When does one cease being Catholic?

[lak611]

If the numbers of global Catholics quoted refers to those baptised…I suspect they don’t come near to representing the true number of believing Catholics.

The data I’ve seen showing the size and growth rates of various religions is based on what people report themsleves as being. Not on how many people were reported as baptised by the Church.

The numbers I’ve seen from the church, when I’ve sceen any, have all been based on registerd parishioners, again not the number of baptised.

From what data do you find the estimated number of “Catholics” based on the number baptised by the Church?

This number would obviously be off by the number of converts to the church who were baptised outside of the Church, those who have died and those who have left the faith. (All three of which number in the millions per year if I recall correctly.)

Chuck

Based on this poll taken by Georgetown University, only 33% of Catholics in the United States are practicing (criteria being going to Mass every Sunday).

 

[Mannyfit75]

I’m always bothered by people who say that they are Catholics but they also hold one or more heretical believes despite the fact that they are aware that they are going against Rome. Some support female “priesthood”, some say that contraception is OK and some believe that abortion in acceptable in some case. But these people, by their disloyalty even further deny the true nature of the Church.

So am I correct to say that a Catholic is only the person who believes* to be 100% faithful to the teachings of the Magisterium? And the person who is simply not a Catholic but perhaps some pseudo-catholic protestant?

This seems to be supported by the Baltimore Catechism (#554):

• A person who holds who is ignorant of a certain teaching and is willing to chance once he finds out is a totally different case.

I would have to agree with the Baltimore Catechism. If a Catholic denies the teachings of the Catholic Church, they find themselves at odds with the God. Since God, the Father send his Son, His Son send the Apostles, and the Apostle send the their successors (the bishops) to teach them in all things. The Magisterium has the authority to bind and loose when teaching moral and faith issues.

Jesus made it clear that anyone who rejects his apostles, reject him, and also reject the Father.

As the Scripture says,

Luke 10:16

16* “He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

Before he said this. Jesus was addressing 70 disciples, whom he appointed (see Luke 10:1).

The Apostolic Father clear states that we must be obedient to the successors of the Apostles. St. Ignatius in 110 AD states the following in his Letter to the Smyrnaneans:

*8 Flee from schism as the source of mischief. You should all follow the bishop as Jesus Christ did the Father. Follow, too, the presbytery as you would the apostles; and respect the deacons as you would God’s law. Nobody must do anything that has to do with the Church without the bishop’s approval. You should regard that Eucharist as valid which is celebrated either by the bishop or by someone he authorizes. Where the bishop is present, there let the congregation gather, just as where Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. Without the bishop’s supervision, no baptisms or love feasts are permitted. On the other hand, whatever he approves pleases God as well. In that way everything you do will be on the safe side and valid. 9 It is well for us to come to our senses at last, while we still have a chance to repent and turn to God. It is a fine thing to acknowledge God and the bishop. He who pays the bishop honor has been honored by God. But he who acts without the bishop’s knowledge is in the devil’s service.
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