Subject: "Once Saved Always Saved" |
Bible Note: Norrie I would like to join Lisa with an answer to your question. But, first, I would like to refresh everyones memory that the definition of the word Catholic is 'universal'. Your quotes from the Catholic Catechism are taken from the section entitled "The Church and Non-Christians". The previous section to this is entitled "Who belongs to the Catholic Church?" or Universal Church of Christ (my words). 836 "All men are called to this catholic (universal) 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." So you see, the Catholic (Universal) Church recognizes "others who believe in Christ". 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."322 Those "who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church."323 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. Brian |