Unit 2
The Catholic Church and Other Christian Traditions
All baptized people—Catholic or not—are members of Christ’s Body. Baptism is our entry into the Church. Through our Baptism we enjoy communion with Jesus Christ, and with one another. Full communion with the Church, however, requires more than simply Baptism. It requires that we 1) profess our faith in all the Church teaches as divinely revealed, including the efficacy of her seven Sacraments, 2) participate in the Sacraments according to our age and station in life, and 3) accept the authority of the pope and the bishops he guides. The extent to which we adhere to these three criteria determines the extent to which we are incorporated into the Body of Christ. Accordingly, full communion with Jesus can only happen within the Catholic Church. In this unit, however, you will learn the Catholic Church is bigger than many Catholics in America think it is.