[Uncle Chip]

The first thing to understand, and a fact that can hardly be denied, is that the creation of the Catholic Church preceded the creation of the New Testament.

Nonsense!!! Can you tell us all when the word "Catholic Church" first appears in any nonspurious writings of anyone anywhere???

[markomalley]

Nonsense!!! Can you tell us all when the word "Catholic Church" first appears in any nonspurious writings of anyone anywhere???

Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.

- St. Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, to the Smyrnaeans c7, c. 110 AD