How to Discuss the concept of the Catholic Church being the "One, True Church" with non-Catholic Christians

[zaramarie81]

That’s not exactly how I read this.

Here’s what I believe is the relevant portion of the catechism:

817 In fact, "in this one and only Church of God from its very beginnings there arose certain rifts, which the Apostle strongly censures as damnable. But in subsequent centuries much more serious dissensions appeared and large communities became separated from full communion with the Catholic Church - for which, often enough, men of both sides were to blame."269 The ruptures that wound the unity of Christ’s Body - here we must distinguish heresy, apostasy, and schism270 - do not occur without human sin:

Where there are sins, there are also divisions, schisms, heresies, and disputes. Where there is virtue, however, there also are harmony and unity, from which arise the one heart and one soul of all believers.271
818 "However, one cannot charge with the sin of the separation those who at present are born into these communities [that resulted from such separation] and in them are brought up in the faith of Christ, and the Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers . . . . All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church."272

819 "Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth"273 are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: "the written Word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope, and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements."274 Christ’s Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities as means of salvation, whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the Catholic Church. All these blessings come from Christ and lead to him,275 and are in themselves calls to "Catholic unity."276

Wow, thank you. This is VERY helpful. I knew there was a section in the catechism that articulated the issue well, just hadn’t located it.

 

[TOME]

I think if we Catholics are going to discuss this question we had better first understand that the Catholic Church herself does not the Catholic Church “Is” (Est) “The Church”, rather, the Church founded by Christ “Subsist” within the Catholic Church.

This was a radical developement in ecclesiology proclaimed by Vatican II in Lumen Gentium and judging from many of the post I have read in Catholic Answers Forum over the past few years this is not either known, understood, or accepted.

Needless to say, but I will say it anyways, this teaching of the Church also has serious implications in the traditional understanding, of many, of the term there is “No salvation outside of the Church”.

Again, if we are going to discuss the concept of the Church being “One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic” a better understanding of the Constitution of the Church (Lumen Gentium) is essential