Define Catholic

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wittgenstein

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Suppose I accept every Catholic doctrine except the infallibility of the Pope. Am I a Catholic? Suppose I accept every Catholic doctrine except its refusal to accept birth control (not abortion, just rubbers etc). Am I a Catholic? Suppose, I accept every Catholic doctrine except that at mass wine actually becomes the blood of Christ. Am I still Catholic?
 
It would be irrational to accept every doctrine of the Church except one, whichever that one is.

But leaving that aside, there seem to be different understandings of what it means to be a Catholic. Baptized in the Church? Self-identifying (and baptized)?
 
Let’s say, for purposes of discussion, what is meant is “Catholic in good standing?” Then answer the question,
 
wittgenstein said:
Suppose I accept every Catholic doctrine except the infallibility of the Pope. Am I a Catholic? Suppose I accept every Catholic doctrine except its refusal to accept birth control (not abortion, just rubbers etc). Am I a Catholic? Suppose, I accept every Catholic doctrine except that at mass wine actually becomes the blood of Christ. Am I still Catholic?
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If your baptism is valid (per the Catholic Chuch) you are a christian in the eyes of the Catholic Church. If you would like to convert to the Catholic Church from whatever faith community you are a member of, then you would go through RCIA.

If you are a baptised Catholic, you are a Catholic for life.
 
wittgenstein said:
Suppose I accept every Catholic doctrine except the infallibility of the Pope. Am I a Catholic? Suppose I accept every Catholic doctrine except its refusal to accept birth control (not abortion, just rubbers etc). Am I a Catholic? Suppose, I accept every Catholic doctrine except that at mass wine actually becomes the blood of Christ. Am I still Catholic?
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The answer to all of these is the same. Yes, but you would be a bad and/or uninformed Catholic.
 
wittgenstein said:
Suppose I accept every Catholic doctrine except the infallibility of the Pope. Am I a Catholic? Suppose I accept every Catholic doctrine except its refusal to accept birth control (not abortion, just rubbers etc). Am I a Catholic? Suppose, I accept every Catholic doctrine except that at mass wine actually becomes the blood of Christ. Am I still Catholic?
Click to expand...
Witt:

Throughout the course of 1,500 years, during which the universal Church has been on earth, there have been many members who disagreed with Her. All the Church expects is that you give Her a fair shake at answering your objections. And, if she answers them satisfactorily, you won’t selfishly hold to your incorrect opinions, and please don’t teach them to others. If your ideas are indeed correct, the Church will know and sooner or later, come into your corner.

God bless,
jd
 
The Catholic Church is the deposit of truth founded by Jesus Christ. She cannot teach a lie.

Any Catholic who thinks she can is not fully catechized as a Catholic.

As Jesus referred to Satan as the “Father of Lies,” to doubt that the Church teaches a certain truth is to assert the Church has been overcome by the Father of Lies.

But Jesus tells us in another passage, when he gives the keys of the kingdom to Peter, that the gates of hell will not prevail against his Church (Matthew 16:18). Again, to assert the Church teaches a doctrinal error is to allege that she has been overcome by the Father of Lies.
 
The Nicene Creed

I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
 
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