Definition of a "Catholic"

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It affirms that infant Baptism is a preparatory stage of Christian initiation in a very abridged way which By its very nature infant Baptism requires a post-baptismal catechumenate.

I agree with what you are relating, but only to a certain degree.

If you consider being Catholic only external, then you are correct. If you consider it also a matter of free will conversion, then Infant Baptism is a conditional initiation.
 
rcwitness said:
If you consider being Catholic only external, then you are correct. If you consider it also a matter of free will conversion, then Infant Baptism is a conditional initiation.
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That isn’t what the Church teaches. I know. I consider myself an ex-catholic and reminded all too often that the Church will always consider me Catholic. Once baptized, the Church doesn’t reconginze a person’s status once they leave the Church. “Once a Catholic, Always a Catholic” is how it goes, as far as the Church is concerned.
 
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Ex-Catholic means you use to be Catholic, but no longer are. I agree with that term.

Infant Baptism has conditions.
 
I appreciate your respect in accepting my identity, but, again, it isn’t what the Church teaches.
 
Hey, I don’t beleive in any of it so I don’t really have a dog in the fight. I was just telling you what the Church teaches.
 
Maybe the question should be what is the definition of a “faithful” Catholic, which would be someome who is baptized into the Catholic church and remains faithful to all the teachings in the Deposit of Faith given to us by Christ and taught by the Church. Deposit of Faith being Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition.

Otherwise if you only are asking the definition of a Catholic, that would be someone baptized in to the Catholic church. There is an old saying, “once Catholic, always Catholic”.

The difference can be remaining faithful to Church teaching, doesn’t completely understand Church teaching yet or those who fall away from the faith.
 
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And I do understand how you and 1ke are interpreting “Catholic”. But it’s not necessarily considering what it means to truly be Catholic, even as the Catechism Teaches.
 
Even so, infant Baptism is a preparatory stage of initiation. It’s not necessarily complete. There are two other Sacraments of initiation into the Church.

Again, I’m not necessarily saying 1ke and Qwerty are wrong, per say, but not necessarily accurate either.
 
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Not what the Church teaches. Do a little research and you will understand.
 
I agree.
I guess I just didn’t say that because being faithful to Church teaching would include participating in the required sacraments.
 
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Even a valid Protestant Baptism is an initiation into the Catholic Church, since there is only one Church.
 
Often times, here on CAF, I see people accusing others of “not being Catholic”. Example: “How can you consider yourself Catholic if you use artificial birth control?”.

What they should say is “How can you consider yourself a good and faithful Catholic if you use artificial birth control?”

If both people in the conversation have been baptized in the Catholic Church, then they are both equally Catholic, according to the Church.
 
QwertyGirl said:
If both people in the conversation have been baptized in the Catholic Church, then they are both equally Catholic, according to the Church.
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Yes, one would be faithful and one not. One might be in a state of grace and the other not.
 
But that isnt my point. I’m strictly speaking about Infant Baptism alone, while the other two Sacraments are rejected at the age of reason.

A Baptized, and Confirmed, and First Communion participant at the age of reason, who then commits sins against the faith are definitely Catholic, who have denied the faith they once received.
 
I don’t know what sin has to do with the topic at hand. We are discussing what “defines” a Catholic. It is very simple, according to the Church. Once one is baptized in the Catholic Church, then they are forever Catholic.
 
I didn’t bring up contraception (sin).

Not necessarily.

Infant Baptism is a preparatory stage of initiation. In itself, it’s not complete.
 
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OK. Well it sounds like you aren’t iterested in knowing what the Church teaches because a few others and I have told you and you don’t accept it. I am not going to discuss it further.

Blessings.
 
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The point, is it’s not a cut and dry answer.

And you are evidence of that.
 
That is exactly not the point. It is most certainly is a cut-and-dry answer. You don’t accept it. It is fine. I don’t accept most of what the Church teaches either. But I know what it teaches. You may wish to research a little further so you aren’t giving incorrect answers to someone when they post a question regarding Church teachings.
 
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