Catholics are not Christian

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Why do people say Catholics are not Christian? Is this an age-old debate or something of the 21st century?

I’ve read a lot of negative comments on this topic about Catholicism & I am quite confused as to why people vehemently say this?
 
Most of them repeat it like parrots because they’ve heard someone else say it.
 
It is a comment that reflects a persons’ lack of understanding of Catholicism.
 
RayMartinIsCool said:
Why do people say Catholics are not Christian? Is this an age-old debate or something of the 21st century?

I’ve read a lot of negative comments on this topic about Catholicism & I am quite confused as to why people vehemently say this?
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Well, in my experience, this is for two reasons:
  1. Many Catholics I met in my publicly funded Catholic high school would say, “I’m not Christian, I’m Catholic.” I can only surmise that they equated being Christian with being Protestant for whatever reason, and I think it’s a 20(1st) century thing since Protestants now tend to by and large identify themselves as simply Christian and not be as attached to their denomination of origin, but this was not the case in the past.
  2. Many Protestants sincerely and truly believe that all Catholics or some overwhelmingly large portion of them are going to go to hell for following the antichrist (the Pope) and worshiping Mary and making idolatrous images of the divine. And believing that Jesus is still stuck on the cross, as is evidenced by their preference for crucifixes. Among other things. Therefore, they are not real Christians.
…note that I don’t believe #2 but I do know people who do! What they know about Catholicism could fit in a thimble, but Protestant creeds, and ex-cafeteria Catholics/current cafeteria Catholics provide most of their reference material.
 
Sam43232 said:
Well, in my experience, this is for two reasons:
  1. Many Catholics I met in my publicly funded Catholic high school would say, “I’m not Christian, I’m Catholic.” I can only surmise that they equated being Christian with being Protestant for whatever reason, and I think it’s a 20(1st) century thing since Protestants now tend to by and large identify themselves as simply Christian and not be as attached to their denomination of origin, but this was not the case in the past.
  2. Many Protestants sincerely and truly believe that all Catholics or some overwhelmingly large portion of them are going to go to hell for following the antichrist (the Pope) and worshiping Mary and making idolatrous images of the divine. And believing that Jesus is still stuck on the cross, as is evidenced by their preference for crucifixes. Among other things. Therefore, they are not real Christians.
…note that I don’t believe #2 but I do know people who do! What they know about Catholicism could fit in a thimble, but Protestant creeds, and ex-cafeteria Catholics/current cafeteria Catholics provide most of their reference material.
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It is sad to say that sometimes (actually, a lot of the time) we Catholics are our own worst enemy. We do a VERY poor job with our religious education; and honestly religion (notice I didn’t say “God”) doesn’t seem to play a large part in most Catholics’ lives.

If anyone ever had something to say about my crucifix and me thinking that Jesus ‘was still on the Cross;’ I would say to them that, “no, he is NOT on the Cross anymore. But we must NEVER forget that He was there.”
 
I think Protestants also tend to be suspicious that Catholicism consists merely of a list of empty rituals, and that if you “check the boxes” (go to Mass, go to Confession, say a list of prewritten prayers, etc) you are, in effect, earning your way to Heaven. Catholics tend not to talk much about “a relationship with Jesus,” which is something that Protestants do talk about and value highly.
 
Bob_Crowley said:
Most of them repeat it like parrots because they’ve heard someone else say it.
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Yes, usually it’s because they refuse to put their trust in the authority of the Church that scripture alone says is the “pillar and bulwark of truth” (1 Tim. 3:15), and instead put their trust in the authority of some random Sunday televangelist they heard say this once.

As a former protestant who used to think that way, it’s mainly because I didn’t know the Bible or the Church. I just believed whatever sounded “Christiany” and left all the rest as the mere devices of men, not knowing that I was the one making a device out of it.

St. Paul predicted the advent of protestantism:

"For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." (2 Tim. 4:3)
 
Ah and the ever said Catholics are trying to work their way to heaven. We trust in our works as a part of our salvation thus earning salvation. We don’t subscribe to the Solas faith alone, grace alone, etc. It’s a misunderstanding of Catholic doctrine. I’ve heard this the most.

Mary.
 
On the contrary, Christians are Catholics, while protestants are protestant. They protest Christianity.
 
crumblymunky said:
On the contrary, Christians are Catholics, while protestants are protestant. They protest Christianity.
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This is neither true nor fair. Protestants who have been validly baptized and who profess the core faith as described in the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds are indeed Christians. The Catholic Church herself says so.

All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church." CCC 818

The Church knows that she is joined in many ways to the baptized who are honored by the name of Christian, but do not profess the Catholic faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity or communion under the successor of Peter."322 Those "who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church. CCC 838
 
Thank-you all for your reply. Your feedback has really helped me understand this better.

I had read a lot of negative comments through the app Bible Chat. A lot of people on the app were saying we worship Mary and the rosary is heathen. Many said Catholicism was evil and Catholics will go to hell. When I tried to correct this I was shot down by ‘ex’ Catholics and many others.

I understand we all have our differences but this was being said by many ‘faithful’ people and I was startled at the ease of their condemning tone whilst quoting their bible verses to prove a point.
 
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RayMartinIsCool said:
Thank-you all for your reply. Your feedback has really helped me understand this better.

I had read a lot of negative comments through the app Bible Chat. A lot of people on the app were saying we worship Mary and the rosary is heathen. Many said Catholicism was evil and Catholics will go to hell. When I tried to correct this I was shot down by ‘ex’ Catholics and many others.

I understand we all have our differences but this was being said by many ‘faithful’ people and I was startled at the ease of their condemning tone whilst quoting their bible verses to prove a point.
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Unfortunately, it’s all too easy to be nasty on the internet. Obviously, such rudeness is not a good witness for Christ.
 
I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of Jack Chick, but his “chick tracts” were based off the idea of communist comic book propaganda. He even states it plainly that that is where he got his idea. The southern baptist churches I used to attend and be member of strongly endorsed these tracts. In the ones related to Catholicism, there are catchy titles like “Why is Mary Crying?”

They are intended and encouraged to be used to save us Catholics from worshipping the Blessed Mother. The last southern baptist church I was in strongly believed that the Vatican keeps a super computer with all our names on it, and because of the chick tract also believed that the KoC are a secret society, we pledge faith to the Vatican flag just like we used to pledge faith to the American flag in primary school, and that demons are enticing us to worship people who have died (praying for the souls in Purgatory) and partake of the Eucharist.

These tracts and other Protestant literature do a thorough and convincing job of twisting scripture. I was a MESS when God led me to RCIA. I even thought I was doing my “Christian duty” by bringing the tracts with me and arguing with everyone in class.

Thank God for his infinite graces, that he is still trying to break through the brainwashing I experienced and participated in. It was a very twisted faith I grew in before conversion. I bounced from the outskirts of the family tree of faith from denomination to denomination trying to find answers that made sense to me. I think it just boils down to every individual needing to honestly search and discover if they believe due to others telling them, or because they know for themselves. The chick tracts were viewed in the churches I was personally part of as having equal ground for respect and authority as the Bible. (KJV only)

I know it’s been over a year since I posted, but I just come here for refuge online. Here and EWTN. My loved ones are very Protestant, or now agnostic, so I can understand wanting to find solace and affirmation outside of Mass.

I hope this post makes sense. I have a health condition I’m dealing with today and it always leaves my head in a blur.

Peace.
 
MrsLilreader said:
I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of Jack Chick, but his “chick tracts” were based off the idea of communist comic book propaganda. He even states it plainly that that is where he got his idea. The southern baptist churches I used to attend and be member of strongly endorsed these tracts. In the ones related to Catholicism, there are catchy titles like “Why is Mary Crying?”

They are intended and encouraged to be used to save us Catholics from worshipping the Blessed Mother. The last southern baptist church I was in strongly believed that the Vatican keeps a super computer with all our names on it, and because of the chick tract also believed that the KoC are a secret society, we pledge faith to the Vatican flag just like we used to pledge faith to the American flag in primary school, and that demons are enticing us to worship people who have died (praying for the souls in Purgatory) and partake of the Eucharist.

These tracts and other Protestant literature do a thorough and convincing job of twisting scripture. I was a MESS when God led me to RCIA. I even thought I was doing my “Christian duty” by bringing the tracts with me and arguing with everyone in class.

Thank God for his infinite graces, that he is still trying to break through the brainwashing I experienced and participated in. It was a very twisted faith I grew in before conversion. I bounced from the outskirts of the family tree of faith from denomination to denomination trying to find answers that made sense to me. I think it just boils down to every individual needing to honestly search and discover if they believe due to others telling them, or because they know for themselves. The chick tracts were viewed in the churches I was personally part of as having equal ground for respect and authority as the Bible. (KJV only)

I know it’s been over a year since I posted, but I just come here for refuge online. Here and EWTN. My loved ones are very Protestant, or now agnostic, so I can understand wanting to find solace and affirmation outside of Mass.

I hope this post makes sense. I have a health condition I’m dealing with today and it always leaves my head in a blur.

Peace.
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Hi MrsLilreader: I understand where you are coming from. I agree that there are and most likely be those who for whatever reason will think that Catholic’s are not Christian and are going to hell in a hand basket. This type of propaganda has been going on since at least the time of Luther’s revolt against the CC, and those who also broke away from the CC. They hear what others say especially ex Catholic’s who have left the CC over whatever caused them to leave and the hate they bring infects others who do not know what the CC is about. it is so sad that it is this way. However, most Protestants are not that way thankfully but still most do not understand Catholic teachings so parrot what they have been taught by others who know nothing or distort what they think based on here say or worse the hate some have for the CC. Knowledge and seeing the truth is a wonderful thing, and anyone who will persue it will gain it.
 
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