Definition of a "Catholic"

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What entitles a person to identify as a “Catholic”? What are the prerequisites to identify as such?
 
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My understanding, is a Catholic is a Christian who seeks and accepts the Teachings of Jesus, and His Church in communion with the Bishop of Rome, in as much as they are made known to them.
 
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Someone who has been baptized as a Catholic, or someone baptized in another denomination who has been received into the Church.
 
I wonder if it not would be more technical than that. For example being baptized.
 
Being Baptized would be included into seeking and accepting the Teachings of Jesus.
 
Non-Catholic Christian’s are also Baptized.

They are only non-Catholic by rejecting the Catholic Teachings made known to them.

There is also baptism of desire to consider.
 
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That can’t be sufficient to meet the definition of Catholic. Are you saying someone who is baptized as a child but becomes an atheist who never sets foot in a church can identify as a Catholic?
 
According to the Catholic Church, once you are baptised you are Catholic and remain so for life. That’s why there are rules that there must be a “serious assurance” the child is raised Catholic before a baptism is done.
 
Yes. They may not be a practicing Catholic, but they are Catholic. And bound by the Church’s laws, including those in marriage.
 
If someone has a willing desire for Baptism, but through no fault of their own do not receive water Baptism, do you say they are not Catholic?

Then, as Kevin has asked, if one is Baptized as an infant but rejects the faith when they properly understand it, you would say they are still Catholic?

This make Catholicism external only
 
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KevinK said:
What entitles a person to identify as a “Catholic”? What are the prerequisites to identify as such?
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A person is a Catholic when they have been baptized into the Church or received into the Church through a profession of faith.

People may identify themselves as Catholic or not Catholic based on many different criteria. As to what makes you actually Catholic, the two things stated above.
 
rcwitness said:
If someone has a willing desire for Baptism, but through no fault of their own do not receive water Baptism, do you say they are not Catholic?
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They are not Catholic.

For the purpose of a funeral, they can receive a Catholic funeral. Their explicit desire for baptism “brings about the fruits of Baptism without being a sacrament” (CCC) as it pertains to their salvation.

Can. 1183 §1. When it concerns funerals, catechumens must be counted among the Christian faithful.
 
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rcwitness said:
Then, as Kevin has asked, if one is Baptized as an infant but rejects the faith when they properly understand it, you would say they are still Catholic?
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Yes, this is what the Church says. They are Catholic by virtue of their baptism or reception into the Church.
 
KevinK said:
That can’t be sufficient to meet the definition of Catholic. Are you saying someone who is baptized as a child but becomes an atheist who never sets foot in a church can identify as a Catholic?
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Yes. If baptized as a Catholic, that is actually what the church teaches.
 
rcwitness said:
This make Catholicism external only
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Not at all.

Membership in the Body is only the beginning. Baptism or profession of faith makes you Catholic.

The question is what makes a person Catholic. The Church has an answer for that.

Whether one lives one’s faith or not, has a relationship with God, and whether they are in right relationship with God or not is up to the person. This is true whether Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Jewish, etc.
 
CCC

Where infant Baptism has become the form in which this sacrament is usually celebrated, it has become a single act encapsulating the preparatory stages of Christian initiation in a very abridged way. By its very nature infant Baptism requires a post-baptismal catechumenate . Not only is there a need for instruction after Baptism, but also for the necessary flowering of baptismal grace in personal growth. The catechism has its proper place here.
 
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