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Rascalking
Guest
Ok then. I’ll keep that in mind.
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Ignatius
Guest
My answer, I am a predenominational Christian. The Catholic Church was the only Christian Church in western Europe for 1600 years, from the time of Christ up until the protestant schism.
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Philthy
Guest
I would say “Catholic” because it says everything that saying “Christian” says and more.
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tafan
Guest
It is wrong to refer to protestant sects as churches. The Catholic Church is the only Church in western europe up until the present day. I would also add that most people would have no idea what “predenonimational Christain” is. We should show more respect to people who ask us questions and answer clearly, accurately, in a way they would understand.
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paul_c
Guest
I agree. Be straightforward and clear: I’m a Catholic…
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belmontmac
Guest
OP here. The reason I asked, is I was having a conversation with a fellow Catholic, who when I said we are Christians, she said no I am Catholic, which of course I said yes absolutely, but we are followers of Christ(Christians), in His Catholic Church, His mystical body. But after reasearching more, I tend to agree, if someone were to ask, the answer would in fact be correct to say Catholic, since in this day and age, Christian is too broad of an answer. See below. And thanks for the responses.
Christianity is the religion of, the body of faith and morals taught by, the Catholic Church of Christ. The word may be properly extended to include the religious systems of the dissident Eastern churches and of some Protestant bodies (see Christian below). The current popular use of the word [Christianity] in an ethical, subjective sense, is to be deplored: it is stripping it of all objective or historical connotations.
Christian. A name first given to the followers of our Lord at Antioch (Acts xi, 26). Since the rise of Protestantism the name has been used in so many different senses as to have become almost meaningless: it may indicate a Catholic or a Unitarian, or even be applied to an infidel who displays some virtue which is associated with Christ. It may reasonably be applied to the members of all the ancient churches, whether in communion with the Holy See or not, and to those Protestants who profess, explicitly or implicitly, the Nicene creed in its traditional interpretation. the Church puts no definite official meaning on the word, as she does on Catholic.
from A Catholic Dictionary, Edited by Donald Attwater, 2nd Edition, revised
Christianity is the religion of, the body of faith and morals taught by, the Catholic Church of Christ. The word may be properly extended to include the religious systems of the dissident Eastern churches and of some Protestant bodies (see Christian below). The current popular use of the word [Christianity] in an ethical, subjective sense, is to be deplored: it is stripping it of all objective or historical connotations.
Christian. A name first given to the followers of our Lord at Antioch (Acts xi, 26). Since the rise of Protestantism the name has been used in so many different senses as to have become almost meaningless: it may indicate a Catholic or a Unitarian, or even be applied to an infidel who displays some virtue which is associated with Christ. It may reasonably be applied to the members of all the ancient churches, whether in communion with the Holy See or not, and to those Protestants who profess, explicitly or implicitly, the Nicene creed in its traditional interpretation. the Church puts no definite official meaning on the word, as she does on Catholic.
from A Catholic Dictionary, Edited by Donald Attwater, 2nd Edition, revised
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DebChris
Guest
This is my answer as well.
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Augustus24
Guest
I say I am “Eastern Catholic” then watch their eyes glaze over and the inevitable “Is that like, Greek Orthodox or something?”.
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Church_Militant
Guest
Me too. I figure that if they have issues with it they’ll let me know pretty quick. (Have yet to be disappointed in that either.)
I know that the Catholic Church is the original, New Testament, “full gospel” Christianity and all the rest bothers me very little.
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patrick457
Guest
I would say ‘Catholic’. Though I’m really missing my younger days when I assumed (rightly!) that ‘Catholic’ and ‘Christian’ are one and the same.
Sometimes I’m tempted to answer: “I’m Catholic. Which is to say, a Christian; after all Catholicism IS the genuine Christianity.”
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patrick457
Guest
Oh yeah. Sometimes I’m tempted to switch rites (or at least liturgies), mostly due to genuine interest and admiration, but also partly for wanting to see the reaction I would get when I say “I’m a Maronite Catholic” or “I’m Ambrosian” (meaning, I attend an Ambrosian Rite Mass
). Forgive me for being such a horrible person. 
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Church_Militant
Guest
Dude!Oh yeah. Sometimes I’m tempted to switch rites (or at least liturgies), mostly due to genuine interest and admiration, but also partly for wanting to see the reaction I would get when I say “I’m a Maronite Catholic” or “I’m Ambrosian” (meaning, I attend an Ambrosian Rite Mass
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tafan
Guest
Nothing wrong with including your rite, sometimes I say Roman Catholic, habit more than anything. I bet you get some of those inevitable responses even from Catholics.
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Pete_Holter
Guest
“There is no need of adding any qualifying terms to the profession of Catholicism: it is quite enough for each one to proclaim ‘Christian is my name and Catholic my surname,’ only let him endeavour to be in reality what he calls himself” (Pope Benedict XV, * Ad Beatissimi Apostolorum*).
With the love of Christ,
Pete
With the love of Christ,
Pete
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BlankFace
Guest
I say christian, however when I’m around bible-only christians I start asserting my leaning towards Catholicism. Although I don’t consider myself a true Catholic, for some reason I always start defending the Catholic faith when in situations where others are telling me it’s wrong.
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Livnlove55
Guest
Good question. I usually just say Catholic, sometimes adding that I’m a Catholic convert.
But if I’m speaking with Fundamentalist Protestants (like I used to be), I like to say Catholic Christian. As a Fundamentalist, I was raised to believe that Catholics were not “real” Christians so I feel it is necessary to stress that I AM a Christian when speaking to them. With most people, though, Catholic alone is fine.
In His Love,
Rhonda
But if I’m speaking with Fundamentalist Protestants (like I used to be), I like to say Catholic Christian. As a Fundamentalist, I was raised to believe that Catholics were not “real” Christians so I feel it is necessary to stress that I AM a Christian when speaking to them. With most people, though, Catholic alone is fine.
In His Love,
Rhonda
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LemonAndLime
Guest
I’m not sure how I’ll respond. I don’t know if I’m entitled to respond with “Catholic”, considoring I’m unbaptised.
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LilyM
Guest
That’s like me insisting on always saying that I’m human instead of female, Australian, adult or whatever other charateristics I have alongside my human-ness.
There has, for example, been much bitterness and fighting between men and women in the past (hence several waves of feminism), so saying I’m female could cause tension. However it’s an integral part of who I am so I’m not going to deny it or sugar-coat my femininity and what it represents for anybody.
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Livnlove55
Guest
Assuming you have already entered the catechumenate, the Catechism says this about you:
1249 Catechumens “are already joined to the Church, they are already of the household of Christ, and are quite frequently already living a life of faith, hope and charity.” With love and solititude mother Church already embraces them as her own.
Also:
1239 For catechumens who die before their Baptism, their explicit desire to receive it, together with repentence for their sins, and charity, assures them of the salvation that they were not able to receive through the sacrament.
In His Love,
Rhonda
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LemonAndLime
Guest
I haven’t been presented yet in the Rite of Election, so am I covered by this considering I’m at RCIA?
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