2.12 Një Kishë e vetme – por pse kaq shumë ndarje?

Dëshira për të rivendosur bashkimin e të gjithë të krishterëve është një dhuratë e Krishtit dhe një thirrje e Shpirtit Shenjt. Ajo i takon mbarë Kishës dhe vihet në jetë me kthimin e zemrës, lutjen, njohjen e ndërsjellë vëllazërore, dialogun teologjik. [KKKP 164]

All baptized persons belong to the Church of Jesus Christ. That is why also those Christians who find themselves separated from the full communion of the Catholic Church, in which the Church of Jesus Christ lives on, are rightly called Christians and are therefore our sisters and brothers.

Instances of separation from the one Church of Christ came about through falsifications of Christ’s teaching, human failings, and a lack of willingness to be reconciled—usually on the part of representatives on both sides. Christians today are in no way guilty for the historical divisions of the Church. The Holy Spirit also works for the salvation of mankind in the Churches and ecclesial communities that are separated from the Catholic Church. All of the gifts present there, for example, Sacred Scripture, sacraments,  faith, hope, love, and other charisms, come originally from Christ. Where the spirit of Christ lives, there is an inner dynamic leading toward “reunion”, because what belongs together wants to grow together. [Youcat 130]

E vetmja Kishë e Krishtit, si shoqëri e themeluar dhe e organizuar në botë, qëndron (subsistit in) në Kishën katolike, të udhëhequr nga pasardhësi i Pjetrit dhe nga Ipeshkvijtë në bashkim me të. Vetëm nëpërmjet saj mund të arrihet plotësia e mjeteve të shpëtimit, mbasi Zoti ia ka besuar të gjitha të mirat e Besëlidhjes së Re të vetmit kolegjium apostolik, kryet i të cilit është Pjetri. [KKKP 162]

Just as there is only one Christ, there can be only one Body of Christ, only one Bride of Christ, and therefore only one Church of Jesus Christ. He is the Head, the Church is the Body. Together they form the “whole Christ” (St. Augustine). Just as the body has many members yet is one, so too the one Church consists of and is made up of many particular churches (dioceses).

Jesus built his Church, which subsists in the Catholic Church, on the foundation of the apostles. This foundation supports her to this day. The faith of the apostles was handed down from generation to generation under the leadership of the pope, the Petrine ministry, “which presides in charity” (St. Ignatius of Antioch). The sacraments, too, which Jesus entrusted to the apostolic college, still work with their original power. [Youcat 129]

Kisha është e shenjtë, meqë Hyji tejet i Shenjtë është autori i saj; Krishti e ka dhuruar Veten e Vet për të, për ta shenjtëruar dhe për ta bërë shenjtëruese; Shpirti Shenjt e gjallëron me dashuri. Në të gjendet plotësia e mjeteve të shpëtimit. Shenjtëria është thirrja e çdo gjymtyre të saj dhe qëllimi i çdo veprimtarie të saj. Kisha mbart brenda vetes së vet Virgjërën Mari dhe Shenjtër të panumërt, si modele dhe ndërmjetësues. Shenjtëria e Kishës është burimi i shenjtërimit të bijve të saj, të cilët, këtu mbi tokë, e njohin veten për mëkatarë, gjithmonë nevojtarë për kthim dhe për pastrim. [KKKP 165]

Është katolike çdo Kishë vendore (domethënë dioqeza dhe eparkia), e formuar nga bashkësia e të krishterëve që janë në bashkësi me anë të fesë dhe të Sakramenteve, me Ipeshkvin e tyre të shuguruar sipas trashëgimisë apostolike, dhe me Kishën e Romës, që “prin në dashuri” (Shën Injaci i Antiokisë). [KKKP 167]

“Catholic” (Greek kat’ holon) means related to the whole. The Church is catholic because Christ called her to profess the whole faith, to preserve all the sacraments, to administer them and proclaim the Good news to all; and he sent her to all nations. [Youcat 133]

Anyone who, in union with the pope and the bishops, is united to Jesus Christ through profession of the Catholic faith and reception of the sacraments is in full communion with the Catholic Church.

God willed one Church for all. Unfortunately we Christians have been unfaithful to this wish of Christ. Nevertheless, even today we are still deeply united with one another by our faith and common Baptism. [Youcat 134]

The Church is called apostolic because she was founded upon the apostles, holds fast to their Tradition, and is governed by their successors.

Jesus called the apostles to be his closest collaborators. They were his eyewitnesses. After his resurrection, he appeared to them repeatedly. He bestowed on them the Holy Spirit and sent them as his authoritative messengers to all the world. They assured unity in the early Church. They conferred their mission and authority upon their successors, the bishops, through the laying on of hands. This process is called apostolic succession. [Youcat 137]