…some in Jerusalem, when they heard this, became ‘nervous and sent Barnabas on an “apostolic visitation”: perhaps, with a little sense of humor we could say that this was the theological beginning of the Doctrine of the Faith: this apostolic visit by Barnabas. He saw, and he saw that things were going well.
And so the Church was a Mother, the Mother of more children, of many children. It became more and more of a Mother. A Mother who gives us the faith, a Mother who gives us an identity. But the Christian identity is not an identity card: Christian identity is belonging to the Church, because all of these belonged to the Church, the Mother Church. Because it is not possible to find Jesus outside the Church. The great Paul VI said: “Wanting to live with Jesus without the Church, following Jesus outside of the Church, loving Jesus without the Church is an absurd dichotomy.”
The following two excerpts are from Pope Francis’ sermon/homily use the word “Church.”
It is not clear to me what Pope Francis means when he says “the Church.”
Does he mean only the Roman Church?
He does use the compound noun “Mother Church” which must, in his mind, mean the Roman Church.
But if that “Mother Church” has ‘children’ who are the ‘children?’
The Orthodox Churches, the Anglican Communion, the Lutherans, Baptists, etc.?
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“…the Holy Father highlighted three aspects of the Church: Its missionary activity, born of persecution; the fact that it is a Mother Church which gifts us the faith that is our identity and that you cannot find Jesus outside of the Church; the joy of belonging to the Church bringing Jesus to others. In short the joy of being an evangelizer: ”
“And so the Church was a Mother, the Mother of more children, of many children. It became more and more of a Mother. A Mother who gives us the faith, a Mother who gives us an identity. But the Christian identity is not an identity card: Christian identity is belonging to the Church, because all of these belonged to the Church, the Mother Church. Because it is not possible to find Jesus outside the Church. The great Paul VI said: “Wanting to live with Jesus without the Church, following Jesus outside of the Church, loving Jesus without the Church is an absurd dichotomy.” And the Mother Church that gives us Jesus gives us our identity that is not only a seal, it is a belonging. Identity means belonging. This belonging to the Church is beautiful.”
Generally speaking, it’s fair to say that Pope Francis did mean the Roman Catholic Church, since he was, after all, speaking to Roman Catholics. However, here is the actually teaching of the Church as regards non-Catholic Christians:
Baptism constitutes the foundation of communion among all Christians, including those who are not yet in full communion with the Catholic Church: “For men who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in some, though imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church. Justified by faith in Baptism, [they] are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers by the children of the Catholic Church.â€81 “Baptism therefore constitutes the sacramental bond of unity existing among all who through it are reborn
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1271
It fair to say that Pope Francis was speaking of the Roman Catholic Church; he was, after all, preaching to Roman Catholics. However, here is what the Church teaches about our relationship with non-Catholic Christians:
Baptism constitutes the foundation of communion among all Christians, including those who are not yet in full communion with the Catholic Church: “For men who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in some, though imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church. Justified by faith in Baptism, [they] are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers by the children of the Catholic Church.â€81 “Baptism therefore constitutes the sacramental bond of unity existing among all who through it are reborn
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1271
Presumably, the Church, including the Mother Church, of whom the Holy Father is speaking is the Catholic Church, which consists of the Latin Church and the Eastern Churches in full communion with him, and the children of Mother Church are all baptized Christians.
Catholic Catechism
181 “Believing” is an ecclesial act. The Church’s faith precedes, engenders, supports and nourishes our faith. The Church is the mother of all believers. “No one can have God as Father who does not have the Church as Mother” (St. Cyprian, De unit. 6: PL 4, 519).
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.” Those “who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church.” 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.”
Thank you “Already Gone” for your answer.
Since your answer comes from the Roman catechism, it is a definitive answer.
However, is it the only answer?
Many questions remain regarding ‘how’ the Roman (or Latin) Church developed from the Early Church.
In the case of the Island of Britain, there was a Chrisitan Church with fully ordained priests and consecrated bishops, some of whom attended Chrtistian synods prior to the arrival of Augustine in 604 AD.
At that time, it can be said, that a British Christian Church already existed. This church provided the roots of what is today called the Anglican Church.
Augustine’s assigned mission was to bring the Christians in Britain into the ‘top down’ ecclesial control of the Roman Church.
This mission was carried out with force when necessary. One of the final acts of duress took place at the Synod of Whitby in 664 AD.
So, it is reasonable for Anglicans to say that their church had the same early roots as the Roman church and that the mother church is in in fact the church of their early roots or the Early Church and thus the Anglican Church (i.e. the Anglican Communion) has the same legitimacy as the Roman Church or the Orthodox Churches.