How Many Different Categories Of Catholics Are There?

[Loboto-Me]

Wisdom, you’re right on the mark .

 

[kepha1]

Ron Rhodes sez:
“Our goal will be to steer clear of the extreme and erroneous classifications of Catholicism described above by providing an evaluation which is fair and representative of Catholicism, but genuinely evangelical in its perspective, and squarely rooted in the central theology of the Protestant Reformation.”

This statement is redundant and self-contradictory.

“Second, the unhealthy and unbiblical aspects of the Catholic understanding of the communion of saints (i.e., the belief in the unity and cooperation among believers in both this world and the next) has contributed to the problem. Even some Catholics in the United States virtually worship saints and the church has failed to take aggressive measures to correct this serious problem of idolatry. It is actually much worse when it comes to devotion to the Virgin Mary, where on a practical level millions of Catholics commit idolatry on a daily basis by worshipping the virgin. This is certainly contrary to official church teaching (i.e., teaching set forth by the Vatican as standard Catholic doctrine), but the Catholic church has been derelict in correcting this serious problem. If the Catholic church wants to convince evangelical Protestants that they merely honor Mary, but do not worship her, then they must step in and stop this gross idolatry.”

This is hate speech, totally removed from “fair and representative” evaluation of Catholicism. Is Ron Rhodes is just another one of many ignorant anti-Catholic bigots?

I don’t need to read any more of the OP’s link. There is some valid points about the diversity of Catholics, but we still have ONE set of doctrines. This article has little credibility with me.

 

[SSTeacher]

SSTeacher;6387146:

In a one–paragraph summary of a section of Kenneth Sample’s What Think Ye Of Rome?

(Part 1), Evangelical author, Ron Rhodes, suggests that there are six different categories of Catholics.

Further along in his original piece, Kenneth Samples notes a seventh category – that of the American Catholic. He writes:

What is your reaction to the assertions made by these two men?

Curiously,
Mick
:thumbsup:How is a Catholic to answer such accusations?

I thought it was an analysis but if you see it as accusatory, so be it.

let me see as a Catholic i dont see things as protestants.

Seems not unreasonable.

protestants see the Truth is simply what they believe to be true.

They’d be a bit illogical to believe what they knew to be false, don’t you think?

Catholics are commanded to believe because is the Truth. complete different views.

Your sentence structure leaves me at a loss as to what you are attempting to impart.

protestants think that because a Catholic believe that abortion(as example) is ok, than this influences the Church’s teachings.

How can you tell what anybody is thinking? I acknowledge and accept that many Catholics feel they are authorized and entitled to speak on behalf the entire Catholic Church but I think I’d be irresponsible if I didn’t at least gently protest when a Catholic claims to know what “protestants” think.

no, it does not. the teachings remains the same and a Catholic who advocate for such are in transgression of the Church’s teachings.

I respectfully suggest that the main question for outsiders is whose testimony inside Catholicism to rely upon – not only concerning matters of doctrine but also when it comes to the life application of those doctrines. Although Catholic apologists seem to agree that no Catholic is infallible every Catholic seems to insist that whatever the content of his or her interpretive statement might be, the veneer of infallibility nevertheless covers it.

and so with many other different issues. it doesnt matter what they are advocating for, if it doesnt confer with the teachings of the Church, they are in transgression.

Which category of Catholic do you have in mind when you use the word, “they”? Is it,

a) Ultratraditionalist Catholics?
b) Traditionalist Catholics?
c) Liberal Catholics?
d) Charismatic/Evangelical Catholics?
e) Cultural Catholics?
f) Popular Folk Catholics?
g) American Catholics?

it does not making them 30,000 differents catergories. it only makes them 30 000 diferent transgressores.

Maybe they are neither categories nor transgressors but denominations?

how can Catholics argue with protestants who have a diferent view of what the Church is? we cant.

If you say so.

they simply refuse to accept our view of the Church and Catholics cannot accept their view of the Church which is contrary to the Bible.

Who do you have in mind when you use the word “they,” and to which category of Catholics are you referring when you use the word “our”?

Cordially,
Mick

 

[SSTeacher]

Ron Rhodes sez:
“Our goal will be to steer clear of the extreme and erroneous classifications of Catholicism described above by providing an evaluation which is fair and representative of Catholicism, but genuinely evangelical in its perspective, and squarely rooted in the central theology of the Protestant Reformation.”

This statement is redundant and self-contradictory.

“Second, the unhealthy and unbiblical aspects of the Catholic understanding of the communion of saints (i.e., the belief in the unity and cooperation among believers in both this world and the next) has contributed to the problem. Even some Catholics in the United States virtually worship saints and the church has failed to take aggressive measures to correct this serious problem of idolatry. It is actually much worse when it comes to devotion to the Virgin Mary, where on a practical level millions of Catholics commit idolatry on a daily basis by worshipping the virgin. This is certainly contrary to official church teaching (i.e., teaching set forth by the Vatican as standard Catholic doctrine), but the Catholic church has been derelict in correcting this serious problem. If the Catholic church wants to convince evangelical Protestants that they merely honor Mary, but do not worship her, then they must step in and stop this gross idolatry.”

This is hate speech, totally removed from “fair and representative” evaluation of Catholicism. Is Ron Rhodes is just another one of many ignorant anti-Catholic bigots?

I don’t need to read any more of the OP’s link. There is some valid points about the diversity of Catholics, but we still have ONE set of doctrines. This article has little credibility with me.

Many thanks for your contribution.

Appreciatively,
Mick

 

[Loboto-Me]

Funny thing is, they’re ALL Catholic with the same Mass and the same readings each Sunday.

As for protestants

 

[SSTeacher]

Funny thing is, they’re ALL Catholic with the same Mass and the same readings each Sunday.

No, they’re not. Some Catholics favor the Tridentine Mass, and some favor the Novus Ordo Missae, which as been a bone of contention amongst Catholics since it was introduced four decades ago. Take some time to peruse some of the posts in the Traditional Catholicism forum and sooner or later you’ll discover Catholics vehemently disagreeing with each other yet each one claiming endorsement for his or her view from someplace within Catholic officialdom.

As for protestants

Well, at least you’re not claiming to be able to read their thoughts.

Contentedly,
Mick

 

[Onyx88]

you’re kidding me, right?

 

[SSTeacher]

you’re kidding me, right?

Many thanks for your contribution.

Jovially,
Mick

 

[jmcrae]

But the focus here is on the Catholics who have not left the Catholic Church. The assertion is that such Catholics can legitimately be divided into six or perhaps seven different categories.

Categorically,
Mick

It would be more helpful to look at the several types of faithful Catholics, if one is interested in the variety of ways that one may legitimately practice the Catholic faith.

All Catholics have five Precepts and ten Commandments that we are required to obey. In addition, there are a variety of optional practices that one may add to these.

1. The Marian Catholic. In her spare time, this Catholic is found praying the Rosary, evangelizing with the Legion of Mary, and gathering with other like-minded Marian Catholics to celebrate Mary’s feast days. She or he is likely to have gone on a pilgrimage to Fatima, Lourdes, Guadalupe, or to Mejugorje, and knows someone who has experienced a miracle at one of these sites.
2. The Social Justice Catholic. In his spare time, this Catholic is found collecting food for the St. Vincent de Paul food hamper, doling out soup at the soup kitchen, and making beds at Inn from the Cold. Once the work is done, he sits with the clients and listens to their stories of woe, and then recounts them to like-minded others, to encourage them in their work of feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the prisoners, and sheltering the homeless.
3. The Contemplative Catholic. In her spare time, or even as her chosen vocation, this Catholic can be found on her knees in front of the Tabernacle. She spends hours in contemplative prayer, seeking the face of Jesus. She prays the Divine Office at least in the morning and in the evening, and often gathers with like-minded others for Adoration and daily prayers.
4. The Scholarly Catholic. In his spare time, this Catholic is found with his nose in a book by Frank Sheed, Ludwig Ott, or Denzinger, with a Catechism and Bible handy for making notes. He meets like-minded others at summer session Seminary classes, and has likely tried out for the priesthood at least once.

This is just a sampling, of course. There are literally dozens of interesting ways to be a faithful Catholic.

 

[edwest2]

There should only be two categories: obedient and not obedient. All the other descriptions should not really matter. It never bothered me which form the Mass took.

God bless,
Ed

 

[Loboto-Me]

Types of Mass have no bearing on being Catholic, whether latin, tridentine, or N.O. I as a N.O Catholic can walk into any of those and receive the same Sacraments and be in a Catholic Mass… simply there is no bearing as to what type of style ANY Catholic goes to. They are all valid Masses for one and each. Maybe this Sunday I’ll attend a Tridentine.

 

[Renko]

I myself am traditionalist, all others stink big time.

 

[jmcrae]

Your sentence structure leaves me at a loss as to what you are attempting to impart.

I understand him to mean that, for the Catholic, Truth is an unchangeable thing that stands outside of ourselves, and is unaffected by our personal opinions.

For the Protestant, Truth is something that he finds inside of himself, unaffected by anything from the outside.

 

[SSTeacher]

SSTeacher;6390918:

But the focus here is on the Catholics who have not

left the Catholic Church. The assertion is that such Catholics can legitimately be divided into six or perhaps seven different categories.

Categorically,
Mick
:thumbsup:It would be more helpful to look at the several types of faithful Catholics, if one is interested in the variety of ways that one may legitimately practice the Catholic faith.

All Catholics have five Precepts and ten Commandments that we are required to obey. In addition, there are a variety of optional practices that one may add to these.

1. The Marian Catholic. In her spare time, this Catholic is found praying the Rosary, evangelizing with the Legion of Mary, and gathering with other like-minded Marian Catholics to celebrate Mary’s feast days. She or he is likely to have gone on a pilgrimage to Fatima, Lourdes, Guadalupe, or to Mejugorje, and knows someone who has experienced a miracle at one of these sites.
2. The Social Justice Catholic. In his spare time, this Catholic is found collecting food for the St. Vincent de Paul food hamper, doling out soup at the soup kitchen, and making beds at Inn from the Cold. Once the work is done, he sits with the clients and listens to their stories of woe, and then recounts them to like-minded others, to encourage them in their work of feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the prisoners, and sheltering the homeless.
3. The Contemplative Catholic. In her spare time, or even as her chosen vocation, this Catholic can be found on her knees in front of the Tabernacle. She spends hours in contemplative prayer, seeking the face of Jesus. She prays the Divine Office at least in the morning and in the evening, and often gathers with like-minded others for Adoration and daily prayers.
4. The Scholarly Catholic. In his spare time, this Catholic is found with his nose in a book by Frank Sheed, Ludwig Ott, or Denzinger, with a Catechism and Bible handy for making notes. He meets like-minded others at summer session Seminary classes, and has likely tried out for the priesthood at least once.

This is just a sampling, of course. There are literally dozens of interesting ways to be a faithful Catholic.

The analysts have placed no limit on the number of categories that Catholicism might possibly contain nor have they suggested or implied that any individual Catholic or category of Catholics is being intentionally unfaithful. That’s the central point.

Helpfully,
Mick

 

[SSTeacher]

There should only be two categories: obedient and not obedient.

Sounds like an ideal theory.

All the other descriptions should not really matter.

Perhaps they shouldn’t but it seems that they do.

It never bothered me which form the Mass took.

I have the distinct impression that it bothers most Traditionalist Catholics, though.

God bless,
Ed

May God bless you also.

Cordially,
Mick

 

[SSTeacher]

Types of Mass have no bearing on being Catholic, whether latin, tridentine, or N.O.

I don’t think that is the view of every Catholic.

I as a N.O Catholic can walk into any of those and receive the same Sacraments and be in a Catholic Mass…

This, then, appears to be another category that has hitherto been unmentioned – the Novus Ordo Catholic.

simply there is no bearing as to what type of style ANY Catholic goes to.

Some Catholics think it does have a bearing.

They are all valid Masses for one and each.

I doubt that all Catholics would agree with you. For example, some Catholics do not think Clown Masses that are conducted in the spirit of Vatican II are valid. But other Catholics, including priests, do.

Maybe this Sunday I’ll attend a Tridentine.

And may you be blessed on the Lord’s Day, whichever category you choose.

Felicitously,
Mick

 

[SSTeacher]

I myself am traditionalist, all others stink big time.

Many thanks for your contribution.

Ecumenically,
Mick

 

[SSTeacher]

SSTeacher;6396397:

Your sentence structure leaves me at a loss as to what you are attempting to impart.

I understand him to mean that, for the Catholic, Truth is an unchangeable thing that stands outside of ourselves, and is unaffected by our personal opinions.

For the Protestant, Truth is something that he finds inside of himself, unaffected by anything from the outside.

If it does mean that, I daresay members of the Protestant Truth Society might see fit to register disagreement.

Amiably,
Mick

 

[jmcrae]

I doubt that all Catholics would agree with you. For example, some Catholics do not think Clown Masses that are conducted in the spirit of Vatican II are valid. But other Catholics, including priests, do.

Uh - no. Someone may have mistakenly thought so back in the '70s, but today, such things do not exist. Any photographic evidence of such typically turns out to be Episcopalian in origin.

 

[jmcrae]

If it does mean that, I daresay members of the Protestant Truth Society might see fit to register disagreement.

Amiably,
Mick

Good for them! I am betting those people will be Catholic or Orthodox within the decade - I’ve seen it happen before.