The "Are you Catholic or Christian" Question

[ALLGIRLS]

Not that many have asked in this way, in my circle, anyway…but

I met but one person who thought Catholics were not Christians…
She was a Mennonite, who was a bit disgruntled when I said, Yeah, they are kinda the first ones?!! I never knew this was even a thought in anyone’s head. If people do not think of Catholics as Christians, what do they think of the oirgins!!! This one didn’t hang around long enough for me to ask…

What’s really sad is that the guy who started the Mennonites was a Catholic priest!

In Christ
Ellen

When someone identifies themselves as Christian, I assume they are Protestant and don’t want to identify themselves as Protestant. A more honest statement IMO, would be for them to say they are Protestant, or Protestant Christian. But that’s just me.

So many Protestants nowadays, especially the “nondenominational” ones, refuse to acknowledge being Protestant. Even some that attend denominational churches will say something like “I attend a Baptist church, but I’m just Christian”. It’s like “newspeak”. Back in the “old days” Protestants were proud of being Protestant!

In Christ,
Ellen

 

[CradleJourney]

This is quick issue I wanted to raise:

Forgive me for perhaps being OCD about this , but it seems to be rather common for people to distinguish Catholic from Christian, especially when one says their Christian as if Catholics are not . Forgive me for being blunt, but I think this is something we have to emphasize in conversation and conversion, so that it’s clear that Catholics are Christians and that other Christian faiths are Protestant or something else. Please clarify otherwise, and thanks for your comments.

I don’t see it as being OCD at all. And posters have given some great answers for how to answer the question when you are directly asked which you are.

Just to add, when someone says in response to finding our you are Catholic “Oh, well, I’m a Christian.” My response is “Of course! Just like me! After all, Catholics are the original Christians.”

Either they disengage at that point, or we have a great conversation. But I feel I made the point that way and maybe they won’t use that comment in the future.

 

[JamesCaruso]

I don’t see it as being OCD at all. And posters have given some great answers for how to answer the question when you are directly asked which you are.

Just to add, when someone says in response to finding our you are Catholic “Oh, well, I’m a Christian.” My response is “Of course! Just like me! After all, Catholics are the original Christians.”

Either they disengage at that point, or we have a great conversation. But I feel I made the point that way and maybe they won’t use that comment in the future.

One way I answer is that I am a Catholic Christian, and not in name only. Today in America, just saying you are a Catholic is not enough since it includes you with everyone from Pope Benedict to Nancy Pelosi. The general public really does not have a clue as to what a Catholic is anymore.

 

[DaveBj]

One way I answer is that I am a Catholic Christian, and not in name only. Today in America, just saying you are a Catholic is not enough since it includes you with everyone from Pope Benedict to Nancy Pelosi. The general public really does not have a clue as to what a Catholic is anymore.

Sad but true.

 

[CaptFun]

Some “short answers” to this question:

Christian = follower of Christ (a person)
Catholic = Christ’s Church (for all people per “Go and teach the nations”

Are you Catholic or Christian? Both!

• I follow Christ and
• belong to the Church He founded,
• the Church of the Bible. Which the Bible calls the “church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth”, in 1 Timothy 3:15.

A true “Christian Church” is open to all people (Catholic) not just for some.

• We strive to love God with all our hearts, and our neighbors as ourselves.
• We share the good news God gave us about His plan " … not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9) So that we may live in peace and cooperation in this life and be happy together with the Lord in the next for eternity.

---

Sometimes this question IS put in such a way as to *imply that “Catholics are not Christian”.
*
Other times there is just a misunderstanding – that still might be addressed however.

I serve in the detention ministry in my diocese bringing communion (and a Sunday Service and a Wednesday prayer meeting) to children 5-17 living in the county home who can’t attend mass. In the “cottages” the children are asked “Catholic or Christian?” for their service because another group (with “Christian” in the name of their Church) comes at the same time we do. We Catholics get asked “what’s the difference?” by Catholic kids and the unchurched kids who join us.

The above are some of the answers I’ve given. I never disapprove of the Protestant group
but privately consider them allies bringing Christ to a needed place like we are.

We welcome visitors and let them know that our service might be very like what they are used to anyway. Singing, Bible Reading, Prayer. We have to explain about Communion briefly … and unfortunately our “kids” don’t remain long enough with us for us to train them in the sacraments – whereas ironically, in the jails and juvenile hall flanking us … people have been baptised, received first communion and have been confirmed (because they are
in their facilities long enough to complete the courses). We generally tell the kids to tell their parents or foster parents that they want to study for their first communions etc.

There also seem to be many adrift Christians that don’t have a Church home … and would consider becoming Catholic. It can seem to THEM that the doors to the Catholic Church are somewhat closed (as by comparison, one might join another “Christian Church” the same day).

In a sense one can “join the Catholic Church” the same day … via Baptism of Desire …
but I am not inclined to teach that – a sort of considering Catechumens to be “in the Church” without full privileges yet.

Christian/person Catholic/Church seems to work well – as does Catholic IS Christian.

We say the Creed together a lot. And tell the children that this is the Church’s way of quickly defining the important aspects of what it teaches. That seems to help.

 

[wmw]

I feel if I say I’m Catholic, that it should be a given that I’m known as a Christian so no need to be redundant. Would we ask a Protestant if they were Christian? I believe they might feel insulted.

Some have been misinformed (confused by Protestant propaganda), some are being intentionally insulting and some think that it can be just a friendly jab. Problem is that it’s often quite difficult to know where this question is coming from and why I think a lite, goofy analogy, but correcting counter sound bite (like the king salmon is the best of fish) is the best come-back to cover the full range.

 

[Capuchinfan1337]

We’re both, Prodestants may try to claim that the Catholic Church and Pope is the Anti-Christ but we kinda got founded by Jesus in 33 Ad and MT 16 is the foundation of the Church as we know it.

 

[Faithdancer]

Here would be me take:

Q: Are you a Catholic or a Christian?
A. Yes.
. . . and just let the answer lie there.

I also respond with either “yes” or “both.” Usually when people pose the question it is because they confuse the term “Protestant” with “Christian” but aren’t educated enough in religion to understand the difference OR, unfortunately, they attend a fundamentalist/ evangelical church where they are constantly told that Catholics are not Christian. If its the latter case, just…walk…away!

 

[Bookcat]

We are Christians…have been since the first century.

First members of the Church were called “the disciples”…

Later called followers of “the way” …and it seems “Nazarenes”

then at Antioch we started being called Christians.

Later in the first century the Church started to be called “Catholic” (see St. Ignatius --again at Antioch --use around the year 100)

So in time Christians began to be also called Catholics.

And as various heresies arose in the first centuries…which claimed to be Christian …the word was used to differentiate Christians from the others was Catholic…

We still called ourselves Christians…but also we used the term Catholic.

Now a days we have many sorts of Christians --who are indeed Christians and our brothers…though we are unhappily not yet in full communion.

Catholics are Christians who in full communion with the successor of Peter. We call ourselves Christians all the time…Pope Benedict XVI when addressing the faithful did not usually say “Catholics this or that” but called them Christians…for that is what we are.

Other Christians have various degrees of communion with us (not speaking here of Holy Communion …but of “being in communion with”).

As one early Christian noted (375AD)

“If you want to know who I am,” he said, “Christian is my name, Catholic is my surname.”

St. Pacian

 

[jmcrae]

I don’t hear this as much. Though I did get this one, “Don’t you guys like, not believe that Jesus was resurrected?” I was so confused.

They were referring to the Crucifix - Protestants decorate their worship spaces with elongated plus-signs.

 

[DaveBj]

They were referring to the Crucifix - Protestants decorate their worship spaces with elongated plus-signs.

 

[Bookcat]

We are Christians…have been since the first century.

First members of the Church were called “the disciples”…

Later called followers of “the way” …and it seems “Nazarenes”

then at Antioch we started being called Christians.

Later in the first century the Church started to be called “Catholic” (see St. Ignatius --again at Antioch --use around the year 100)

So in time Christians began to be also called Catholics.

And as various heresies arose in the first centuries…which claimed to be Christian …the word was used to differentiate Christians from the others was Catholic…

We still called ourselves Christians…but also we used the term Catholic.

Now a days we have many sorts of Christians --who are indeed Christians and our brothers…though we are unhappily not yet in full communion.

Catholics are Christians who in full communion with the successor of Peter. We call ourselves Christians all the time…Pope Benedict XVI when addressing the faithful did not usually say “Catholics this or that” but called them Christians…for that is what we are.

Other Christians have various degrees of communion with us (not speaking here of Holy Communion …but of “being in communion with”).

As one early Christian noted (375AD)

“If you want to know who I am,” he said, “Christian is my name, Catholic is my surname.”

St. Pacian

 

[Church_Militant]

“All heretics wish to be styled Catholic, yet if anyone asks them where is the Catholic place of worship none would venture to point out his own." —St. Augustine of Hippo

I believe that St. Augustine knew what he was talking about.

 

[october_baby]

I say Catholic to the last!

 

[cheezey]

They were referring to the Crucifix - Protestants decorate their worship spaces with elongated plus-signs.

that’s cute, as in funny; some Protestants grew up understanding what idolatry really is, and thus, thought it to be strange there was no Crucifix, even before fully appreciating the differences between each “side”. ALL Christians understand that He died for us. Why, then, would there NOT be a Crucifix in the Church? Why can’t ALL Christians have a Crucifix in the Church as a profound reminder of what He did for us all? That’s not idol worshipping, never has been, never will be. It is a visual reminder that He Died For Us; one that should humbly remind us that we can never do for Him what He did for us. I take joy in the fact that He came here for us and I also kneel before His Crucified Body in somber reverence what He did for us so that we may ALL live in Him.

 

[Goya]

This is quick issue I wanted to raise:

Forgive me for perhaps being OCD about this , but it seems to be rather common for people to distinguish Catholic from Christian, especially when one says their Christian as if Catholics are not . Forgive me for being blunt, but I think this is something we have to emphasize in conversation and conversion, so that it’s clear that Catholics are Christians and that other Christian faiths are Protestant or something else. Please clarify otherwise, and thanks for your comments.

This distinction is emphasized and reiterated repeatedly, and overtly, in order to justify protestants’ attempts to evangelize Catholics–as if we didn’t already have the Good News (and as if they didn’t take…or raather, get…it from us…).

Protestant pastors have a (mostly) unwritten rule amongst one another, against targeting sheep of another protestant pastor’s flock, regardless of denomination. The rule doesn’t apply to Catholics, because that’s the See from which they all fish.

Notice how many television or radio evangelizers will refer listeners/viewers to “…a good bible church, or bible based church”. (–that would be code de jure, for ‘protestant church’–any protestant church…just not a Catholic church…).

The question is frankly, patently insulting, and everytime I’ve been presented with it, I’ve treated the person posing the question to a Catholic cathechesis on Church history.

Politely, of course…

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.

 

[Bookcat]

We are Christians…have been since the first century.

First members of the Church were called “the disciples”…

Later called followers of “the way” …and it seems “Nazarenes”

then at Antioch we started being called Christians.

Later in the first century the Church started to be called “Catholic” (see St. Ignatius --again at Antioch --use around the year 100)

So in time Christians began to be also called Catholics.

And as various heresies arose in the first centuries…which claimed to be Christian …the word was used to differentiate Christians from the others was Catholic…

We still called ourselves Christians…but also we used the term Catholic.

Now a days we have many sorts of Christians --who are indeed Christians and our brothers…though we are unhappily not yet in full communion.

Catholics are Christians who in full communion with the successor of Peter. We call ourselves Christians all the time…Pope Benedict XVI when addressing the faithful did not usually say “Catholics this or that” but called them Christians…for that is what we are.

Other Christians have various degrees of communion with us (not speaking here of Holy Communion …but of “being in communion with”).

As one early Christian noted (375AD)

“If you want to know who I am,” he said, “Christian is my name, Catholic is my surname.”

St. Pacian

 

[JonNC]

They were referring to the Crucifix - Protestants decorate their worship spaces with elongated plus-signs.

Curiously, the empty cross is not a particularly good symbol of the resurrected Christ. the empty tomb is! The crucifix, however, is the symbol that best reflects that we preach Christ crucified!
That said, the empty cross is a reverent sign of the faith.

Jon

 

[JamesCaruso]

Curiously, the empty cross is not a particularly good symbol of the resurrected Christ. the empty tomb is! The crucifix, however, is the symbol that best reflects that we preach Christ crucified!
That said, the empty cross is a reverent sign of the faith.

Jon

St. Louis De Montfort wrote:

Do not think that, wanting to be more triumphant, he rejected the cross after his death. Far from it; he united himself so closely to it that neither angel nor man, nor any creature in heaven or on earth, could separate him from it. The bond between them is indissoluble, their union is eternal. Never the Cross without Jesus, or Jesus without the Cross.

Love of Eternal Wisdom, (172)

 

[Doxiemom]

This is quick issue I wanted to raise:

Forgive me for perhaps being OCD about this , but it seems to be rather common for people to distinguish Catholic from Christian, especially when one says their Christian as if Catholics are not . Forgive me for being blunt, but I think this is something we have to emphasize in conversation and conversion, so that it’s clear that Catholics are Christians and that other Christian faiths are Protestant or something else. Please clarify otherwise, and thanks for your comments.

It only matters if you are a heresy hunter(some protestants) or a rabid catholic (some of them are out there ya know).

If the need be I will be truthful and say i am a baptised, confirmed catholic, have always gone to Mass but i am far more fulfilled when listening to non-catholic preachers.

I hope I am wrong in detecting a bit of class warfare going on. Like who is a first class citizen and who is economy seat people.