Q137 Why is the Church called apostolic?
The -> CHURCH is called apostolic because she was founded upon the apostles, holds fast to their Tradition, and is governed by their successors. [857-860, 869, 877] Jesus called the -> APOSTLES to be his closest collaborators. They were his eyewitnesses. After his Resurrection, he appeared to them repeatedly. HeContinue Reading
Q136 How does the Church view other religions?
The -> CHURCH respects everything in other religions that is good and true. She respects and promotes freedom of religion as a human right. Yet she knows that Jesus Christ is the sole redeemer of all mankind. He alone is “the way, and the truth, and the life” (Jn 14:6).Continue Reading
Q135 What is the relation between the Church and the Jews?
Jews are the “older brethren” of Christians, because God loved them first and spoke to them first. Jesus Christ as man is a Jew, and this fact unites us. The Church recognizes in him the Son of the living God, and this fact separates us. In awaiting the final comingContinue Reading
Q134 Who belongs to the Catholic Church?
Anyone who, in union with the -> POPE and the bishops, is united to Jesus Christ through profession of the Catholic faith and reception of the -> SACRAMENTS is in full communion with the Catholic Church. [836-838] God willed on -> CHURCH for all. Unfortunately we Christians have been unfaithfulContinue Reading
Q133 Why is the Church called catholic?
“Catholic” (Greek kat’holon) means related to the whole. The -> CHURCH is catholic because Christ called her to profess the whole faith, to preserve all the -> SACRAMENTS, to administer them and proclaim the Good News to all; and he sent her to all nations.[830-831, 849-856]Continue Reading
Q132 Why is the Church holy?
The church is holy, not because all her members are supposedly holy, but rather because God is holy and is at work in her. All the members of the Church are sanctified by Baptism.[823-829] Whenever we allow ourselves to be touched by the Triune God, we grow in love andContinue Reading
Q131 What must we do for the unity of Christians?
In word and deed we must obey Christ, who expressly wills “that they may all be one” (Jn 17:21). [820-822] Christian unity is the business of all Christians, regardless of how young or old they are. Unity was one of Jesus’ most important concerns. He prayed to the Father, “thatContinue Reading
Q130 Are non-Catholic Christians our sisters and brothers also?
All baptized persons belong to the -> CHURCH of Jesus Christ. That is why also those Christians who find themselves separated from the full communion of the Catholic Church, in which the Church of Jesus Christ lives on, are rightly called Christians and are therefore our sisters and brothers. [817-819]Continue Reading
Q129 Why can there be only one Church?
Just as there is only one Christ, there can be only one Body of Christ, only one Bride of Christ, and therefore only one -> CHURCH of Jesus Christ. He is the Head, the Church is the Body. Together they form the “whole Christ” (St. Augustine). Just as the bodyContinue Reading
Q128 What dows it mean to say that the Church is the “Temple of the Holy Spirit”?
The -> CHURCHÂ is the place in the world where the Holy Spirit is completely present. [797-801, 809] The people of Israel worshipped God in the Temple of Jerusalem. This temple no longer exists. It has been replaced by the Church, which is not limited to a particular place. “WhereContinue Reading
