The "Are you Catholic or Christian" Question

[HaveFaith8]

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.

 

[mikeeh]

I prefer Catholic over Christian. I feel like a Christian only believes in Christ. As a Catholic, meaning universal, I believe in Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Sacraments, the Church founded on Peter, the Immaculate Conception of Mary, the Perpetual Virginity of Mary, etc.

 

[St_Francis]

We are Catholics *and *Christians. The others who call themselves Christians are so insofar as they follow [Catholic] Christian teaching by believing in Christ, etc.

In our everyday language, Protestants call themselves Christians without differentiating themselves as Protestant Christians, but that would really be more accurate. If anyone were to ask me which I was, I would say both–the words historically are synonymous.

 

[eschator83]

How sad it is that there are so many sects calling themselves Christian–it is almost impossible to make an accurate generalized statement about what all Christians believe, except perhaps that they believe Jesus modeled God’s Way for humans, and died as a Ransom for our Salvation. Atheists delight in their scorn and mockery at the widespread differences in belief among the sects.
By contrast, Catholics have one Catechism, and one Pope (usually). We also have dissent because we are human, and we seek to find harmony in our faith and our reason, but we have loyalty to our Church, the Church of the Apostles, and to one another.

 

[DaveBj]

Here would be me take:

Q: Are you a Catholic or a Christian?

A. Yes.

. . . and just let the answer lie there.

 

[Windmill]

I agree, we should correct them and say, “Do you mean, am I Catholic or Protestant?”

As to “Catholic” meaning “universal”, this does not refer to the spectrum of doctrines out there, for there most certainly are doctrines we reject, and which, if you espouse them, place you outside the Church. So we must also be careful not to take the word “Catholic” (translated as “universal”) to refer to the doctrines we espouse.

The reason this word came about is in contrast to the Jewish religion that the Church came out of. Jews were a specific culture, ethnicity, and geographically-centered religion. They believed they had a monopoly on God’s grace and favor because he had covenanted with them in the past. However, God intended them to draw all nations and peoples to Him. Instead, they turned in on themselves and didn’t spread God’s word to all who needed to hear it (namely, everyone).

The “Catholic” Church refers to the fact that the Church is not bound by any one ethnicity or culture. It is universal. While this may sound obvious, it was a radical idea in the Jewish minds of the first Christians. God’s covenant now applies to ALL who will enter it (through Baptism) regardless of their geography, ethnicity, or culture. It is a religion that is open to the whole world - the universal Church. However, that universal Church is united by specific doctrines, not by specific genealogies.

 

[cheezey]

Here would be me take:

Q: Are you a Catholic or a Christian?

A. Yes.

. . . and just let the answer lie there.

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…

 

[wmw]

I’d some time like to remember to say, “You know about Christians using that fish symbol? Catholics are like king salmon.”

 

[followingtheway]

Forgive me for perhaps being OCD about this

You’re not being OCD at all. Trust me this a pet peeve of mine too. I’ve been asked this question by Catholics too. I’ve heard them say things like “I’m not Christian, I’m Catholic”

The kids at my school (even the Catholics) think “Christian” means “Protestant”

 

[NovusAugustus]

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.

 

[Regina_Love]

Yes!

 

[Christy_Beth]

Agreement here. :extrahappy:

 

[Karen107]

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.

 

[Isaiah45_9]

Of course

 

[cheezey]

Merge?

Why do some Christians view Catholics as non-Christians thread

 

[GreatergoodGod]

Catholic Christian?

 

[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

 

[cheezey]

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

:clapping::clapping::clapping::clapping::clapping::clapping:

And that, people, is the post that should end the thread…

 

[JamesCaruso]

Catholic is more defining than Christian. I think we can all agree on that.

But today, Catholic is not enough.

Now we have liberal Catholics, conservative Catholics, traditional Catholics, and two weeks ago a lady described herself to me as a Radtrad, or radical traditional Catholic.

It’s hard to pigeonhole people, but I would think I am a conservative Catholic. I like the Novo Ordo, but I also like the EF. I don’t have any disagreements with the teachings of the Church, so I think that precludes me from being a liberal Catholic, unless a love for social justice (in the good sense) makes be somewhat liberal. I’m still not sure what a radical traditionalist is, but I think it’s someone who can hardly tolerate the Novus Ordo. They’re in good company-- I understand that St. Padre Pio refused to celebrate anything other than the EF of the Mass, although I don’t know whether this was just a simple preference or he felt very strongly about it. Anyone know?

 

[steve_b]

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.

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.