Catholic

December 29, 2009

(Gk. katholikos, “universal”)

The word Catholic can refer to the Roman Catholic church or, in general, to the universal Christian church. Protestants believe that from the earliest times, the word “catholic” referred to the church made up of all believers of the “invisible” and “visible” church in all places of all times. Roman Catholics believe that it refers to the church established by Christ and all its institutional authority, namely the Roman Catholic Church. Protestants believe that one is in communion with the catholic church to the degree that they are in communion with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, regardless of tradition or denomination. Roman Catholics believe that one is in communion with the catholic church to the degree that they are in communion with the Roman Catholic church. Therefore, both Protestants and Roman Catholics (as well as the Orthodox) believe that they are catholic (although most Protestants have conceded the term based on common usage and association). As well, all Christian traditions believe in the Nicene Creed’s statement of the four marks of the church, “And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church.”

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