The "Are you Catholic or Christian" Question

[jmcrae]

So how is it that the cath faith is the ‘original’ Christian faith?

Jesus established it on Peter. Matt. 16:19-20 and John 21:15-19. Historically every Pope of the Catholic Church can trace his Ordination back to the Apostles in an unbroken line.

 

[JamesCaruso]

Actually, it is kind of the opposite; all the baptized are Catholic, even if they choose to stay away from the Catholic Church in Protest (“Protestant”) thinking that they want to formulate Christianity in different ways as their protest. The Protestants are our fellow Christians wandering after their own speculations about what Christianity is instead of submitting to the traditions passed down authoritatively from Peter, Paul, John, James, and the rest through the Church Fathers down to today.

I look at Protestants as my fellow Christians, brothers & sisters, yet in no way do I let go of the truth just to be acceptable to them. I call them brothers even if they think the Catholic Church is not Christian, not faithful to our Lord.

John Martin

Interesting perspective. I like it.

 

[mexanava87]

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.

Catholics are Christians:

“Since by Christ’s favor we are Catholic Christians” - St. Augustine - (Letter 217) Letter of Augustine to Vitalis ¶16 [A.D. 427].

 

[khuldar]

You can remind them all you want, but those who see the Catholic Church as the apostate church of the end times, the harlot of Babylon, will not see the Catholic Church as Christian. I used to be friends with members of a Christian Pentecostal church in Kentucky. They believed the CC was apostate. As they got to know me and question me on all my strange doctrinal beliefs, In the process I believe they softened their view toward Catholics. It’s all about education. Where certain Protestant sects are isolated from Catholics all sorts of strange beliefs can take root. Once they have interacted with Catholics on the basis of friendship, not argumentation, they begin to see things differently. At worst, they saw me as a Christian like themselves, but one who had been duped into believing some strange doctrines like Transubstantiation, or calling priests “father,” or giving Mary too much honor (at first they thought Catholics worshiped Mary), or thinking the Pope is the head of all Christians and thinks he is infallible.

I had the opposite when I started expressing interest in the Catholic faith… My “friends” decided that weren’t my friends anymore, but that is there loss.

I find it really sad when people Judge (knowingly or unknowingly) that Catholics aren’t Christian. We all worship the same God but in different ways, all the infighting does is push alot of people away that we should be Evangelizing. I agree with you that it is all about education but it’s hard to combat people who are so convinced that the Catholic church is the “Harlot of Babylon”

Makes me sad

 

[Miriam1947]

My reply:

Of course I’m a Christian, I’m a Catholic.

Sometimes I add that I go to the First Church of Christ and then I name my parish church.

 

[JamesCaruso]

I had the opposite when I started expressing interest in the Catholic faith… My “friends” decided that weren’t my friends anymore, but that is there loss.

I find it really sad when people Judge (knowingly or unknowingly) that Catholics aren’t Christian. We all worship the same God but in different ways, all the infighting does is push alot of people away that we should be Evangelizing. I agree with you that it is all about education but it’s hard to combat people who are so convinced that the Catholic church is the “Harlot of Babylon”

Makes me sad

It is sad. In many places, these perceptions of the Catholic Church go so unchallenged, and are so deeply ingrained in the minds of the general populace, that there’s little hope in the worldly sense for anything to ever change.

I give these people to Our Lady, to care for them as only a mother can, and to bring them gently to the realization of the true Church of her Son.

 

[John_Martin]

I look at Catholics as my fellow Christians, brothers and sisters, always have, even before my interest in joinng, yet I am completely baffled how there was ever even a thought in anyone’s head that Catholics are not Christians.

I am glad to hear that. It is surprising, though, how from time to time one can hear the Pope named as the Anti-Christ, Catholics termed as idolitors (saying that we worship Mary), etc.
But, it is largely due to the fact that they have learned what Catholicism is from non-Catholics. As I was studying to become Catholic it was immensely surprising how many things were different from what I had thought I knew before.

John Martin

 

[Regina_Love]

I am glad to hear that. It is surprising, though, how from time to time one can hear the Pope named as the Anti-Christ, Catholics termed as idolitors (saying that we worship Mary), etc.
But, it is largely due to the fact that they have learned what Catholicism is from non-Catholics. As I was studying to become Catholic it was immensely surprising how many things were different from what I had thought I knew before.

John Martin

 

[cheezey]

My reply:

Of course I’m a Christian, I’m a Catholic.

Sometimes I add that I go to the First Church of Christ and then I name my parish church.

With that in mind, I have said
Of course, I am Christian; I follow Christ.

 

[cheezey]

Actually, it is kind of the opposite; all the baptized are Catholic, even if they choose to stay away from the Catholic Church in Protest (“Protestant”) thinking that they want to formulate Christianity in different ways as their protest.

I can see that if those who choose to stay away from the Catholic Church in protest…
Some, maybe most now ? are not staying away per se, but have not been properly introduced to the possibilities of Catholicism. One cannot choose to purposefully stay away from or protest that which is unknown. Usually. I think…
I for one protested nothing by being Protestant. It was just kinda given to me by my parents. An inheritance, if you will…I didn’t know there was another option to inherit.

 

[YourAverageJoe]

what bothers me the most is when Catholics dont know they are Christians…
trust me, there are Church going Catholics that do not know,’
I even had one person argue with me that he wasnt a Christian but Catholic…
there is alot of ignorance…

Oh my Lord, Amazing !!!

 

[JamesCaruso]

what bothers me the most is when Catholics dont know they are Christians…
trust me, there are Church going Catholics that do not know,’
I even had one person argue with me that he wasnt a Christian but Catholic…
there is alot of ignorance…

Oh my Lord, Amazing !!!

If you live long enough you may run across anything. I once knew a Catholic who did not know it was a requirement to believe that Jesus rose from the dead. :doh2:

 

[MaryT777]

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…

Mary: Of course! I had a LCMS Pastor friend and a Baptist Pastor friend and the
Baptist Pastor used to say
jokingly he received “bonus points” for converting Catholics. The are not “off limits” as you say regarding stealing sheep.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.

 

[JonNC]

Mary: Of course! I had a LCMS Pastor friend and a Baptist Pastor friend and the
Baptist Pastor used to say
jokingly he received “bonus points” for converting Catholics. The are not “off limits” as you say regarding stealing sheep.

Mary,
In the case of the LCMS pastor, he should be ashamed of himself, if this was anymore than just a joke. With the vast numbers of unchurched Americans, we have no business spending time on those who are in the Church. The policy in our parish, of which I am an Elder, is that we do not sheep-steal, although those who come to us will not be turned away. Grodi’s Coming Home Network, for example, I believe is good model in this way.
Jon

 

[MaryT777]

Mary,
In the case of the LCMS pastor, he should be ashamed of himself, if this was anymore than just a joke. With the vast numbers of unchurched Americans, we have no business spending time on those who are in the Church. The policy in our parish, of which I am an Elder, is that we do not sheep-steal, although those who come to us will not be turned away. Grodi’s Coming Home Network, for example, I believe is good model in this way.
Jon

Jon, my post was not clear. The Baptist preacher told me that and I assume of course
he was joking. The LCMS pastor stated exactly what you say; he is not in the business of
stealing sheep. Just to clarify…
Mary.

 

[JonNC]

Jon, my post was not clear. The Baptist preacher told me that and I assume of course
he was joking. The LCMS pastor stated exactly what you say; he is not in the business of
stealing sheep. Just to clarify…
Mary.

Or I simply misread.

Thanks for clarifying. I would think the Baptist pastor would probably take umbrage were the shoe on the other foot.

Jon

 

[JPCheryl]

I have met many Catholics that I did not feel were “Christian,” and members of many of other faiths that were also not “Christian” no matter what they claimed. I am a Christian who is Catholic. This is perhaps one of the major problems in our church in the past…it called us to things that were not Christ centered. I am very hopeful that our new Pope, Pope Francis will return us to our call to be Christian above all things.

 

[JamesCaruso]

I have met many Catholics that I did not feel were “Christian,” and members of many of other faiths that were also not “Christian” no matter what they claimed. I am a Christian who is Catholic. This is perhaps one of the major problems in our church in the past…it called us to things that were not Christ centered. I am very hopeful that our new Pope, Pope Francis will return us to our call to be Christian above all things.

I don’t know what things you mean the Church called us to in the past that were not Christ-centered. That has not been my experience in the Northern Virginia area. Here, emphasis might have changed from time to time, or church o church, but all were Christ-centered. Could you elaborate?

 

[Vico]

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.

There is a denominational name use that may cause confusion from the general term:

Christian denomination from Disciples of Christ 1906 (Churches of Christ)
Christian denomination from the union of the United Church of Christ

 

[JPCheryl]

I was talking about our church in general not specific to a geographical area. I would say that we have become bogged down by following rather than leading. By that I mean that I do not see Jesus as someone using a playbook to follow in his ministry. He was responding to the needs of those he ministered to, particularly the poor. We seem to need a playbook or a judge or a coach to tell us what to do to carry the message of Christ, rather than following what Christ said. Every time I hear a Priest tell us that we must go out and proclaim our religion, I want to respond, “but you want to approve everything I say first???” I think this is one of the reasons Catholics are so poor at speaking about our faith. The book of rules and regulations has gotten to big. I am hopeful that Pope Francis will return us to a more simple and more important message and that will indeed be Christ centered I suspect.

I don’t know what things you mean the Church called us to in the past that were not Christ-centered. That has not been my experience in the Northern Virginia area. Here, emphasis might have changed from time to time, or church o church, but all were Christ-centered. Could you elaborate?