Why is the Church...
Why can there be only one Church?
Just as there is only one Christ, there can be only one Body of Christ, only one Bride of Christ, and therefore only one →CHURCH of Jesus Christ. He is the Head, the Church is the Body. Together they form the “whole Christ” (St. Augustine). Just as the body has many members yet is one, so too the one Church consists of and is made up of many particular churches (dioceses). Together they form the whole Christ.
May we worship Mary?
No. Only God can be worshipped. But we can revere Mary as the Mother of our Lord.
What is the lay vocation?
The → LAITY are sent to engage in society so that the kingdom of God can grow among men.
Who belongs to the Catholic Church?
Anyone who, in union with the →POPE and the bishops, is united to Jesus Christ through profession of the Catholic faith and reception of the →SACRAMENTS is in full communion with the Catholic Church.
What possibilities are there for the forgiveness of sins in the Church?
Fundamentally the forgiveness of sins occurs in the →SACRAMENT of Baptism. After that the sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance, confession) is necessary for the forgiveness of serious sins. For less serious sins, confession is recommended. But reading Sacred Scripture, prayer, fasting, and the performance of good works also have the effect of forgiving sins.
Why is the Church called apostolic?
The →CHURCH is called apostolic because she was founded by the apostles, holds fast to their Tradition, and is governed by their successors.
What does the “communion of saints” mean?
The “communion of saints” is made up of all men who have placed their hope in Christ and belong to him through Baptism, whether they have already died or are still alive. Because in Christ we are one Body; we live in a communion that encompasses heaven and earth.
Why does Jesus want there to be Christians who live their whole lives in poverty, unmarried chastity, and obedience?
God is love. He longs for our love also. One form of loving surrender to God is to live as Jesus did—poor, chaste, and obedient. Someone who lives in this way has head, heart, and hands free for God and neighbor.
Are non-Catholic Christians our sisters and brothers also?
All baptized persons belong to the →CHURCH of Jesus Christ. That is why also those Christians who find themselves separated from the full communion of the Catholic Church are rightly called Christians and are therefore our sisters and brothers.
Can the Church really forgive sins?
Yes. Jesus not only forgave sins himself, he also conferred on the →CHURCH the mission and the power to free men from their sins.
Why is the Church holy?
The Church is holy, not because all her members are supposedly holy, but rather because God is holy and is at work in her. All the members of the Church are sanctified by Baptism.
Why does Mary have such a preeminent place in the communion of saints?
Mary is the Mother of God. She was united with Jesus on earth as no other human being was or could be—in an intimacy that does not cease in heaven. Mary is the Queen of Heaven, and in her motherhood she is quite close to us.
What is the Pope’s responsibility?
As successor of St. Peter and head of the college of bishops, the →POPE is the source and guarantor of the →CHURCH’S unity. He has the supreme pastoral authority and the final authority in doctrinal and disciplinary decisions.
What is the relation between the Church and the Jews?
Jews are the “older brethren” of Christians, because God loved them first and spoke to them first. Jesus Christ as man is a Jew, and this fact unites us. The Church recognizes in him the Son of the living God, and this fact separates us. In awaiting the final coming of the Messiah we are one.
Why do we believe in the resurrection of the dead?
We believe in the resurrection of the dead because Christ rose from the dead, lives forever, and causes us to share in this eternal life.
Why is the Church called catholic?
“Catholic” (Greek kat’ holon) means related to the whole. The →CHURCH is catholic because Christ called her to profess the whole faith, to preserve all the →SACRAMENTS, to administer them and proclaim the Good News to all; and he sent her to all nations.
Can Mary really help us?
Yes. Since the beginning of the Church, experience has taught that Mary helps. Millions of Christians testify to it.
Can bishops act and teach against the Pope, or the Pope against the bishops?
Bishops cannot act and teach against the →POPE, but only with him. In contrast, the Pope can make decisions in clearly defined cases even without the approval of the bishops.
How is the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church structured?
In the Church there are the →LAITY and clerics (→CLERGY). As children of God, they are of equal dignity. They have equally important but different tasks. The mission of the laity is to direct the whole world toward the kingdom of God. In addition, there are the ordained ministers (clerics), who have the duties of ecclesiastical governance, teaching, and sanctification. In both states of life, there are Christians who place themselves at God’s disposal in a special way through celibacy, poverty, and obedience (for example, consecrated religious).
Why do we believe in the resurrection of the “body”?
In Jesus Christ, God himself took on “flesh” (→INCARNATION) in order to redeem mankind. The biblical word “flesh” characterizes man in his weakness and mortality. Nevertheless, God does not regard human flesh as something inferior. God does not redeem man’s spirit only; he redeems him entirely, body and soul.
Why is the Church not a democratic organization?
Democracy operates on the principle that all power comes from the people. In the →CHURCH, however, all power comes from Christ. That is why the Church has a hierarchical structure. At the same time, however, Christ gave her a collegial structure as well.
Is the Pope really infallible?
Yes. But the →POPE speaks infallibly only when he defines a dogma in a solemn ecclesiastical act (“ex cathedra”), in other words, makes an authoritative decision in doctrinal questions of faith and morals. Magisterial decisions of the college of bishops in communion with the Pope also possess an infallible character, for example, decisions of an ecumenical council.
How does the Church view other religions?
The →CHURCH respects everything in other religions that is good and true. She respects and promotes freedom of religion as a human right. Yet she knows that Jesus Christ is the sole redeemer of all mankind. He alone is “the way, and the truth, and the life” (Jn 14:6).
What happens to us when we die?
In death body and soul are separated. The body decays, while the soul goes to meet God and waits to be reunited with its risen body on the Last Day.