Why do people say Catholics are not Christians? They believe in Jesus don't they?

Answer 1

Most non-Catholic Christian denominations accept Catholics as Christians. A very few do not.

The World Council of Churches which brings together more than 340 churches, denominations and church fellowships in over 100 countries and territories throughout the world, representing some 550 million Christians accepts the 1.1 billion Catholics as Christians. http://wcc-coe.org/wcc/who/faq-e.html#07

A dictionary would say that a Christian is someone professing belief in Jesus as Christ or following the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.

Catholics would fit this definition.

In the Nicene creed, from 325 C.E., Catholics profess:

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in being with the Father.

Through Him all things were made.

For us and our salvation He came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.

For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died, and was buried.

On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures: He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We are baptized as Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:19, "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

We truly are spiritually "born again," we just don't usually use those words.

For a complete description of what Catholics believe, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/index.htm

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

These men Were Catholic and taught by the Apostles.. Didn't see any mention of any Protestant sect or bible alone or Faith alone garbage either. Just what the Catholic Church taught then and now.

Evodius was the first Bishop of Antioch, and he is credited with being the first person to call the followers of Christ, "Christians", as shown in Acts 11:26. See Eusebius, book 3, chapter 22.

Saint Ignatius (35-107), the second Bishop of Antioch wrote a letter to the Smyrneans in 107 A.D..
In this letter is recorded the first known use of the words "Catholic Church

Answer 3

The Catholics are definitely Christians. Anyone who believes in God and that Jesus (Yeshua) is their savior is a Christian.

But they're not the first or early church. That church was 100% Jewish. It didn't expand to gentiles until Peter (Kefa) went to the home of Cornelius.

I've met a number of Catholics who claim that they are the only Christians and other denominations are not, but that, too, is ignorance. We should all embrace each other, agree to differ on certain points, and move forward in a good witness.

Answer 4

Basically, this is like the dispute where Sunnis and Shia don't think the other are really Muslim, or Chasidic Jews think they're the only real Jews. These Christians also tend to be the ones who say that Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses aren't Christians. What it comes down to is a basic tenet of religion: If we're right, everyone else has to be wrong. So, not only are those of other religions wrong, but even those who are similar but different than you are also wrong.

Answer 5

Catholics absolutely are Christians, in America and a lot of places people confuse Christianity with Protestant Christianity. The "Christians" as we know them in the states are Protestants and a sub-division of Christianity just like Catholicism.

Answer 6

People who say that are simply wrong.

Catholics DO believe in Jesus, and they also recite the very exact creed during Mass that some Protestants recite during their services.

I'm not Catholic, but I know Catholicism is a Christian denomination.

(Fish: No, they don't believe that. There is a small sect of heretical Catholics that think that way. Pope JPII stated that this was heretical. Unfortunately, I think the new pope *might* believe that, though)

Answer 7

Catholics are indeed christians. Constantine, the "founder" of catholicism, coined the word "christian" so you guys are the first christians. The original followers of the Messiah were called the "followers of the Way". Constantine served many "christos", so you guys get to be "christians".

What's questionable is whether your denomination is following Scriptural guide-lines.

Answer 8

I agree with that statement but it's to long to get into. All catholics are christians, however not all christians are catholic.

Answer 9

I would imagine that the ones saying catholics aren't christian are the fundies. They don't want anyone using the term they use but themselves.

Fundies are the only people that I have heard say that catholics aren't christian.

Answer 10

They are Christians. When i try to witness they say "oh what are you" i say "christian" and right away they say oh no i'm a catholic, and i tell them well we both worship the same God of the bible don't we and they say yes, they just don't like the way we worship. Sounds weird.