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| | {{Christianity}} | | {{Christianity}} |
| − | The '''Catholic Church''', '''Catholicism''' or the '''Roman Apostolic Catholic Church''' is the largest [[denomination]] of [[Christianity]] headquartered in the [[Vatican City]] in [[Rome]], claims [[Apostolic succession]] and also that there is "No [[Salvation]] Outside the Church".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/what-no-salvation-outside-the-church-means|title=What “No Salvation Outside the Church” Means|publisher=Catholic Answers|date=May 1, 2010|author=Jim Blackburn|quote=One of the most misunderstood teachings of the Catholic Church is this one: "Outside the Church there is no salvation" (Extra ecclesiam nulla salus). | + | The '''Catholic Church''', '''Catholicism''' or the '''Roman Apostolic Catholic Church''' is the largest [[denomination]] of [[Christianity]]. [[Pro-life]], it is headquartered in the [[Vatican City]] in [[Rome]], and claims [[Apostolic succession]].<ref>At times throughout history some Church officials have asserted that is "No [[Salvation]] Outside the Church." {{cite web|url=https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/what-no-salvation-outside-the-church-means|title=What “No Salvation Outside the Church” Means|publisher=Catholic Answers|date=May 1, 2010|author=Jim Blackburn|quote=One of the most misunderstood teachings of the Catholic Church is this one: "Outside the Church there is no salvation" (Extra ecclesiam nulla salus). |
| − | Those trying to grasp the meaning of this teaching often struggle with its formulations by various Church Fathers and Church Councils down through history. Of course, to understand an isolated formulation of any Church teaching, one must study the historical context within which it was written: why it was written, what was going on in the Church at the time, who the intended audience was, and so on. One must discover how the magisterium (teaching office) of the Church understands its own teaching. If someone fails to do this and chooses, rather, to simply treat a particular formulation as a stand-alone teaching, he runs the risk of seriously misunderstanding it.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://mundabor.wordpress.com/2012/04/15/archbishop-lefebvre-on-extra-ecclesiam-nulla-salus/|title=Archbishop Lefebvre on “Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus”|date=April 15, 2012|author=Mundabor|quote=The Church is the one ark of salvation, and we must not be afraid to affirm it. You have often heard it said, “Outside the Church there is no salvation”–a dictum which offends contemporary minds. It is easy to believe that this doctrine is no longer in effect, that it has been dropped. It seems excessively severe. | + | Those trying to grasp the meaning of this teaching often struggle with its formulations by various Church Fathers and Church Councils throughout history. Of course, to understand an isolated formulation of any Church teaching, one must study the historical context within which it was written: why it was written, what was going on in the Church at the time, who the intended audience was, and so on. One must discover how the magisterium (teaching office) of the Church understands its own teaching. If someone fails to do this and chooses, rather, to simply treat a particular formulation as a stand-alone teaching, he runs the risk of seriously misunderstanding it.}}{{cite web|url=https://mundabor.wordpress.com/2012/04/15/archbishop-lefebvre-on-extra-ecclesiam-nulla-salus/|title=Archbishop Lefebvre on “Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus”|date=April 15, 2012|author=Mundabor|quote=The Church is the one ark of salvation, and we must not be afraid to affirm it. You have often heard it said, “Outside the Church there is no salvation” – a dictum which offends contemporary minds. It is easy to believe that this doctrine is no longer in effect, that it has been dropped. It seems excessively severe. |
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| | Yet nothing, in fact, has changed; nothing can be changed in this area. Our Lord did not found a number of churches: He founded only One. There is only one Cross by which we can be saved, and that Cross has been given to the Catholic Church. It has not been given to others. To His Church, His mystical bride, Christ has given all graces. No grace in the world, no grace in the history of humanity is distributed except through her.(...) Does that mean that no [[Protestant]], no [[Islam|Muslim]], no Buddhist or animist will be saved? No, it would be a second error to think that. Those who cry for intolerance in interpreting St. Cyprian’s formula, “Outside the Church there is no salvation,” also reject the Creed, “I confess one baptism for the remission of sins,” and are insufficiently instructed as to what baptism is. There are three ways of receiving it: the baptism of water; the baptism of blood (that of the martyrs who confessed the faith while still catechumens) and baptism of desire...}}</ref><ref name=DoctorsOfTheChurch/> The Catholic Church teaches the Messiahship and Divinity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and professes worship of the God of [[Abraham]], of the Hebrew Scriptures. The Catholic Church has a single leader or head, the [[Pope]], the [[Bishop]] of [[Rome]]. The current Pope is [[Leo XIV]]. Present day governance of the Church is divided hierarchically into dioceses, each overseen by a diocesan bishop, who in turn oversees diocesan priests and deacons on the level of the individual parish. | | Yet nothing, in fact, has changed; nothing can be changed in this area. Our Lord did not found a number of churches: He founded only One. There is only one Cross by which we can be saved, and that Cross has been given to the Catholic Church. It has not been given to others. To His Church, His mystical bride, Christ has given all graces. No grace in the world, no grace in the history of humanity is distributed except through her.(...) Does that mean that no [[Protestant]], no [[Islam|Muslim]], no Buddhist or animist will be saved? No, it would be a second error to think that. Those who cry for intolerance in interpreting St. Cyprian’s formula, “Outside the Church there is no salvation,” also reject the Creed, “I confess one baptism for the remission of sins,” and are insufficiently instructed as to what baptism is. There are three ways of receiving it: the baptism of water; the baptism of blood (that of the martyrs who confessed the faith while still catechumens) and baptism of desire...}}</ref><ref name=DoctorsOfTheChurch/> The Catholic Church teaches the Messiahship and Divinity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and professes worship of the God of [[Abraham]], of the Hebrew Scriptures. The Catholic Church has a single leader or head, the [[Pope]], the [[Bishop]] of [[Rome]]. The current Pope is [[Leo XIV]]. Present day governance of the Church is divided hierarchically into dioceses, each overseen by a diocesan bishop, who in turn oversees diocesan priests and deacons on the level of the individual parish. |
| | ==Roman Apostolic Catholic Church== | | ==Roman Apostolic Catholic Church== |
| − | The word "catholic" means "universal" and refers to the non-Jewish church or gentile church that emerged in the first century. Its use as a name for the Church comes from Nicene-Constantinople Creed of 381, which defines the church as, "one, holy, catholic and apostolic." In the [[Christology|Christological]] controversy of the fourth century, [[Catholic | Catholics]] opposed the heresy of [[Arianism]]. | + | The word "catholic" means "universal", in contrast with several other major religions. Its use as a name for the Church comes from Nicene-Constantinople Creed of 381, which defines the church as "one, holy, catholic and apostolic." In the [[Christology|Christological]] controversy of the fourth century, [[Catholic | Catholics]] opposed the heresy of [[Arianism]]. |
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| | The Catholic Church has always been [[pro-life]] and its leadership is mostly [[conservative]], as illustrated by how it "launched a crackdown on the umbrella group that represents most of [[America]]'s 55,000 [[Catholic]] nuns" for "a prevalence of certain radical [[feminist]] themes incompatible with the Catholic [[faith]]." The Church noted that "the group was not speaking out strongly enough against" [[abortion]].<ref>https://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2012-04-18/american-nuns-vatican/54396560/1?csp=hf</ref> | | The Catholic Church has always been [[pro-life]] and its leadership is mostly [[conservative]], as illustrated by how it "launched a crackdown on the umbrella group that represents most of [[America]]'s 55,000 [[Catholic]] nuns" for "a prevalence of certain radical [[feminist]] themes incompatible with the Catholic [[faith]]." The Church noted that "the group was not speaking out strongly enough against" [[abortion]].<ref>https://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2012-04-18/american-nuns-vatican/54396560/1?csp=hf</ref> |