Catholic Studies

  Order Description   "The Church exists to point to what happens when God draws near, what Jesus calls the Kingdom. As such the Church exists to continue the reconciling work of Christ by reconciling humanity to God, and men and women to each other. Jesus leaves his disciples with enormous freedom to realise this work. This inevitably leads to choices, decisions and so at times disagreements and tensions." (David McLoughlin, "The Church, a Community of Disciples", in Anne Hession and Patricia Kieran (eds). Exploring Theology: Making Sense of the Catholic Tradition, Dublin: Veritas, 2007, p. 128). In the light of your experience and reading, analyse the view of the Church presented in this quotation and offer a critical understanding of the nature and mission of the Church in the 21st century.