When can you call yourself an apologist?

[mdmealey]

I work for my diocese and am approved by the diocesan theologian to speak about topics related to the faith. About every six months or so I give a lecture on some issue related to the faith. My next one is on sola scriptura. I’m an adult convert and have educated myself fairly well in apologetics.

At what point can you call yourself an apologist? In my lecture/seminar announcements, it would be nice to say, “Join Catholic apologist M. M. on October 10…” but I don’t want to attribute a title to myself that is generally reserved for professional fulltime defenders of the faith. What would be appropriate in this case?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

There is no licensing organization that regulates who can call themselves a Catholic apologist, which is one of the reasons why people should be careful to check out the credentials of those calling themselves apologists. In your case, you work for your diocese and are approved as a Catholic speaker by your diocese. Ask the diocesan theologian if there are any protocols within your diocese that you need to follow to be recognized by your diocese as an apologist. If there are no such protocols, ask him or her if there would be any problem with you billing yourself as an apologist in your publicity materials.