigilantes, and those afflicted by curses. They are authorized to grant the Dispensatio Sacramentalis.

Our Lady of Redemption

Our Lady of Redemption
The church frontage in King's Row.
Location	King's Row (Central Tenements)
Affiliation	Roman Catholic Church / Local Community
Leader	Father James McAllister
Status	Active Sanctuary

Our Lady of Redemption is a small parish located in the heart of King's Row. To the public, it is a "hard-luck" church serving the working poor, ex-cons, and the homeless. To the Metahuman community, it is a known sanctuary for those who walk the line between monster and hero.

The Building

Nestled tightly between residential tenements, the church relies on urban camouflage. It keeps a low profile, with fire escapes and brickwork blending into the gritty aesthetic of the Row.

• The Rose Window: A large stained-glass window that dominates the south-facing street facade. It is rumored to act as a passive ward against lower-level spirits, and sunlight that passes through it becomes sanctified.
• The Side Entrances: Shielded from public view by narrow alleys, these doors allow heroes (or villains seeking redemption) to enter and exit without alerting the media or the PPD.
• The Confessional: Specially reinforced and soundproofed to contain the energies and secrets of powered penitents.
• The Reliquary: A reinforced display case in the narthex containing minor artifacts of the "Hidden War" -- a burnt rosary from the 1944 Schism, a shard of a destroyed Circle of Thorns altar, and other spiritual detritus.
  • The case is secured by a visible MAGI Containment Seal (Class 3). This wax-and-lead stamp signifies that the contents are metaphysically volatile and that the Church has been deputized by MAGI to keep them contained on consecrated ground.
• The Undercroft: The basement is a reinforced, windowless level originally built as a bomb shelter during the Cold War. It serves as the "overflow" for the soup kitchen during the day, but at night, the heavy steel doors can partition off secure rooms for "sensitive cases" or containment.

Interior knave of the Church

The Staff

• Father James McAllister (Pastor): A priest with specialized training from the Dicastery for Extraordinary Affairs. He serves as a confessor to the "Unique," capable of distinguishing between a mutant, a mage, and a demon. He maintains connections with MAGI and the FBSA.
• Sister Margaret Connor (Charitable Director): A formidable woman who runs the parish soup kitchen and charitable drives. She treats superpowers with utilitarian indifference, often putting super-strong heroes to work moving crates.
• Frank & Jolene Riley (Operations):
  • Frank Riley: A retired PPD beat cop who acts as the church's "Bouncer," keeping trouble away from the sanctuary doors.
  • Jolene Riley: The facilities administrator who manages the physical upkeep and cleans up "metahuman accidents" before the morning mass.
• Johnathan Murphy (Music Director): Responsible for the choir and service programming, known for somber, grounding arrangements.

The Sacramental Allowance

Because the parish serves the "Plane-Touched," Father McAllister is authorized to perform the Dispensatio Sacramentalis. This rite provides a temporary spiritual ward for parishioners with infernal or cursed biology (such as Samantha Grey), dampening the physical pain caused by contact with consecrated ground or holy artifacts.

• This allowance is conditional, requiring regular Confession and specific penance (often the Rosary) to maintain the spiritual "shield."