Do Catholics believe in the Church more than the Bible?
Do Catholics believe in the Church more than the Bible?
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.
The Holy Spirit likewise resides within the Church and its members (cf. 1 Cor 6:19). Jesus assured the apostles that the Holy Spirit would guide them to complete truth (Jn 16:13) and bring to their remembrance all that he instructed them (Jn 14:26). Therefore, we are invited to place trust and belief in everything that the Church officially declares to be disclosed by God.
Regarding Scripture, the Church predates it, at least when considering the New Testament. During the initial years of the Church, the Gospels and epistles were composed and circulated. Nevertheless, it wasn’t until the mid-fourth century that a definitive list of New Testament books was officially established. Bishops from the Catholic Church convened in Hippo, Carthage, and Rome, and with Pope Innocent I’s endorsement in A.D. 405, the canon of New Testament books as we recognize it today was finalized. Thus, the authority of the Scriptures is derived from the authority of the Church, since it is solely through the Church’s authoritative teaching that we discern which texts are rightfully deemed Holy Scripture. While Protestants and Evangelicals might assert that Scripture alone holds authority, they must acknowledge their reliance on the Catholic Church and its authority to identify the Scriptures. It was through the magisterium (or teaching authority) of the Catholic Church that God provided them with these Scriptures.
There is absolutely no alternative: Jesus established the Church on Peter, the apostles, and their successors, instructing them to diligently pass on what he had taught (cf. Mt 16:18; Mt 28:19-20; Mk 16:15-16; Jn 13:20). Because of Christ’s role as the head of the Church and the presence of the Holy Spirit, we are compelled to view the Church as an object of faith and to trust in what it officially presents for our belief.
Alcoholism
Question: Catholics are often regarded as drinkers. I question why the Church does not more officially denounce alcohol consumption, considering that it has led to the downfall of numerous individuals.
— Martin Shalcross, Charleston, West Virginia
Answer: It is a lamentable reality that numerous individuals have devastated their lives through the overindulgence in alcohol. Nonetheless, the vilification of alcohol, particularly wine, is not supported by scripture and seems to be an inheritance from strict Puritan ideals. The Bible extols wine as a blessing from God: “[God gives] wine to make their hearts rejoice, oil to brighten their faces, and bread to nourish the human heart (Ps 104:14-15). Deuteronomy endorses the act of purchasing wine and strong drink for the celebrations of the Lord (cf. 14:26). Jesus himself partook in drinking wine; some of his adversaries wrongly labeled him a glutton (Lk 7:33-34). He produced a significant quantity of wine as his first miracle by transforming water into wine at the Cana wedding, where the guests “drank freely” (Jn 2:10-11). Wine constituted a fundamental component of the ancient diet since clean drinking water was rarely available. Consequently, St. Paul recommends to Timothy, “Do not drink only water, but take a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent ailments” (1 Tim 5:23).
Undoubtedly, intoxication is denounced in the Scriptures. However, the moderate consumption of wine and other beverages cannot be seen as sinful, as both the Scriptures and the actions of the Lord himself dismiss extreme views and the blanket prohibition of such drinks.
Msgr. Charles Pope is the pastor of Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian in Washington, D.C., and writes for the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. at blog.adw.org. Send questions to msgrpope@osv.com.
