[HossB86]

The catholic (universal) church IS Christ’s church — his bride — and is composed of the believers saved by His shed blood.

NOT the Roman Catholic Church — I have yet to see it anywhere in scripture.

I already have the answer; it’s given in God’s Word. The same word that is so sadly twisted and warped to fit the man-made traditions of the Roman Catholic Church.

Hoss

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

The catholic (universal) church IS Christ’s church — his bride — and is composed of the believers saved by His shed blood. NOT the Roman Catholic Church — I have yet to see it anywhere in scripture.

Which Scriptures? The Catholic, Protestant, or Orthodox canon?

[Jvette]

http://www.abibleconcordance.com/c354.htm#c363

A simple search of the word church in the Bible reveals that its usage is not limited to describing only the believers, but rather an institution of beliefs, elders, and such.

That is the Catholic understanding of church, the both/and understanding as in, the church is both the body of believers and the institutional hierarchy.