Friday, April 23, 2004

What kind of Catholic?

It is, moreover, Our will that Catholics should abstain from certain
appellations which have recently been brought into use to distinguish
one group of Catholics from another. They are to be avoided not only as
"profane novelties of words," out of harmony with both truth and
justice, but also because they give rise to great trouble and confusion
among Catholics. Such is the nature of Catholicism that it does not
admit of more or less, but must be held as a whole or as a whole
rejected: "This is the Catholic faith, which unless a man believe
faithfully and firmly; he cannot be saved" (Athanas. Creed). There is no
need of adding any qualifying terms to the profession of Catholicism: it
is quite enough for each one to proclaim "Christian is my name and
Catholic my surname," only let him endeavour to be in reality what he
calls himself. (Ad Beatissimi Apostolorum, 24), P.P. Benedict XV

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