Who belongs to the Catholic Church?
836. “All men are called to this catholic unity of the People of God…
And to it, in different ways, belong or are ordered: the Catholic
faithful, others who believe in Christ, and finally all mankind, called by
God’s grace to salvation.”
837. “**Fully incorporated into the society of the Church are those who, **
**possessing the Spirit of Christ, accept all the means of salvation given **
**to the Church together with her entire organization, and who - by the **
**bonds constituted by the profession of faith, the sacraments, **
**ecclesiastical government, and communion - are joined in the visible **
**structure of the Church of Christ, who rules her through the Supreme **
Pontiff and the bishops. Even though incorporated into the Church, one who
does not however persevere in charity is not saved. He remains indeed in
the bosom of the Church, but ‘in body’ not ‘in heart.’”
838. “The Church knows that she is joined in many ways to the baptized who
are honored by the name of Christian, but do not profess the Catholic
faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity or communion under the
successor of Peter.” **Those “who believe in Christ and have been **
**properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with **
the Catholic Church.” With the Orthodox Churches, this communion is
so profound “that it lacks little to attain the fullness that would permit
a common celebration of the Lord’s Eucharist.”
