Do you HAVE to be Christian to call yourself Catholic?

Question

There are so many people from every religion (Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, etc.) who CALL themselves Christian but really aren't. They claim to be Methodist without really believing everything the Church says. Can Catholicism be the same way? Can people claim to be Catholic without really believing the whole beliefs? My husband says you can't call yourself a Catholic and NOT be a born-again Christian. It just doesn't work. What's true?
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Answer 1

Real Catholics are, of course, real Christians.

Unfortunately, some very unchristian people claim to be Catholic. We need to pray for them.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

If you are Catholic, then you are truly christian.

The original apostle's are now what is called the Catholic Church. The word catholic means, universal.

When our Lord established the Church, it consisted of 120 jews; it had no age at all; its teachings had not begun. And in that instant it was the Catholic Church. For it had been made by the universal Teacher and Lifegiver for all men.

It wasnt until some 60 years later that the word "catholic" was actually used in writing. Which, when you think about it, 60 years isnt that long considering the Church has been here 2000 years.
All other christian denominations outside the Church are Protestant, and can only trace there religion back no farther than 500 years,
The Catholic Church is the only church that can trace there lineage back to the twelve Apostles.

Answer 3

In order to call yourself Catholic you must accept the Catholic beliefs. And, partake in the sacraments.

I can't call myself a Hindu without accepting the Hindu beliefs.
Nor, can I call myself a Buddhist without accepting the beliefs. Further, you can't be a Buddhist or Hindu without following the religious practices.

So, you can't merely be a born again Christian and claim to be Catholic. Besides, Catholics don't get into all that born again hoop-la.

By the way, Catholics aren't gestapo. No more than any other religion. But, Catholics are the only religion to:
1. Allow you work out your own faith - free from intervention of the pastor (pastoral guidance is ALWAYS available though)
2. Accept the theory of evolution
3. Acknowledge that all religious 'roads' lead to the same place; so there is no 'My way is the right way and the only way'

Answer 4

If you are a Catholic , it's strictly by the book. It really does not have much to do with god as much as it has to do with a place called the Vatican which houses mans EGO. In 1,100 AD evil people infiltrated the Catholic church and became priests so they could rule over Europe and get rich. That's when all the wars in the name of god began in Christianity. Baptism is simply being re-born or born-again.(Re-nais)
Born-Again Christians are another group though. Instead of being Baptised as babies, they wait until they are adults so they can make the descision to follow christ (the LIGHT) on their own.Can you be Catholic and be a born again Christian ? Absolutley yes.lol-t

Answer 5

To truly be a Catholic, you must adhere to the teachings and beliefs of the Church Anything else just doesn't make sense. Protestants may allow pick-and-choose, but it doesn't work for Catholics. They may CALL themselves Catholics, but they really only stick around to make trouble.

And yes- you must be a Christian. Christians believe that Jesus Christ, Son of the Virgin Mary, is also the Only Begotten Son of God, that Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins, that He rose from the dead, ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father.

Catholic Christians ARE born again. We are born of our mothers, and born again through the waters of baptism and by the work of the Holy Spirit.

Answer 6

Well, you don't have to be "born-again," but you do have to be Christian. It's part of the whole "I'm Catholic" thing. You're stating your beliefs with that one sentence. Jews have it a bit easier; theirs is a religion and a people. Catholics aren't the same. You could say "raised Catholic" or somesuch, but if you don't believe in Christianity, you're not Catholic, period. Just like if you don't actually believe in Christianity, you're not ANY of the various Christian denominations, and if you don't believe in the tenets of the religion that you say you belong to, you're not really that, either. You're just mouthing the words.

Answer 7

Being a catholic and being a born-again christian are two different things. All of the faiths that you mentioned are christian based, meaning they all follow chirst's word. They are all just different sects of christianity.

As a catholic I believe in the teachings of the church, which we profess every sunday at mass (see the Nicine creed), however I do not necessarily agree with some of teh political belifes taht church preaches.

Hope that helps.

Answer 8

I think that you are a little confused. My best advice is that you should get a catechism and read it. As you say, many people say that they are Christians, but that is not clear.
As for the Catholics, we are Christians, of course, because our faith is based on Christ since He came.
Personally, I think that you can call yourself a Catholic and not necessarily being what you call a born again Christian. I know many people who are Catholics and they are not born again Christians.
Perhaps you should look for a Catholic priest and ask him.

Answer 9

In my experience most Catholics aren't born again Christians. It is only in the last few years that I have seen Catholic priests more and more teaching the real Biblical way to be saved through faith and repentance. It seems there is more confusion about what their Church really teaches then ever these days.

Answer 10

Hard to get by way of to a few folks particularly each time they have got closed minds and are seriously crucial! a million.If you are saying that St.Peter used to be the primary Pope then the crucial answer is certainly this;Peter used to be no longer the rock however Jesus Himself. True sufficient Jesus is the groundwork(rock) however He made Peter an additional rock (learn the scripture safely non-Catholics!) two. If you state that the church has been One,Holy,Catholic and Apostolic church from the establishing correct as much as the modern-day,then the crucial reply is quite often; `Yes however the church grew to become corrupt and is not the church of the apostles`` three.If you state that we will be able to hint the succession of Popes and Bishops again to the apostles then the crucial answer is quite often this one;`Constantine began the Catholic church`` four.If you sate that Jesus instituted one seen church most effective then the answer is quite often this; `The church is made of believers within the Bible and is invisible`` I might pass on and on like this all day however is there any use each time the anti-Catholic forces wish to look a whole finish to the church, and paintings tirelessly to obtain this! There is not anything that the Catholic church can do with out coming beneath assault however then the very phrases of Jesus ring transparent as a bell,``Thou artwork Kephas(rock) and upon thee Kephas I will construct My church`(and now the side that enrages non-Catholics) `And the gates of hell shall NOT succeed in opposition to it`` and so at the same time the forces of darkness preserve to rage in opposition to the church we can ought to undergo pleasant and carrying on with hardships,simply as Christ continued them. God bless.

Answer 11

If you are Methodist,Presbyterian Baptist or what ever and have had a personal experience with God and put all your Faith in what Jesus Christ
has done for everybody(virgin birth,death and shedding of Blood to pay our sin debt and Bodily resurrection according to scripture)to pay our sin
debt and carry us to heaven.You will be there.
There is a lot of difference between Roman Catholic Church and the
catholic(universal body of believers).If you receive Jesus by Faith you
will be a different person loving and obeying God from a changed heart.
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
In Christ in Love,
TJ57