Question: My partner, who identifies as Evangelical, argues that Catholics place their trust in the Church over the Bible. She asserts that the Bible is the sole authority and believes it is incorrect to have faith in a human organization. How can I effectively address this?
— Name, location withheld
Answer: It is entirely fitting to assert that the Church is an object of belief. We affirm this each Sunday in the Creed: “I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.” This implies, however, that the Church is not simply a human organization created by people. The Church is the Body of Christ, founded by Christ himself. Jesus serves as the head of the body (cf. Col 1:18), and we are its members (1 Cor 12:27). Consequently, the Church represents the living, dynamic presence of Jesus Christ in the world today.
Many people today consider the Church solely in institutional terms, and, culturally, institutions are unpopular and frequently scrutinized for being vast and impersonal. However, the Church is not merely an institution; it represents Christ, together with the head and its members.