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 a valid Christian Church
   • the doctrinal changes made by the Protestant Reformers are ...
     • unbiblical
     • contrary to the historic Christian faith ...

       yet we are brothers and sisters in Christ

I should note that I am not Catholic; rather, I am an "Ecumenical Christian".

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 claims to be the true apostolic church founded by Jesus ...

  and that 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 new doctrines which were never a part of the Christian heritage. They broke unity with the Catholic Church. 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

Statement of Faith | About the author ...