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."

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.

Classifications of Power

Following the mandates of the Vox Dei Commission, the modern Church divides supernatural phenomena into three distinct theological categories. This framework guides how the parish of Our Lady of Redemption interacts with its unique congregation.

1. Biological & Scientific (The Natural)

Subjects: Mutants, Science, Technology, and Natural origins.

Doctrine: These abilities are treated exactly like athletic talent or high intellect -- they are "Charisms" (gifts) to be used for the common good. A mutant with wings or a hero in power armor can receive communion without restriction.

2. The Arcane (The Neutral)

Subjects: Magic origin heroes (provided they are not infernal).

Doctrine: The Church distinguishes between Goetia (summoning/pacts, which is forbidden) and Theurgia/Magia Naturalis (manipulating ambient dimensional energies).

Stance: Magic is viewed as "Applied Metaphysics." As long as the power source is ambient (like gravity or ley lines) and not drawn from a sentient evil entity, it is permitted.

The MAGI Accord: The Vatican maintains a formal liaison with MAGI (Modern Arcane Guild of Investigation) to ensure magical heroes aren't accidentally opening gates to Hell.

3. The Plane-Touched (The Complicated)

Subjects: Kheldians, Spirits, Undead, and Infernal Hybrids.

Doctrine: The Church asserts that the presence of a Human Soul is the deciding factor for salvation, regardless of the biology hosting it.

The "Fee Will" Clause": A colloquial term for the doctrine stating that if an entity possesses free will and a conscience, it is presumed to have a soul. Therefore, it is capable of redemption.

Dispensatio Sacramentalis

This is the "Sacramental Allowance" granted to specific parishioners.

• The Theological Problem: Holy Ground is saturated with "Consecrated Resonance." To a being with Infernal biology (like a half-devil), this frequency is physically agonizing and magically dampening because their physical form is antithetical to the signal, even if their soul is Catholic.
• The Solution (The Rite of Allowance): Developed by the Dicastery for Extraordinary Affairs, this rite acts as a "spiritual Faraday Cage."
• The Process: By receiving the rite (usually via Confession and Penance), the priest places a temporary spiritual ward on the person's soul that dampens the reaction between their biology and holy ground.
• Requirements: This requires a priest trained in "Spiritual Hazard Containment" (like Father McAllister), as they must channel a small amount of risk to act as a buffer for the penitent.

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

The parish operates with a modest staff, most of whom are long-time residents of King's Row who understand the neighborhood's unwritten rules.

• Father James McAllister (Pastor): Known locally as the "Shepherd of the Strange," he is a man in his late 50s with the build of a former dockworker.
  • Role: A priest with specialized training in "Spiritual Hazard Containment" 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.
  • Visuals: He carries a heavy rosary made of dark wood and steel wire—durable enough to be a weapon if necessary.

• Sister Margaret Connor (Charitable Director): The "Logistical Tank" of the parish. A formidable woman in her 60s who runs the parish soup kitchen and charitable drives with military efficiency.
  • Visuals: She wears a traditional habit, often with heavy work boots hidden underneath.
  • Stance: She treats superpowers with utilitarian indifference, often putting super-strong heroes to work moving crates of food.

• Frank & Jolene Riley (Operations): The "Good Cop / Bad Cop" of church operations.
  • Frank Riley ("The Bouncer"): A retired PPD beat cop with a white mustache and flat cap. He scans the perimeter and uses his radio connection to the local precinct to manage trouble before it reaches the sanctuary doors.
  • Jolene Riley ("The Fixer"): The facilities administrator who manages the physical upkeep. She knows where the "special" cleaning supplies are kept to remove scorch marks or ectoplasm before morning Mass.

• The Deckards (Maintenance): An older couple known as the "Silent Custodians".
  • Role: They speak very little but handle the heavy maintenance. They are deeply religious and unfazed by the supernatural, often seen repainting the protective wards on the windowsills when the paint chips.

• Johnathan Murphy (Music Director): A younger man with a "rocker" past and tattoos visible above his collar.
  • Role: Responsible for the choir and service programming. His arrangements are often melancholic; there is a theory that his specific choice of hymns helps maintain a "calm" atmosphere that dampens aggressive impulses in the congregation.

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, allowing them to express their Catholicism even while using their supernatural gifts.

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