Is there only One Church?

[SavedbyHisBlood]

Here is an interesting question i was asked:

So do you (as a Catholic) believe that your Church is the only church? i.e. if someone belonged to another church other than yours (Prodestant) do you think they would go to Heaven?

I really didn’t know what to say besides “I hope so…”

I’ve heard Catholics refer to the Catholic Church as ‘THE Church’, ‘The TRUE Church’ or something like that. but is it a widespread belief that if someone didn’t belong to ‘THE Church’ do they go to Hell?

Again i hope not and i know Final Judgement is up to Jesus… but i just really dont know how to answer the question.

 

[MarcoPolo]

The document Lumen Gentium which is the Church’s document on the nature of the Church words it thusly:This is the one Church of Christ which in the Creed is professed as one, holy, catholic and apostolic, (12) which our Saviour, after His Resurrection, commissioned Peter to shepherd,(74) and him and the other apostles to extend and direct with authority,(75) which He erected for all ages as “the pillar and mainstay of the truth”.(76) This Church constituted and organized in the world as a society, subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the Bishops in communion with him,(13*) although many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside of its visible structure. (Lumen Gentium #8)*Essentially, the Catholic Church is the fullness of Christ’s Church. The document also notes how all those with valid baptism are “incorporated” into the one Church, although imperfectly united. You could also get into those invincibly ignorant, but who strive to serve God’s will as members also.

 

[Della]

Here is an interesting question i was asked:

So do you (as a Catholic) believe that your Church is the only church? i.e. if someone belonged to another church other than yours (Prodestant) do you think they would go to Heaven?

I really didn’t know what to say besides “I hope so…”

We cannot know who is in heaven except for the few persons the Church has canonized. So, we cannot determine anyone’s heart based on his religious affiliation. Having said that, for those persons who have access to the sacraments of the Church, who faithfully live out their baptismal vows, these persons can have the moral hope of going to heaven. It’s harder for someone who doesn’t have the benefits Christ himself gave us to be saved, but they certainly can be. That’s the short answer.

I’ve heard Catholics refer to the Catholic Church as ‘THE Church’, ‘The TRUE Church’ or something like that. but is it a widespread belief that if someone didn’t belong to ‘THE Church’ do they go to Hell?

Again i hope not and i know Final Judgement is up to Jesus… but i just really dont know how to answer the question.

All who go to heaven are a part of Christ’s Church even if they are not in full communion with it. That is the teaching of the Church.

Those who with full knowledge and consent of their wills reject Christ’s Church, though are in danger of damnation. Still, we cannot judge anyone’s heart. We leave that strictly up to God.

 

[Eucharisted]

There is one one Church, just as there is only one Mediator.

The Church is in Heaven, Purgatory, and on Earth. So those who are baptized become saints, and those who go to Purgatory become saints, and those who go to Heaven become saints. It is not a matter of intolerance but a matter of yielding to Love. God is Love Itself.

 

[Tetiaroa]

Here is an interesting question i was asked:

So do you (as a Catholic) believe that your Church is the only church? i.e. if someone belonged to another church other than yours (Prodestant) do you think they would go to Heaven?

I really didn’t know what to say besides “I hope so…”

I’ve heard Catholics refer to the Catholic Church as ‘THE Church’, ‘The TRUE Church’ or something like that. but is it a widespread belief that if someone didn’t belong to ‘THE Church’ do they go to Hell?

Again i hope not and i know Final Judgement is up to Jesus… but i just really dont know how to answer the question.

The path to God was set by God down to man and not by man up to God. Jesus built his Church so that through his Church we may enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Now one man broke away from that Church and went on his own to build his own Church so that he and his followers may also enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. We cannot judge the man and we cannot judge his followers. It is up to God. What we can do is to pray for God’s mercy upon them and to assist them either in knowing about the truth or helping to to find their way back to the Church. If God decides to give salvation to them are we saying "NO GOD! THEY ARE PROTESTANTS!?? Of course not. But if they (Protestants) say that we (Catholics) are not going to heaven, then we MUST do something to correct their incorrect perception of the truth and provide them with the whole truth so that it is up to them to accept.

AMEN

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Here is an interesting question i was asked:

So do you (as a Catholic) believe that your Church is the only church? i.e. if someone belonged to another church other than yours (Prodestant) do you think they would go to Heaven?

I really didn’t know what to say besides “I hope so…”

I’ve heard Catholics refer to the Catholic Church as ‘THE Church’, ‘The TRUE Church’ or something like that. but is it a widespread belief that if someone didn’t belong to ‘THE Church’ do they go to Hell?

Again i hope not and i know Final Judgement is up to Jesus… but i just really dont know how to answer the question.

Christ only established ONE Church upon Peter. There are many Christians who belong to other Ecclesial Communities who are not joined to the Visable Catholic Church, but who being Baptized have the possibility of Salvation.

 

[catholic1seeks]

All those who are properly baptized in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are members of the one Church but imperfectly. This (imperfect) union of all baptized Christians is the Mystical Body of Christ. However, the Church not only has spiritual, invisible dimension, but a visible reality.

Think of the Church as two circles that intersect: (1) the Mystical Body of Christ (the spiritual union all true Christians share) and (2) the visible Church founded on Peter and the apostles. One can be part of the Church but not fully within the bounds of unity that Christ called for.

 

[budgie2]

The document Lumen Gentium which is the Church’s document on the nature of the Church words it thusly:This is the one Church of Christ which in the Creed is professed as one, holy, catholic and apostolic, (12*) which our Saviour, after His Resurrection, commissioned Peter to shepherd,(74) and him and the other apostles to extend and direct with authority,(75) which He erected for all ages as “the pillar and mainstay of the truth”.(76) This Church constituted and organized in the world as a society, subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the Bishops in communion with him,(13*) although many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside of its visible structure. (Lumen Gentium #8)Essentially, the Catholic Church is the fullness of Christ’s Church. The document also notes how all those with valid baptism are “incorporated” into the one Church, although imperfectly united. You could also get into those invincibly ignorant, but who strive to serve God’s will as members also.

A protestant could go to heaven but I’m not sure all protestants will go to heaven (aswell as all Catholics). The Church teaches that Protestants do not have true sacraments apart from baptism and marriage (I think). We can’t share communion with protestants. In the Gospel of John Jesus said:“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” I don’t know if the adverse is true. Equally many Protestant churches don’t have the sacrament of Confession so I don’t know if they have mortal sins forgiven. However, they believe that they can be forgiven directly by Christ.

 

[Peter_Dawson]

Here is an interesting question i was asked:

So do you (as a Catholic) believe that your Church is the only church? i.e. if someone belonged to another church other than yours (Prodestant) do you think they would go to Heaven?

I really didn’t know what to say besides “I hope so…”

I’ve heard Catholics refer to the Catholic Church as ‘THE Church’, ‘The TRUE Church’ or something like that. but is it a widespread belief that if someone didn’t belong to ‘THE Church’ do they go to Hell?

Again i hope not and i know Final Judgement is up to Jesus… but i just really dont know how to answer the question.

The answer to the question, “Is the Catholic Church the only Church?,” is complex.

We say that the Catholic Church is “one, holy, catholic and apastolic,” but I think “one” refers to the fact that we are the only church established by Christ.

Protestant theology is that we separated from the fold, and that they are a continuation of the pre-Reformation organization.

But I think that when they severed themselves from Peter – that is, from the chair of Peter – they severed themselves from Orders. And when they denied Real Presence theology, they denied the Eucharist.

When they did one or both of these things, they made themselves NOT the continuation of the pre-Reformation organization.

We’re “it.”

HOWEVER, Christ makes it pretty clear that other churches are still graced by the Holy Spirit, and this, indeed, is Church doctrine.

Additionally, I suspect that the time of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah in the OT is actually a picture prefiguring the post-Reformation period.

 

[NHInsider]

[snip]

Additionally, I suspect that the time of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah in the OT is actually a picture prefiguring the post-Reformation period.

Nice!! I like it a lot.

 

[Peter_Dawson]

Nice!! I like it a lot.

It works out well.

 

[wisdomseeker]

Here is an interesting question i was asked:

So do you (as a Catholic) believe that your Church is the only church? i.e. if someone belonged to another church other than yours (Prodestant) do you think they would go to Heaven?

I really didn’t know what to say besides “I hope so…”

I’ve heard Catholics refer to the Catholic Church as ‘THE Church’, ‘The TRUE Church’ or something like that. but is it a widespread belief that if someone didn’t belong to ‘THE Church’ do they go to Hell?

Again i hope not and i know Final Judgement is up to Jesus… but i just really dont know how to answer the question.

hope this will help you.

thecatholictreasurechest.com/oneonly.htm

 

[StrawberryJam]

Here is an interesting question i was asked:

So do you (as a Catholic) believe that your Church is the only church? i.e. if someone belonged to another church other than yours (Prodestant) do you think they would go to Heaven?

I really didn’t know what to say besides “I hope so…”

I’ve heard Catholics refer to the Catholic Church as ‘THE Church’, ‘The TRUE Church’ or something like that. but is it a widespread belief that if someone didn’t belong to ‘THE Church’ do they go to Hell?

Again i hope not and i know Final Judgement is up to Jesus… but i just really dont know how to answer the question.

In Revelation there are seven or so churches mentioned. I have no idea if that helps.

 

[wisdomseeker]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Dawson

[snip]

Additionally, I suspect that the time of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah in the OT is actually a picture prefiguring the post-Reformation period.

no. far from that. i say it is the CC and Orthodox Churches.

 

[Karen1960]

In Revelation there are seven or so churches mentioned. I have no idea if that helps.

They are just 7 of the local Churches at that time.
For example, if it was written today it could be said, St. Mary’s in Ohio, St. Peter’s in Germany, St. Anne’s in California, and so forth.
These were not future Churches or the only Churches that would be, but short letters of praise and warnings for Churches of that time.

Hope this helps

 

[StrawberryJam]

They are just 7 of the local Churches at that time.
For example, if it was written today it could be said, St. Mary’s in Ohio, St. Peter’s in Germany, St. Anne’s in California, and so forth.
These were not future Churches or the only Churches that would be, but short letters of praise and warnings for Churches of that time.

Hope this helps

They sound so very different in their practices based on the warnings. I do not know if your comparison would work because I am sure St Mary’s and St Anne’s dont differ so very much that they would be practicing in such different ways. But, I suppose it is possible.

 

[Della]

They sound so very different in their practices based on the warnings. I do not know if your comparison would work because I am sure St Mary’s and St Anne’s dont differ so very much that they would be practicing in such different ways. But, I suppose it is possible.

You would be surprised. Every diocese, every parish faces its own challenges The things that might impact a parish in L. A. would be quite different from a northern, rural Minnesota parish.

The churches in Revelation had different problems and different strengths, but they were all one in faith, baptism, and leadership. It that were not so, John would have had no authority to tell them anything from the Lord. They would have only looked to their local bishops. But, John was an Apostle to whom the bishops listened. And John looked to the Bishop of Rome as the successor of Peter to whom he had always deferred.