There is in principle one Church, although there is a disunity between her bishops, and some diversity of the liturgy, so what we have is Catholic Churches in union with Rome, and various Orthodox Churches, and lesser known pre-Chalcedon Churches such as the Ethiopian Church or the Armenian Church.
As Catholics, we reject the Protestant concept of invisible Church of all Christian believers. When someone is validly baptized in a Protestant community of faith, he is still baptized with the one Catholic baptism, albeit he is not in full communion with the Church and is likely to fall away because of that.
Like I said, it is a complex subject, but I appreciate the questions.
Very candid reply, I appreciate it.. but I belief all christian churchs are clubs.. So its ok with me than the RCC and other ortho churchs consider themselves special.. but so do some reformed churchs.. "They" can consider themselves special as far as I am concerned..
After all Jesus didn't forbid clubs.. But be candid myself I reject the job security of Apostle succession.. Jesus didn't allow the Apostle to select another.. i.e. Mattias to replace Judas.. Jesus chose selected and groomed Saul(Paul) himself.. Nothing ever came of Mattias apostleship..
I know, Easy for me to say me being a heretic apostate like I am.. My freedom is unlimited.. Hard to give that up..
It was a dark rainy night when the Holy Spirit came to me(in my sheep pen) (John ch 10) and motioned and called me out of there.. At first I acted like I didn't hear him but after he got my attention be beckoned me OUT.. It was scary but I sheepishly wander out of the sheep pen.. Only to be amazed at the beautiul pasture outside.. getting me to go back in that sheep pen well you'd have to drag me in.. its dirty in their.. Them sheep have nasty stuff all over their hooves and in their wool.. and it smells like sheep..
Im ok outside with my shepherd Ps 23..