The Christian Church

Quotations from high-quality sources ...

These articles are organized by ...

• topic, and
• source (Bible, Church Fathers, Church Councils, etc.)

Purpose ...

1. Assist Catholics in ...
   • understanding their faith
   • defending against attacks by anti-Catholics

     (Protestant and other)

2. Demonstrate to non-Catholic Christians (Protestants) that ...
   • Catholicism is the apostolic church established by Jesus
   • the doctrinal changes made by the Protestant Reformers are ...
     • unbiblical
     • contrary to the historic Christian faith ...

       yet we are brothers and sisters in Christ

My perspective ...

The true church established by Jesus is:

1. Spiritual -- the mystical body of Christ; those with a working faith
2. Institutional -- A divine institution of humans with ...
   • true doctrine and moral teaching
   • leaders who teach and defend the faith
   • tradition passed-down from Jesus and the apostles

Regarding the institutional church ...

• The Catholic church is the true apostolic church founded by Jesus ...

  The Orthodox and Protestant churches are separated from full communion with the Catholic Church.

• Throughout history some members (including leaders) of the Catholic church have been ...
  1. flawed ...

     (priestly scandals, so many liberal Catholics, violence by Catholics against other Christians, etc.) ...

  2. prone to an inwardly-focused "churchiness"

     instead of emphasizing a relationship with Jesus

• The Protestant reformers were right in reacting to the abuses of the Catholic church, but they developed heretical doctrines. As a result, their unity with the true church is imperfect. My only complaint with Protestants is that some are anti-Catholic.

  Spirit-filled, "born-again", Protestants are (1) heaven-bound Christians, and are (2) members of Christ's church

About the author ...