Who is the "Catholic"?

[HJ3822]

There are so many different types of Catholics! Yet, some of them dissent from the Pope but may still continue on with the Catholic-like sacraments, rites, ordinances, and practices.

There are “Traditionalist Catholics” who disagree with the Second Vatican Council. Are these Catholics?

There are “Old Catholics” who disagree with papal authority or papal infallibility. Are these Catholics?

There are “Evangelical Catholics” who are really Lutherans, but call themselves Catholics, because Martin Luther thought the Roman Catholic Church was corrupt during his time and wanted to redeem the Church.

Then, there is the controversial “Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association”. Are these people Catholics, even though the government may be in control of the organization?

Lastly, would a non-theistic individual who applies certain Catholic elements (reciting the rosary in a prolong meditative state, fasting during Lent, rejection of sola scriptura, Natural Family Planning) to his/her life be a “cultural Catholic” or just a person-who-practices-part-of-Catholicism-outside-the-church?

 

[George_Stegmeir]

Well over 65 years ago, I attended a Jesuit run Parochial School in Florida. I was taught that the only true Catholics are those who were Baptized, received their First Holy Communion and were Confirmed in Holy Mother The Church. Whether or not they were lapsed, made no difference-they were considered to be Catholics.
All others, whether members of scismatic sects or Protestants, such as Anglicans, Episcopalians, Lutherans, etc. were just kidding themselves when they referred to themselves as Catholic.
Considering that a massive underground Catholic Church exists today in China, The illicit “Peoples Church” such as it is , is illicit and falls into the same category as the likes of the Old Catholic Church and its off shoots such as The American Catholic Church (which allows its priests to marry and allows re-marriage after divorce amongst other things) and the now defunct Polish National Catholic Church. The only reason Rome tolerates this is to forestall massive persecution of the faithful by the Communist authorities.

 

[angell1]

There are so many different types of Catholics! Yet, some of them dissent from the Pope but may still continue on with the Catholic-like sacraments, rites, ordinances, and practices.

There are “Traditionalist Catholics” who disagree with the Second Vatican Council. Are these Catholics?

There are “Old Catholics” who disagree with papal authority or papal infallibility. Are these Catholics?

There are “Evangelical Catholics” who are really Lutherans, but call themselves Catholics, because Martin Luther thought the Roman Catholic Church was corrupt during his time and wanted to redeem the Church.

Then, there is the controversial “Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association”. Are these people Catholics, even though the government may be in control of the organization?

Lastly, would a non-theistic individual who applies certain Catholic elements (reciting the rosary in a prolong meditative state, fasting during Lent, rejection of sola scriptura, Natural Family Planning) to his/her life be a “cultural Catholic” or just a person-who-practices-part-of-Catholicism-outside-the-church?

a catholic is someone who is part of the universal church, under the jurisdiction of the bishop of rome, part of the church Christ founded

and technically, only the church is catholic, the people are christians

it’s not about what practices of traditions you cling to so none of your examples above apply. keeping or using the name also has nothing to do with it

 

[JamesTheJust]

None of the groups you describe are Catholic.