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Hi Paul,
Thanks for your excellent question and thank you for your service to the
Church as an RCIA instructor.
Let's start with the definition of the word Catholic. It is simply an English
derivative of the Greek word Katolikos which means universal.
One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic are the four marks of the
Church. By that we mean there is one universal Church which can trace it's
roots back to the Apostles.
The official name of the Church is The Church of Jesus Christ.
We believe that this Church fully subsists in the Roman Catholic
Church (including all the Liturgical Rites in union with the Pope. That includes Melkite Catholics, Ukrainian Catholics, etc.).
That said, there is only one Baptism but we understand that the Church
of Jesus Christ can subsist, in part, in other Christian Communities, if
they use the appropriate form (words) and matter (water) for Baptism.
The Orthodox
Churches also claim the four marks. In fact, they believe we are the ones
in schism from them. Despite the schism in 1054 A.D., the Church of Jesus
Christ most definitely subsists, in large part, with in the Orthodox Churches.
They have the same legitimate Apostolic Succession and all the sacraments
found in the Catholic Church. The doctrinal differences are not in substance
but rather differences of expression. I might add that we accept their
expressions of doctrine as valid. The Eastern expression of doctrine is
just as Catholic as the Western expression. In fact, our Eastern Rite Catholics
hold to them. The only real division between the Roman Catholic Church
and the Orthodox Churches is a disagreement over the jurisdiction of the
Pope.
Our relationship with our Protestant brothers is a little different. They
broke Apostolic Succession and denied most of the sacraments, yet, in
an imperfect manner, they too are part of the One, Holy, Catholic,
and Apostolic Church. The Church of Jesus Christ partially subsists within
the Protestant communities.
That doesn't mean we accept all their doctrines;
nor does it mean that being a Protestant is the same as being Catholic.
It just means we recognize that they are still part of our Church in an
imperfect way. It means we have an obligation to reach
out to them in Christian charity to lead them home.
I hope that helps. I'd also recommend you read the
entire section on Church
unity in the Catechism of the Catholic Church before you teach on this subject.
You can read it
on-line here:
Catechism of the Catholic Church [or buy a cheap copy today!]
John
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