What makes one a Catholic?

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Aramis said:
Having been Baptized in the CC makes one a technical Catholic.

A Practical Catholic is one who accepts the Nicene-Constantinoplian Creed (with or without the Filioque), the Authority of the Pope, the dogmas of the Holy Catholic Church, and does not teach against the Doctrines of their particular Catholic Church, whether that be Roman, Ruthenian, Melkite, Maronite, or any of the other Eastern Catholic Churches.
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Thank you. That is the clearest answer so far.
 
Priscilla_Ann said:
Thank you. That is the clearest answer so far.
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It’s a paraphrase of the Knights of Columbus’ definition of a practical Catholic.

I forgot one line, tho: “One who is a regular participant in the liturgies of the church.”
 
Priscilla_Ann said:
So what if one is baptized as an infant (through no decision of their own), but does not remain Catholic because they do not believe and accept all that the Catholic church teaches?
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What if one is circumcised at 8 days of age by a rabbi according to the faith of his Jewish parents (through no decision of his own)? Is he a Jew? Or is he not really Jewish until his bar mitzvahs?

Paul
 
Priscilla_Ann said:
What exactly is it that makes a person “Catholic”?
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ANS: The Catholic is someone who has been baptized in the Trinitarian Formula. He is a member of the universal church of God under the authority of the Pope, as the Vicar of Christ, the Successor of St. Peter.

The Compendium of the Catholic Church states:
The Church is one because she has as her source and exemplar the unity of the Trinity of Persons in one God. As her Founder and Head, Jesus Christ re-established the unity of all people in one body. As her soul, the Holy Spirit unites all the faithful in communion with Christ. The Church has but one faith, one sacramental life, one apostolic succession, one common hope, and one and the same charity.
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He belongs either in the Latin Rite or Byzantine Rite. He isn’t necessary “Roman” Catholic. There are 22 Byzantine Rite Catholic Church.
Is a person a Catholic because they believe and accept all that the church teaches?
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The Catholic individual should believe and accept all teachings of the Catholic Church when she teaches moral and faith issues. They need to accept Moral Law of the Church because since mankind is subject to sin, the Church has a moral duty to insure Catholic Christian live a holy life. They need to accept the faith which the Church teaches. What the Catholic Church teaches is the “Divine Revelation” of Jesus Christ. The Church affirms that through the fullness of time, God revealed himself to man. He establish a covenant with Adam, after him a covenant with Noah, then with Abraham, then Moses, followed by the David line of a Kingdom. From David own line, a Messiah is to be born, and he will establish a New Covenant, which will free all men from the slavery of sin. The Divine Revelation is that the Word of God became Flesh. He is Jesus Christ. This is the final revelation and there will be no new revelation.

Jesus ascended into heaven but he did not leave us orphans. He gave us a One Church. He build One Church upon Peter (See Matthew 16;18). After the Apostles died their authority was handed down to the bishops and continue to this day.

All faith issues from the Trinity to the Blessed Virgin Mary is connected to God Himself. They are part of divine revelation. These are not new doctrine. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Church reveal these truths. A Catholic may not understand these doctrines and must depend on faith.
Or is a person a Catholic because they were baptized in a Catholic church as an infant, at which time consent and belief are not possible?
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Most Catholics have been baptized as infants. They are Catholic until they completely leave the Catholic Church for another, or renounced their faith.

They can still be Catholic even without confirmation. Confirmation is usually put into action when the child reaches the age of reason, either 7 or 8, or unless the possible danger of death.

I have know people who claim to be Catholic but are not practicing. Some claim that being Catholic is part of their culture, or heritage, but don’t believe in many of the teachings of the Catholic Church. They refuse to leave the Catholic Church, despite their objection of the Holy Mother Church’s teachings.

These Catholics are Cafeteria Catholics. They pick and choose whatever they see fit to them. In my opinion, they aren’t Catholic until they accept all teaching of the Catholic Church. I merely refer to them as Pseudo-Catholics.
 
Priscilla_Ann said:
Non-Catholic Christians are not like “an angry child”, nor are they any less “Christian” because they are not Catholic.
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Forgive me. The point I wished to make was* not the emotion or even the reason *that causes anyone to deny the familial relationship. The point is that the denial for **any **reason does not make one any less a part of the family.
This means that you are correct when you say that a person who is not in Communion with the Holy See is no less Christian. If you are Baptised (validly) you are Christain. If you have not been baptised, you are not a Christian, even if you are a believer. If you are a Christain, you are also a Catholic, even if you deny it, con’t like it, or whatever your fellings about it. *You may be separated by choice from the rest of the family; but, you are still part of the family. *
 
Priscilla_Ann said:
So what if one is baptized as an infant (through no decision of their own), but does not remain Catholic because they do not believe and accept all that the Catholic church teaches?
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In truth, one cannot stop being Catholic. One can only separate oneself from Communion to the Holy See. A Christian who leaves home for any reason remains a Christain, and all Christians are Catholic even if they deny the fact! This is why the Church refers to you not as “non-Catholic”, but as “our separated brother and sisters”.
 
Singinbeauty said:
I thought that if you are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that you have had a valid baptism according to the catholic church… I am not considered catholic but I have had a valid baptism.
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You are correct. You may not consider yourself Catholic because you choose not to believe and obey your Mother the Church; but, your Mother the Church doies not deny that you are Her child, and never will. She prays daily and forever for all Her children who have strayed from home to return to full Communion with her.
 
jabelltulsa said:
If a person believes in heresy (for instance, Jesus was not True God and True Man), are they any less of a Christian?
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No, not if they are baptised. One cannot stop being Christian; however, being a Christian does not equal automatic salvation!
 
Priscilla_Ann said:
So, essentially, it is what one believes about the Catholic church that makes one a Catholic.
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If you are baptised you are Catholic. What you believe determines if you are “in Communion with the Holy See” and whether you “are lining at home or away from home”, so to speak.
 
rciadan said:
No, not if they are baptised. One cannot stop being Christian; however, being a Christian does not equal automatic salvation!
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Exactly. I equate Christianity with Catholicism. The are the same thing. I also agree with your statement below:
In truth, one cannot stop being Catholic. One can only separate oneself from Communion to the Holy See. A Christian who leaves home for any reason remains a Christain, and all Christians are Catholic even if they deny the fact! This is why the Church refers to you not as “non-Catholic”, but as “our separated brother and sisters”.
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Excellent, RCIADan. That’s my understanding of the Church’s teachings as well. 👍
 
Eileen_T said:
If a person who was baptized as a Catholic has formally renounced his Catholic faith by joining another Church or by some other public declaration, technically they are no longer a Catholic.
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Please consult ewtn.com/library/CURIA/ciltformaldefect.HTM on this.

The only effects of defection by a formal act, which must be accepted by Church authority, and which is more than merely joining another another Church or some public declaration of rejection, is to except the Catholic from three marriage laws of the Code. Mere customary attendance at some other Church or ecclesial community’s worship as well as mere lapse of Catholic practice is insufficient.

Even by defection through a formal act which is accepted, the person remains Catholic in regard to all other obligations, and of course, the ontological/theological bond is not broken. What has happened is that the Catholic has impaired his communion with the Church in some way.

Practically and existentially, this is a different matter.
 
cameron_lansing said:
Please consult ewtn.com/library/CURIA/ciltformaldefect.HTM on this.

The only effects of defection by a formal act, which must be accepted by Church authority, and which is more than merely joining another another Church or some public declaration of rejection, is to except the Catholic from three marriage laws of the Code. Mere customary attendance at some other Church or ecclesial community’s worship as well as mere lapse of Catholic practice is insufficient.

Even by defection through a formal act which is accepted, the person remains Catholic in regard to all other obligations, and of course, the ontological/theological bond is not broken. What has happened is that the Catholic has impaired his communion with the Church in some way.

Practically and existentially, this is a different matter.
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Priscilla_Ann said:
What exactly is it that makes a person “Catholic”? Is a person a Catholic because they believe and accept all that the church teaches? Or is a person a Catholic because they were baptized in a Catholic church as an infant, at which time consent and belief are not possible?
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You have to be *in communion *with the Pope. Of course he’s the only exception in that he’s not required to be in communion with anyone else.
 
Montalban said:
You have to be *in communion *with the Pope. Of course he’s the only exception in that he’s not required to be in communion with anyone else.
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I am not in communion with the Pope. That is why I am no longer a Catholic.
 
Priscilla_Ann said:
What exactly is it that makes a person “Catholic”? Is a person a Catholic because they believe and accept all that the church teaches? Or is a person a Catholic because they were baptized in a Catholic church as an infant, at which time consent and belief are not possible?
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I was baptized Roman Catholic, but I am a convert to the Episcopal church. I still consider my catholic but not Roman Catholic.
 
StMarkEofE said:
:confused:
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To be Catholic means being in communion with the church - or, more precisely the Pope, who’s seen as the visible source of unity.

Of course the Pope doesn’t have to be in communion with you to be Catholic
 
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