1. Why did Jesus establish His Church?
Jesus established His Church so that men could easily know what to believe and what to do to save their souls.
Jesus also established the Sacraments to give men the means of saving their souls. The Sacraments will be treated later.
2. What did Jesus do to make sure that His Church would always teach the truth?
To make sure that His Church would always teach the truth, Jesus promised to be with His Church always and to protect it from ever teaching error.
Going therefore, teach ye all nations … teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world” (Matthew 28:19, 20).
3. Has the Catholic Church ever changed its teaching?
No, in the 2000 years of its history, the Catholic Church has taught without change the same things taught by Jesus.
The house of God, which is the Church of the Living God, the pillar and ground of the Truth” (1st Timothy 3:15).
4. Could the Catholic Church ever teach error?
No, the Catholic Church could never teach error, because it is the only church which Jesus promised to protect from error.
“And I will give you pastors according to My own Heart, and they shall feed you with knowledge and doctrine” (Jeremias 3:15).
5. Do the man-made churches teach the doctrines of Jesus?”
No, the man-made churches have changed the doctrines of Jesus and teach their own doctrines.
Here are a few examples: Many Protestant churches teach that Baptism is not necessary for heaven, that Jesus is not God, that the Bible is not inspired by God, that it is no sin to practice birth control, sterilization, “mercy” killing or remarriage after divorce.
6. Why have the man-made churches changed the doctrines of Jesus?
The man-made churches have changed the doctrines of Jesus because they have no one to protect them from teaching error.
Each Protestant church teaches whatever it wants and changes its teaching whenever it wants. The result is complete religious confusion and nothing but contradictory answers to the most important questions of life.
7. Are all non-Catholics going to hell?
No, all non-Catholics are not going to hell, any non-Catholic who, through no fault of his own, does not realize that the Catholic Church is the only true Church and who dies with no mortal sin on his soul, can go to heaven.
Even though God “Will have all men to be saved” (1st Timothy 2:4), and though “Christ died for all” (2nd Cor. 5:15), we must not forget the tremendous difficulties non-Catholics have in trying to save their souls, without the guidance of a Church that cannot teach error and without the help of the Sacraments.
8. Who is the Pope?
The Pope is the visible head of the whole Catholic Church.
“And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them” (Ezechiel 34:23).
9. Who was the first Pope?
St. Peter was made the first Pope by Jesus Himself and was given complete authority over the whole Church.
10. When did Jesus promise to make St. Peter the Pope?
Jesus promised to make St. Peter the Pope several months before He died.
“Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth, it shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven” (Matthew 16:18, 19).
11. When did Jesus actually make St. Peter the first Pope?
Jesus made St. Peter the first Pope shortly before He ascended in heaven after His resurrection from the dead.
“Jesus saith to Simon Peter … Feed My lambs … feed My sheep” (John 21:15-17).
12. Did St. Peter’s authority die with him?
No, St. Peter’s authority did not die with him but was handed down to another man named Linus, and after he died, it was handed down to another, and so on, during the past 2000 years. So far there have been 262 successors of St. Peter.
13. Where does the Pope live?
The Pope lives in Vatican City, which is in Rome, Italy. St. Peter, the first Pope, died in Rome, and ever since then, the Bishop of Rome has been the Pope.
St. Ambrose, writing in the 4th century said, “Where Peter is, there is the Church.”
14. Can the Pope make an error when teaching religion?
No, the Pope cannot make an error when teaching religion as head of the whole Catholic Church.
“Simon, Simon … I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail thee not; and thou, being once converted, confirm thy brethren” (Luke 22:31, 32).
15. Do all Catholics have to obey the Pope?
Yes, all Catholics all over the world have to obey the Pope because he has the authority of Jesus to rule the whole Church, Catholics, however, have to obey the pope only in regard to religion.
16. Is there any Protestant church which has one man in complete charge?
No, there is no Protestant church which has one man in complete charge, and this is one of the reasons why there are so many different kinds of Protestants.
“Like sheep that have no Shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).
17. Why did Jesus want one man in complete charge of His Church?
Jesus wanted one man in complete charge of His Church so that His Church would always be united until the end of the world.
“If a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand” (Mark 3:24).