The Fullness of Christ's Church

The Catholic Church has always acknowledged that Eastern orthodox churches have valid priesthood, episcopacy, and sacraments. Although the fullness of Christ's Church is found only in the Catholic Church, many genuine elements or endowments of Christ's Church can be found in varying degrees outside the visible structure of the Catholic Church. For example, Holy Scripture, faith in Christ, Baptism, Christ inspired hope and love, preaching of the Gospel, etc.

Although Vatican II did not wish to identify the Church of Christ exclusively with the Roman Catholic Church, it did make it clear that Christ entrusted His entire Church to Peter's pastoral care and that it is in His Catholic Church alone that all the means of salvation can be found.

It is through Christ's Catholic Church alone, which is the all-embracing means of salvation, that the fullness of the means of salvation can be obtained. It was to the apostolic college alone, of which Peter is the head that we believe our Lord entrusted all the blessings of the New Covenant, in order to establish on earth the one Body of Christ into which all those should be fully incorporated who already belong in any way to God's people. UR 3e-456)


Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching