A Catholic is a Christian who believes that God, the creator of heaven and earth, is revealed to all people through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit. The purpose of life is to know, love, and serve God through divine worship and service to others.
Like other Christians, Catholics believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and the truth of Sacred Scriptures (the Bible).
Unlike other Christians, Catholics recognize and accept the authority of the Pope and bishops for preserving the truth of faith and doctrine.
A Catholic is a member of the original undivided Church – the “Body of Christ” - the visible presence of Christ in the world.
The Church is a worldwide community of people God has called to share the life, light and love of Jesus Christ. The Church is:
One - in doctrine, authority and worship.
Holy – truly believing in Christ’s teachings and serving others through the sacraments.
Catholic – embracing all people of all times, all places.
Apostolic – as the Apostles did, the Church carries Christ’s message through the centuries to all people throughout the world.
Today the Catholic Church works and prays for the real unity of faith among all people as Christ commanded.
What does it mean to be Catholic today?
Honesty and truth require that anyone, any person or agency, that assumes the name "Catholic" must be authentically Roman Catholic or Eastern Catholic - in other words, a faithful member of any of the Catholic Churches that are in communion with the Pope (click here to learn more about those Churches and Rites). And what does that mean, but that we are united to and in the Universal Church; that we love, respect, and obey the Holy Father, the Vicar of Christ on earth; that we accept and promote all the teachings of the Church; that we live a moral life in sacramental and structural communion with the Church; that we are proud of our Catholic heritage and anxious to pass that heritage on to future generations. Every person or agency that bears the name Catholic, whether it be a Catholic parish, a Catholic high school, a Catholic university, a Catholic hospital, a Catholic social agency, a Catholic newspaper, or a Catholic cemetery, is called to be authentically Catholic, embracing everything that noble name implies.