What to Call Non-Catholic Christians

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In another thread, asquared says that “Protestant” is the term that Catholics call non-Catholic Christians. Is there not agreement on the use of “Protestant” to mean non-Catholic Christian? I very much object to the use of the term “Christian” to refer to Protestants because that implies, incorrectly, that Catholics are not Christians. What are the other ways to designate Catholic vs. non-Catholic Christians? (Restricting ourselves to charitable terms, of course.)
 
Why not seperate brethern? Many Catholics call themselves Catholic Christain so why not call them Baptist Christian, or Pentecostal Christians, or non-denominational Christian. It’ll probably get confusing, I know, but if they can’t even agree on such things like baptism, why group them as if they did?
 
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AmandaPS:
Seperate brethern? Many Catholics call themselves Catholic Christain so why not call them Baptist Christian, or Pentecostal Christians, or non-denominational Christian. It’ll probably get confusing, I know, but if they can’t even agree on such things like baptism, why group them as if they did?
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Revisionism. If it is a term that is applied only by Catholics to non Catholics, then where did the the term W.A.S.P. come from?

Justin
 
La Chiara:
Is there not agreement on the use of “Protestant” to mean non-Catholic Christian?
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Are you including the Othodox churches? They’re not Catholic, but it’s inappropriate to call them Protestants.
 
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1962Missal:
Revisionism. If it is a term that is applied only by Catholics to non Catholics, then where did the the term W.A.S.P. come from?

Justin
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I don’t know what you mean by revisionism and it (did you mean Protestant?) being a term applied by Catholics to non-Catholics.
 
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Timidity:
Are you including the Othodox churches? They’re not Catholic, but it’s inappropriate to call them Protestants.
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why is it inappropriate to call them protestant. by being seperated from the holy see, they are “protesting” certain things about the catholic church. so they are protestant. protestant is definitely too general of a term as there are many denominations that would not want to be lumped together with other denominations. i think the more you can know about the individual denominations the better and to call them “baptist” or “presbyterian” or “non-denominational” (which has become a denomination in and of itself) would not be out of line and, in fact, would show them we care enough to know about them as opposed to just lumping them all together. i also think “not-yet catholic” is a nice term.
 
Do non-Catholic Christians object to being called Protestant? And if so, why? I very much object to calling non-Catholic Christians “non-denominational Christians”. It is usually the term they like but implies they are Christian and Catholics, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Methodists, etc. aren’t. I personally prefer the term “Protestant” to denote all non-Catholic Christians. But then what are Orthodox if they aren’t Protestant and they aren’t Catholic?
 
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bengal_fan:
i also think “not-yet catholic” is a nice term.
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So do you think my Protestant or non-denominational friends would like it if I called them “not-yet Catholics”? I tend to think not.

I always find it awkward when someone talks about “Christians”–as in “we are Christians, what are you?” So I tend to respond that I am Christian too or that I am a Catholic Christian. But it is usually pretty clear that anyone who identifies him or herself as “Christian”, does not consider Catholics to be Christian. I generally note it but let it go because such people are ignorant and don’t want to be disavowed of their ignorance.
 
I think some non-Catholic Christians prefer to be called Evangelicals. This whole subject of what to call someone is really confusing to me. I’m neither Catholic nor Protestant (or any subset of the term).
 
La Chiara:
But it is usually pretty clear that anyone who identifies him or herself as “Christian”, does not consider Catholics to be Christian.
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i think this is too much of a generality. i never, as a protestant, thought catholics weren’t Christian. i always put them in with other denominations i thought were wrong on certain issues but were still followers of Christ. and, no, i don’t think your protestant friends would like it if you called them “not-yet catholic” i just said i liked the term because it presents a positive hope. must you always disagree with me lachiara? 😃
 
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AmandaPS:
. This whole subject of what to call someone is really confusing to me. I’m neither Catholic nor Protestant (or any subset of the term).
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well, if you are a Christian and you are not catholic, you are a protestant.
 
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bengal_fan:
well, if you are a Christian and you are not catholic, you are a protestant.
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Actually, Bengal Fan, I do agree with you!!! How’s that for a change!! 👍 (My very first smiley in 220+ posts!)
 
Christian implies belief in Christ, doesn’t it? So why can’t they be Christains too?
 
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hydrochief:
Christian implies belief in Christ, doesn’t it? So why can’t they be Christains too?
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Well, they are Christian. But the original question is what to call Non-Catholic Christians. I collectively refer to non-Catholic Christian churches as Protestant. But in another thread, someone stated that that is Catholic terminology, indicating that Protestants would not call themselves Protestant.
 
I call non-Catholic Christians Christians because they are.

While they do not hold to all of the teachings of the Catholic Church it is because they do not realize that Holy Mother Church IS founded by Jesus Christ.

It can hardly do anyone any good to attack them for it as there have been several generations (not to mention centuries) of erroneous teaching that have been swallowed over time.

I also do not believe that by calling them Christians that I am somehow excluding myself as a Catholic from this title as well. There are too many Protestants that I know who are sincerily doing everything they know how to serve Christ and I am not going to look down on them for not being Catholic. Instead, I’m just praying for their conversion so that they may know the FULLNESS of the Truth and come to love it as I have. - God bless! - Mfaustina1
 
Grayton said:
“Separated brethren”
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I agree. Separated brethren would encompass both Protestant and Eastern Orthodox while retaining the fact that we still regard them as fellow Christians. Official Vatican documents, such as the decree on ecumenism Unitatis Redintegratio used the same term.

Gerry
 
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1962Missal:
Revisionism. If it is a term that is applied only by Catholics to non Catholics, then where did the the term W.A.S.P. come from?

Justin
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White

Anglo

Saxon

Protestant
 
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RobedWithLight:
I agree. Separated brethren would encompass both Protestant and Eastern Orthodox while retaining the fact that we still regard them as fellow Christians. Official Vatican documents, such as the decree on ecumenism Unitatis Redintegratio used the same term.
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Yes, I know that is a term that the Catholic Church (the Catechism of the Catholic Church and priests) use. But when you are talking to and about people who are Christian but not Catholic, are you going to say “You separated brethen have different practices than Catholics”?

Nor do I think it makes sense in that circumstance to say “You Christians have different practices than Catholics.”

Instead, the only term that seems right to me is to say “You Protestants have different practices than Catholics.”

So my question is: Would non-Catholic Christians resent the use of Protestant in that way to refer to those Christians who are not Catholic? It seems to me that only a very few, if any at all, would object.
 
Why the need for another name?

They Protested against the Church, and that’s their genesis and current state.

Has this now become a derogatory term?! I thought it was an accurate statement of fact and identity?

What is wrong with ‘Protestant’?
 
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