I am a Roman Catholic

[thiscatholickid]

Something happened earlier this week that bothered me. I was talking to a new friend, a girl, that (and I could very well be wrong) seemed to exhibit some interest in me. I think this can be identified by well, excessive questions? Questions that seem to stray from normal friendly chatter.

One of which was “Are you Christian?”, I already knew before getting to know her that she was a very devout Christian. Baptist, I think…

And just like every single one of you, I have very often answered such a question with a simple “Yes.”
It is after all, true. I am a Christian. But for some reason that time I couldn’t do it. I think it was situational, and based on my knowledge about her.

I knew she was a very well versed and theological Christian. Someone who knows the whats-what when it comes to religion. So I felt that if I said I was a Christian, I would be subscribing to the conventional understanding of the word, Christian. In other words, subscribing to a huge list of beliefs and doctrines that I find wholly and entirely untrue as a Catholic.

So I said, “No, I’m a Roman Catholic.”

The second part isn’t what bothered me, the first part was what stuck. I had said No.
Not, “Yes, I’m a Roman Catholic.”

Ever since then conversation with her died down, as I think she took my answer as the answer of a die-hard Mary worshipping idolatrous Catholic

But even though she’s long gone, my answer has still stuck. Did I make a mistake? Or did I stand up for my faith? After my initial meditation I finally decided that I had erred. Roman Catholicism isn’t just Christian, it is REAL Christianity. The beginning, the first Christians.

But then I had a shift at my work. (I work at Starbucks.) It was right before Easter, and a lady in the Drive-Thru handed me a pamphlet. It was inviting me to a Easter Pancake Breakfast at a local Christian Church.

On it, it showed an unrealistically cartoonish picture of Jesus, his arms widespread around the world. The casual depiction was somewhat disturbing. I’m not advocating always showing Jesus bleeding on a cross, but something about the unnatural smile seemed more like a political caricature than an image of Our Lord.

As I tucked the pamphlet into my pocket, I saw the words "All welcome, men, women, children regardless of race or sexuality.

Underneath it were three images. Gender images such as the kind found on public restroom signs. A man and woman holding hands, then a man and a man, and then two women.

All throughout that shift I asked myself, “Am I a Christian?”

The answer would always come back irrevocably “YES!” And then whisper back sullenly “…and No.”

This is really bothering me even weeks after. What is the greater problem here? Showing ecumenism by accepting others, or disregarding identity by generalizing.

Sincerely,
A Confused Roman Catholic

 

[NFrancis]

Catholics are Christian. The Catholic Church was founded by Christ when he gave St. Peter the Keys to bind and loose on Heaven and Earth(making him the first Pope). The Church has had the same beliefs since so we have the same religion of the early Christians. Also, the Church accepts all people no matter their race, gender, sexual orientation… The people who are homosexuals must remain chaste however since it is clear according to the Bible and sacred tradition that marriage is between one man and one women. Marriage is very much about family and procreation occurs between one man and one women. Additionally, sex is also about procreation and it must be between one man and one women or else it is not what God intended for us.

 

[thiscatholickid]

Understood. I think your missing the point slightly.

The question that was bothering me was wether or not simply saying your Christian understates your religious identity as a Roman Catholic. When we all know that being Roman Catholic, despite all similarities, is a vastly different thing than being Protestant. Especially evangelical or fundamental protestant.

 

[NFrancis]

Understood. I think your missing the point slightly.

The question that was bothering me was wether or not simply saying your Christian understates your religious identity as a Roman Catholic. When we all know that being Roman Catholic, despite all similarities, is a vastly different thing than being Protestant. Especially evangelical or fundamental protestant.

Okay, well i think that it probably does understate your beliefs. There is much difference between the Protestant and Catholic faiths. If you just say you are Christian then that is just saying a small part of what you believe in so it would be best to say “Yes, I am Catholic.”

 

[thiscatholickid]

Which is what I thought. But the growing trend in just about all Churches, not just Catholics, is to simply consider themselves Christian. In fact, at a local mass in my town the only sign of Catholic identity around was the sign by the street that said “Catholic Church”. Everything inside was indistinguishable from Christianity.

 

[Mattapoisett64]

Which is what I thought. But the growing trend in just about all Churches, not just Catholics, is to simply consider themselves Christian. In fact, at a local mass in my town the only sign of Catholic identity around was the sign by the street that said “Catholic Church”. Everything inside was indistinguishable from Christianity.

I’m wondering if you’re selling your local church a little short. I’m guessing that the neighborhood evangelical “mega-church” or local Presbyterian church for that matter does not have a crucifix, Stations, tabernacle, vigil lamp, etc.

 

[JustaServant]

How about Catholic christian?

 

[thiscatholickid]

I’m wondering if you’re selling your local church a little short. I’m guessing that the neighborhood evangelical “mega-church” or local Presbyterian church for that matter does not have a crucifix, Stations, tabernacle, vigil lamp, etc.

Very true. I’ll admit I’m being a bit critical. But I just wonder what this does for the less theologically inclined, like small children. If they grow up thinking they’re just Christians, and lets say they are not particularly religious (as the majority of any religion are) that a consequence of not having a firm Catholic culture may result in them just ‘going to a different Christian Church’ when they grow older.

Especially if they grow up not knowing the distinction between Roman Catholicism and mainstream Christianity.

 

[Pug]

Maybe what’s bugging you is that you aren’t saying enough when you answer the question, at least, not enough for you to be comfortable that your answer was enough?

I’ve sat there and wondered what to say to questions like “Are you Christian?” I typically answer based on who is asking, or based upon what I guess they are asking. If it is a coded question for are you saved, I say yes and then follow it up with a biblical reference or allusion. If a Muslim is asking, I just say yes, period. If I judge that someone has in mind a non-denominational Christian who goes to the local megachurch by their question, then I might say Yes, and I attend St. N. in N. If some generic person at the office asks in a brief, offhanded way, I’d say Yes, I’m Catholic, since that communicates the most information in the shortest time.

 

[thiscatholickid]

How about Catholic christian?

Which is what I am, of course.

I’m just having an interior struggle here. Something just doesn’t feel right about saying anything other than Roman Catholic.

Like the old saying “Is the Pope a Catholic?”

What if it said “Is the Pope a Christian?”

Its still the same message, but it just doesn’t seem right somehow.

Okay, maybe a bad example. But it was spontaneous and I don’t feel like backspacing.

 

[thiscatholickid]

Maybe what’s bugging you is that you aren’t saying enough when you answer the question, at least, not enough for you to be comfortable that your answer was enough?

I’ve sat there and wondered what to say to questions like “Are you Christian?” I typically answer based on who is asking, or based upon what I guess they are asking. If it is a coded question for are you saved, I say yes and then follow it up with a biblical reference or allusion. If a Muslim is asking, I just say yes, period. If I judge that someone has in mind a non-denominational Christian who goes to the local megachurch by their question, then I might say Yes, and I attend St. N. in N. If some generic person at the office asks in a brief, offhanded way, I’d say Yes, I’m Catholic, since that communicates the most information in the shortest time.

Exactly right. It really is situational. But my main scruples are with the fact I said No. And I don’t feel like recanting it. By saying No I made a clear distinction between Catholic and Christian, which was revived by that obscene pamphlet.

I know I’m being difficult here, but to be honest, I go to a traditional Church. And I know if I brought it up to my priest hed just go “Right on, your a Roman Catholic. Next time mention your a Traditionalist too!”

I’m looking for unbiased responses.

I think I’m more uncomfortable with the idea that OTHER less learned Catholics come across that question. As well as children, which I mentioned earlier.

I think there has to be some sort of new identity movement, since our religion really is a very cultural one with its own unique ceremonies and beliefs. If someone was asked about their ethnicity a lot of times they’d have detailed responses and perhaps a funny story to boot. Not so with the common Catholic, a lot of times it seems like their just, Christian.

 

[PJM]

=thiscatholickid;5128243]Something happened earlier this week that bothered me. I was talking to a new friend, a girl, that (and I could very well be wrong) seemed to exhibit some interest in me. I think this can be identified by well, excessive questions? Questions that seem to stray from normal friendly chatter.

One of which was “Are you Christian?”, I already knew before getting to know her that she was a very devout Christian. Baptist, I think…

And just like every single one of you, I have very often answered such a question with a simple “Yes.”
It is after all, true. I am a Christian. But for some reason that time I couldn’t do it. I think it was situational, and based on my knowledge about her.

I knew she was a very well versed and theological Christian. Someone who knows the whats-what when it comes to religion. So I felt that if I said I was a Christian, I would be subscribing to the conventional understanding of the word, Christian. In other words, subscribing to a huge list of beliefs and doctrines that I find wholly and entirely untrue as a Catholic.

So I said, “No, I’m a Roman Catholic.”

The second part isn’t what bothered me, the first part was what stuck. I had said No.
Not, “Yes, I’m a Roman Catholic.”

Ever since then conversation with her died down, as I think she took my answer as the answer of a die-hard Mary worshipping idolatrous Catholic

But even though she’s long gone, my answer has still stuck. Did I make a mistake? Or did I stand up for my faith? After my initial meditation I finally decided that I had erred. Roman Catholicism isn’t just Christian, it is REAL Christianity. The beginning, the first Christians.

But then I had a shift at my work. (I work at Starbucks.) It was right before Easter, and a lady in the Drive-Thru handed me a pamphlet. It was inviting me to a Easter Pancake Breakfast at a local Christian Church.

On it, it showed an unrealistically cartoonish picture of Jesus, his arms widespread around the world. The casual depiction was somewhat disturbing. I’m not advocating always showing Jesus bleeding on a cross, but something about the unnatural smile seemed more like a political caricature than an image of Our Lord.

As I tucked the pamphlet into my pocket, I saw the words "All welcome, men, women, children regardless of race or sexuality.

Underneath it were three images. Gender images such as the kind found on public restroom signs. A man and woman holding hands, then a man and a man, and then two women.

All throughout that shift I asked myself, “Am I a Christian?”

The answer would always come back irrevocably “YES!” And then whisper back sullenly “…and No.”

This is really bothering me even weeks after. What is the greater problem here? Showing ecumenism by accepting others, or disregarding identity by generalizing.

Sincerely,
A Confused Roman Catholic

Greetings in Christ dear friend,

I hope I don’t upset you by suggesting your initial responce was, well, perhaps a bit unChrsitian?

Indeed we should be proud to proclaim our affiliation with the Only Church Founded by Christ, The Oldest and largest Christian Church, the RCC.

A responce of either; “yes I’m a Catholic” or simply a smile and I’m Catholic, may have been better?

Thank you for a well thought out and articulate post!

 

[Ultima_Ratio]

All throughout that shift I asked myself, “Am I a Christian?”

The answer would always come back irrevocably “YES!” And then whisper back sullenly “…and No.”

This is really bothering me even weeks after. What is the greater problem here? Showing ecumenism by accepting others, or disregarding identity by generalizing.

Sincerely,
A Confused Roman Catholic

The better answer would have been, “not only am I a Christian, but I belong to the actually Church that Christ founded 2000 years ago, the one that He said the gates of hell would not prevail against”.

One problem might be in your understanding of ecumenism. There is a true ecumenism and a false ecumeniss, and we need to be sure we understand the difference. The purpose of *true *ecumenism is to convert the non-Catholics into the Catholic Church. The goal of false ecumenism is to attempt to build one Church that consists of Catholics and heretics. The one (true ecumenism) should be the goal of all Catholics, while the other is the road to religious indifferentism, which is actually a sin against faith.

 

[redrosetea]

Something happened earlier this week that bothered me. I was talking to a new friend, a girl, that (and I could very well be wrong) seemed to exhibit some interest in me. I think this can be identified by well, excessive questions? Questions that seem to stray from normal friendly chatter.

One of which was “Are you Christian?”, I already knew before getting to know her that she was a very devout Christian. Baptist, I think…

And just like every single one of you, I have very often answered such a question with a simple “Yes.”
It is after all, true. I am a Christian. But for some reason that time I couldn’t do it. I think it was situational, and based on my knowledge about her.

I knew she was a very well versed and theological Christian. Someone who knows the whats-what when it comes to religion. So I felt that if I said I was a Christian, I would be subscribing to the conventional understanding of the word, Christian. In other words, subscribing to a huge list of beliefs and doctrines that I find wholly and entirely untrue as a Catholic.

So I said, “No, I’m a Roman Catholic.”

The second part isn’t what bothered me, the first part was what stuck. I had said No.
Not, “Yes, I’m a Roman Catholic.”

Ever since then conversation with her died down, as I think she took my answer as the answer of a die-hard Mary worshipping idolatrous Catholic

But even though she’s long gone, my answer has still stuck. Did I make a mistake? Or did I stand up for my faith? After my initial meditation I finally decided that I had erred. Roman Catholicism isn’t just Christian, it is REAL Christianity. The beginning, the first Christians.

But then I had a shift at my work. (I work at Starbucks.) It was right before Easter, and a lady in the Drive-Thru handed me a pamphlet. It was inviting me to a Easter Pancake Breakfast at a local Christian Church.

On it, it showed an unrealistically cartoonish picture of Jesus, his arms widespread around the world. The casual depiction was somewhat disturbing. I’m not advocating always showing Jesus bleeding on a cross, but something about the unnatural smile seemed more like a political caricature than an image of Our Lord.

As I tucked the pamphlet into my pocket, I saw the words "All welcome, men, women, children regardless of race or sexuality.

Underneath it were three images. Gender images such as the kind found on public restroom signs. A man and woman holding hands, then a man and a man, and then two women.

All throughout that shift I asked myself, “Am I a Christian?”

The answer would always come back irrevocably “YES!” And then whisper back sullenly “…and No.”

This is really bothering me even weeks after. What is the greater problem here? Showing ecumenism by accepting others, or disregarding identity by generalizing.

Sincerely,
A Confused Roman Catholic

Catholic were the first Christians…We have all said something dumb we regret in our lives…let it go and move on…you can’t change the past and this girl might have also decided to try to convert you

I am very leery when people start asking those sorts of questions

 

[Pug]

Exactly right. It really is situational. But my main scruples are with the fact I said No. And I don’t feel like recanting it. By saying No I made a clear distinction between Catholic and Christian, which was revived by that obscene pamphlet.

I know I’m being difficult here, but to be honest, I go to a traditional Church. And I know if I brought it up to my priest hed just go “Right on, your a Roman Catholic. Next time mention your a Traditionalist too!”

I’m looking for unbiased responses.

I think I’m more uncomfortable with the idea that OTHER less learned Catholics come across that question. As well as children, which I mentioned earlier.

I think there has to be some sort of new identity movement, since our religion really is a very cultural one with its own unique ceremonies and beliefs. If someone was asked about their ethnicity a lot of times they’d have detailed responses and perhaps a funny story to boot. Not so with the common Catholic, a lot of times it seems like their just, Christian.

No, you’re not not being difficult! It is a real thing you ask about. For example, if a Mormon were to ask me the question, I’d have serious difficulty just answering yes, based upon my understanding of their understanding of God, and also based on me having no idea what they mean by the question in their heads.

I grew up Methodist and was not taught to view Catholics as anything but Christians, so I was perfectly happy to set foot in a Catholic church and worship with them as a youth. So I entirely understand what you are saying about young Catholics and what they might do with the concept that we are all the same. I am the perfect example.

You don’t have to recant your answer of No. You meant you (you and the woman) are not the same by your answer, which was a true and honest answer.

 

[Sister_G]

It would seem to me that if you had said most of what was going on in your head, she would have understood more of who and what you are. I do believe your response to situational as you may have been interested in her as well and in those moments our brains and our mouths have a big disconnect
If God permits, at some moment, should you see her and the time is right, share with her this dilemma of yours and witness to the Truths of this great faith of ours! I pray He gives you the opportunity!

 

[gloria97000]

Sounds like a linguistic issue as much as a faith issue – requiring a lot of explanation for a full answer that will make sense to your questioner!
I grew up in a heavily Catholic area and NOT ONCE was approached or questioned regarding my Christianity until well into adulthood…that was when I went to a Christian fellowship meeting at school. Identifying myself as Catholic, I was met with, “I thought this group was only for Christians?” from a perplexed young Protestant. Bummer - I’d always emphasized the good will I had always seen, the common faith that Jesus is Lord and Son of God. It was this young Protestant who proclaimed the differences between us and sent me out of his “Christian” realm.

So I can see your dilemma - after all, your meaning of Christian, her meaning of Christian - they’re very, very different. So it’s hard to communicate using the word…communication and language are based on a shared understanding of definition. Having said that, I don’t want to stop saying I’m Christian, Christian Catholic, or Roman Catholic. Sometimes the Protestants I speak with really DON’T know that I recognize Jesus as the Son of God, or they think we pray to Mary exclusively, or have any other preconception of Catholicism. I don’t think you recanted your faith at all…you announced your faith. I do think we might make an effort to proclaim ourselves as Christian, too, so as to clarify our beliefs and to prevent the degradation of the word from its original and holy meaning!