Location: Preliminary Lesson > The Apostle’s Creed > The Ninth Article of the Creed > The Church Teaching and the Church Taught
Q1: Is there any distinction between the members of the Church?
A1: There is a very notable distinction between the members of the Church; for there are some who rule and some who obey; some who teach and some who are taught.
Q2: What do you call that part of the Church which teaches?
A2: That part of the Church which teaches is called the Teaching Church.
Q3: What do you call that part of the Church which is taught?
A3: That part of the Church which is taught is called the Learning Church, or the Church Taught.
Q4: Who has set up this distinction in the Church?
A4: Jesus Christ Himself has established this distinction in the Church.
Q5: Are the Church Teaching and the Church Taught, then, two churches?
A5: The Church Teaching and the Church Taught are two distinct parts of one and the same Church, just as in the human body the head is distinct from the other members, and yet forms but one body with them.
Q6: Of whom is the Teaching Church composed?
A6: The Teaching Church is composed of all the Bishops, with the Roman Pontiff at their head, be they dispersed throughout the world or assembled together in Council.
Q7: And the Church Taught, of whom is it composed?
A7: The Church Taught is composed of all the faithful.
Q8: Who, then, are they who possess the teaching power in the Church?
A8: The teaching power in the Church is possessed by the Pope and the Bishops, and, dependent on them, by the other sacred ministers.
Q9: Are we obliged to hear the Teaching Church?
A9: Yes, without doubt we are obliged under pain of eternal d*ation to hear the Teaching Church; for Jesus Christ has said to the Pastors of His Church, in the persons of the Apostles: ‘He who hears you, hears Me, and he who despises you, despises Me.’
Q10: Besides her teaching power has the Church any other power?
A10: Yes, besides her teaching power the Church has in particular the power of administering sacred things, of making laws and of exacting the observance of them.
Q11: Does the power possessed by the members of the Hierarchy come from the people?
A11: The power possessed by the Hierarchy does not come from the people, and it would be heresy to say it did: it comes solely from God.
Q12: To whom does the exercise of this power belong?
A12: The exercise of this power belongs solely to the Hierarchy, that is, to the Pope and to the Bishops subordinate to him.
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