Do you see yourself as a Catholic first, or a Christian first?

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Dragonslayer

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Recently I was talking to someone who I thought was a pretty staunch Catholic and he made the comment that he saw himself as a Christian first, moreso than a Catholic.

More recently when I have done or said something stupid a work colleague has lightheartedly said something like " I thought you were a Christian, you shouldn’t be saying things like that". On other occasions some others have commented about “the Christian thing to do…” etc

Now, that has got me thinking. How do we see ourselves foremost, a Catholic, or a Christian? Does it matter?
 
Question makes no sense. Tautologous. I can’t put either of them “first” since to be one is to be the other.
 
I think that I call myself a Christian because Christian has become the blanket term for all who believe Jesus is the Son of God.

But the more I go to Church and the more I run into those who hate the Church for one reason or another, the more eager I am to say that I am Catholic. Coming back to the Church is the best choice I ever made for myself. 😃
 
NewsTheMan said:
Question makes no sense. Tautologous. I can’t put either of them “first” since to be one is to be the other.
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Well, all Catholics are Christians, that’s a given. But not all Christians are Catholic, obviously.

So, to be described as a Christian, or to describe yourself as simply a Christian, could be misleading. That’s the point of my question, so sorry if it doesn’t make sense.

So, I’m starting to lean towards making a point of describing myself as a Catholic, I guess because I disagree with some of the teachings of other Christian religions that go against Catholic teachings. But am interested in opinions of others on this.
 
YoungTradCath said:
It’s the same thing, in my opinion.
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Your opinion matches with the facts. The question posed only makes sense if Catholicism is a “brand” or denomination of Christianity or if they were something different altogether. It’s like asking, “do you see yourself as someone driving on the N2 first or someone driving to Cape Town first?” Uh, well, they are both the same thing.

To be fully Christian is to be Catholic.

The N2 is a name of a road to Cape Town, so hopefully my South African example makes sense.
 
Christian

There are no Catholics in heaven. In heaven there are no factions.
 
ConstantineTG said:
Christian

There are no Catholics in heaven. In heaven there are no factions.
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No Catholics in Heaven. That my friend is a might preseumptuious statement. Maybe you could explain to us why there are no Catholics in Heaven? Do we somehow lose what we believe when we die or some such thing?

Oh and for the record, I am a Catholic and being a Catholic I am by definition a Christian.
 
Mike30 said:
No Catholics in Heaven. That my friend is a might preseumptuious statement. Maybe you could explain to us why there are no Catholics in Heaven? Do we somehow lose what we believe when we die or some such thing?

Oh and for the record, I am a Catholic and being a Catholic I am by definition a Christian.
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There are saints honored in the Catholic Church and there are saints honored in the Orthodox Church. Tell me, is there a Catholic Heaven and an Orthodox Heaven?

The Eucharist in the Catholic Church is valid, so is in the Orthodox Church. Is there a Catholic Jesus and and Orthodox Jesus?

Do Catholics become Orthodox in heaven or do the Orthodox become Catholics in heaven?

In heaven, there are no factions. There is one Church. What’s its name? It does not matter. What matters is it is the Church of Jesus Christ, the bride of the Lamb of God. That is where we will all be in heaven.
 
Dymphna82 said:
I think that I call myself a Christian because Christian has become the blanket term for all who believe Jesus is the Son of God.

But the more I go to Church and the more I run into those who hate the Church for one reason or another, the more eager I am to say that I am Catholic. Coming back to the Church is the best choice I ever made for myself. 😃
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Yes, Dymphna, this is what I’m starting to think as well. “Christian” has become a blanket term as you said, and there are many Christians who have a hatred of the Catholic Church. I speak regularly with some and I do not wish to allign with people who think like that. So, like you I’m becoming more eager to describe myself as Catholic.
 
Please note, this is not a question of the definition of a Catholic or a Christian, or whether a Catholic is a Christian. Given that many Christians have a hatred of the Catholic Church my question is how do you choose to describe yourself, Catholic or Christian, in light of this anti-Catholic sentiment amongst many Christians. Cheers.
 
“Christian is my name, and Catholic is my surname. The one designates me, while the other makes me specific. Thus am I attested and set apart. . . . When we are called Catholics it is by this appellation that our people are kept apart from any heretical name” (Three Letters to the Novatianist Sympronian 1:4 [A.D. 379]).

-Pacian of Barcelona
 
Greetings all,

This question is like one of those Zen riddles or a circular argument; Catholic/Christian: both are one and the same.

To respond to the previous poster who said there are no Catholics in Heaven; frankly, I believe it is the exact opposite- I think everyone in Heaven is Catholic since that is the Church/religion that Jesus Himself founded 2,000 years ago.

Does this mean non-Catholics cannot get into Heaven; yes, but not in the way you’re thinking. For example; let us say a Baptist spent his life trying to be a good Christian and then he died. I believe when he stood before God, the complete truth is revealed to him and at that moment, he accepted Catholicism to be the One, True Faith.

I also believe this same thing happens whenever a Jew or Muslim meets God; and so long as they spent their lives trying to serve God to the best of their ability, (and were repentant for their failings), they will go to Heaven. (Perhaps, after a layover in Purgatory; which most likely awaits the vast majority of us).

Oremus pro invicem,

Sean C. :knight2:

EDITED TO ADD AFTER READING POST #13: I see myself as a Catholic, (Christian comes along with that as the default setting in my mindset). 😃
 
daCatholicGuard said:
Greetings all,

This question is like one of those Zen riddles or a circular argument; Catholic/Christian: both are one and the same.

To respond to the previous poster who said there are no Catholics in Heaven; frankly, I believe it is the exact opposite- I think everyone in Heaven is Catholic since that is the Church/religion that Jesus Himself founded 2,000 years ago.

Does this mean non-Catholics cannot get into Heaven; yes, but not in the way you’re thinking. For example; let us say a Baptist spent his life trying to be a good Christian and then he died. I believe when he stood before God, the complete truth is revealed to him and at that moment, he accepted Catholicism to be the One, True Faith.

I also believe this same thing happens whenever a Jew or Muslim meets God; and so long as they spent their lives trying to serve God to the best of their ability, (and were repentant for their failings), they will go to Heaven. (Perhaps, after a layover in Purgatory; which most likely awaits the vast majority of us).

Oremus pro invicem,

Sean C. :knight2:

EDITED TO ADD AFTER READING POST #13: I see myself as a Catholic, (Christian comes along with that as the default setting in my mindset). 😃
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That is a beautiful take on it. 🙂 God bless you!
 
ConstantineTG said:
There are no Catholics in heaven. In heaven there are no factions.
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:signofcross: Lord, have mercy.

How anyone could believe such a thing and yet profess to be Catholic I have no clue. Catholicism is not a faction. It’s not one among many. All those who are in Heaven are Catholic. To believe otherwise is heresy. For those who professed to be Orthodox while on earth, they are now Catholic and have professed the fullness Catholic faith.
 
ConstantineTG said:
There are saints honored in the Catholic Church and there are saints honored in the Orthodox Church. Tell me, is there a Catholic Heaven and an Orthodox Heaven?

The Eucharist in the Catholic Church is valid, so is in the Orthodox Church. Is there a Catholic Jesus and and Orthodox Jesus?

Do Catholics become Orthodox in heaven or do the Orthodox become Catholics in heaven?

In heaven, there are no factions. There is one Church. What’s its name? It does not matter. What matters is it is the Church of Jesus Christ, the bride of the Lamb of God. That is where we will all be in heaven.
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Non practicing Roman Catholic is how you describe yourself. Well that certainly explains a lot of things…

Tell me,are all that are saved saved by Jesus through the Catholic Church in some fashion?
 
I’m going to say Christian before Catholic. If Jesus appears before me tomorrow and says that Catholicism is all wrong (thought I sincerely don’t think so!) I would have NO trouble walking away if it meant truly following him. I am a follower of Christ first and foremost. I happen to believe that following him means being part of the catholic church, but there ya go. 👍
 
Dragonslayer said:
Please note, this is not a question of the definition of a Catholic or a Christian, or whether a Catholic is a Christian. Given that many Christians have a hatred of the Catholic Church my question is how do you choose to describe yourself, Catholic or Christian, in light of this anti-Catholic sentiment amongst many Christians. Cheers.
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Practising Catholic - and if any statements or questions flow from that statement, then The Holy Spirit will inform what to reply. I may think later that I should have said this, or I should have said that. Rather, I should be confident that The Holy Spirit inspired the answer necessary for the person or persons present at that particular time, remembering that that response should preserve the fruits of The Holy Spirit to be true to The Holy Spirit - i.e. charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1832.htm

At times, it is not easy to proclaim one’s Catholicism in public and one may attract much criticism and anti-Catholicism because one is Catholic “whoever proclaims Me before men, I will proclaim him before My Father who is in Heaven” . . . “they have persecuted Me and they will persecute you”. In other words, anti Catholicism should not shock nor upset one unduly - especially nowadays criticisms etc can almost be expected in public. The poedaphilia scandal in The Church is overwhelmingly shocking and especially in view of children perhaps suffering for their whole life. But we also have many good and holy priests too. We cannot overlook the scandal, but neither should we overlook good and holy priests in our midst.

A practising Catholic should be Christian in every sense of The Word, since Catholicism is also a call to follow the Gospel of Jesus.
 
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