ACC ~ Mark 9 v38b

THE BREADTH OF CATHOLICITY

AUGUSTINE: There may be something catholic outside the Church catholic. The name of Christ could exist outside the congregation of Christ, as in the case of the man casting out devils in Christ’s name. There may by contrast exist pretenses within the church catholic, as is unquestionably the case of those “who renounce the world [1] in words and not in deeds,” and yet the pretense is not catholic. So as there may be found in the church catholic something which is not catholic, so there may be found something which is catholic outside the church catholic. ON BAPTISM, AGAINST THE DONATISTS 7.39 (76). [2]

[1] In baptism; cf. Rom 12:2; 1 Jn 2:15; 5:4.

[2] Cetedoc 0332, 7.39.77.363.5; NPNF 1 4:508**.

Mk