catholicity

nicene creed

• Nicene Creed refers to ‘one holy, catholic and apostolic church’ 

• ‘catholic’ comes from the greek ‘kath holou’ which means ‘referring to the whole’ -> latin catholicus meaning univers

protestantism

• When the reformation occurred, was feared that the unity of the church had been destroyed and that those outside the catholic church couldn’t call themselves true christians 

• Protestant writers claimed that the true unity and catholicity lay in the fact that the universally accepted beliefs and doctrines still remained intact. This was called ‘doctrinal fidelity’ 

• The Protestant Churches therefore claimed to be both catholic and reformed. They maintained their continuity with the apostolic church by virtue of continued belief in the teaching of Christ and the scripture 

STRENGTH: unity

• Yves Congar, in True and False Reform in the Church, argues that the catholicity of the Church ensures unity in diversity, allowing different cultures and traditions to express the faith in ways that resonate with their unique historical and social contexts while still remaining within the broader Christian communion.  

• This concept aligns with the idea of inculturation, where the Gospel is expressed through various cultural lenses while retaining its core teachings 

• Catholicity plays a crucial role in maintaining theological and ecclesial unity, preventing the kind of doctrinal fragmentation seen in various schisms throughout Church history. 

COUNTER to unity

• Critics argue that this universality can sometimes come at the cost of suppressing local expressions of faith. John Hick, in God Has Many Names, suggests that an insistence on a single, universal Christian truth can lead to an exclusivist approach, marginalizing non-Christian religious traditions.  

• Others, like Rosemary Radford Ruether, contend that the Church’s claim to universality has historically been used to justify colonialism and cultural dominance. 

STRENGTH: universality

• The catholicity of the Church extends beyond theological doctrine to encompass a universal moral and ethical framework, advocating for human dignity, social justice, and the common good. By its very nature, the Catholic Church’s teaching transcends national and cultural boundaries, addressing issues that affect all of humanity. This moral responsibility is rooted in the Church’s mission to serve the most vulnerable, defend human rights, and work toward a just and peaceful world. 

• KANT 

COUNTER to universality

• Some critics argue that the Catholic Church’s institutional approach to social ethics can sometimes be slow to adapt or too hierarchical in its decision-making.  

• Protestant ethicists like Stanley Hauerwas emphasize the importance of local, community-driven moral action rather than large, centralized Church pronouncements.  

• Additionally, some accuse the Church of moral inconsistency, citing historical failures such as complicity in colonialism and the clerical abuse crisis

WEAKNESS: rigidity + corruption

• Hans Küng, a Swiss theologian, critiques the Roman Catholic Church’s claim to catholicity, arguing that it has led to excessive institutionalization and rigidity.  

• The Church’s global nature requires centralized governance, which can suppress theological diversity and prevent necessary reforms (Küng, The Church).  

• This rigidity has sometimes caused schisms, such as the Protestant Reformation, where reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin rejected what they saw as a rigid and corrupt ecclesiastical system.