What is the difference between Catholic and Christian ?

Question

seriously . what do christians believe that catholics dont .. or vice versa.

Answer 1

"What separates us as believers in Christ is much less than what unites us." (Pope John XXIII)

Almost all important doctrine is completely agreed upon between Catholic Christians and other Christians.

Here is the joint declaration of justification by Catholics (1999), Lutherans (1999), and Methodists (2006):

By grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping us and calling us to good works.

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_31101999_cath-luth-joint-declaration_en.html

There are many minor doctrine issues and some major cultural traditional differences which, I believe, do not matter that much.

A Catholic worships and follows Christ in the tradition of Catholicism which, among other things, recognizes that Christ made Peter the leader of His new Church and Pope Benedict XVI is Peter's direct successor.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/index.htm

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Catholics are Christians. I get your question though. My best friend is a Baptist and will tell you that she is a Christian. She will also tell you that I'm not a Christian because I am a Catholic. Her main concerns being a Protestant is that Catholics worship the Blessed Mother (Mary). Confession is another biggie with her. Holy Days of Obligation she does not understand either. I just patiently explain that Catholics Do Not worship the Blessed Mother, we have respect for her. She is Jesus' mother. Why am I friends with her? Because I love her deeply and believe it or not she's coming around to accept the Catholic religion. Just the other day she asked me to pray the rosary for her. She is a victim of taught behavior. Her parents still say that I'm going straight to hell for being Catholic. When asked what religion I am, I say I am a Christian. When asked what church I go to, I say the Catholic church. I hope this helped.

Answer 3

well if you ask a fund zealot they will say alot of anti Catholic nonsense. Truth be told a Catholic is a christian. Catholic is latin for universal and is the original name of the early church.Most of the practices of the catholic tradition were used by the early church and abandoned by other denominations after the protestant reformation. Catholics believe in Jesus, the trinity, the second coming etc like all other christians. Because they have some different beliefs like Jesus actually being present in the eucharist does not make them an un christian cult. And no I am not a catholic

Answer 4

Harry Killwater,

Surely you don't believe that revisionist history you presented. Are you from NC? I am from NC originally and all of my theological training was there at Wake Forest MA(Baptist seminary) and Duke PhD(Methodist seminary). I then taught for many years at a Jesuit Catholic seminary teaching early Church history , classical Latin, OT prophecy and OT studies before converting to Catholicism. To truly know Church history is to become Catholic and you sir know nothing of the history of the Church.

Harry: I NEVER SAID YOU WERE BAPTIST!

The Catholic church is two thousand years old and is the Church created by Christ. The Protestants did not come along for 1500 years and rejected much of the teaching of Christ and the apostles even to the point of some throwing the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ out of their worship. the Catholic Church in beliefs and fundamental practices has changed little from the first century Church. The Catholic Church is the only true Bible Church. the Protestant Churches are all man-made churches with doctrines of men.

In Christ
Fr. Joseph

RealChurch,

You are not much of a historian but you have a great imagination. First the Baptists give us the "Trail of Blood" and now this nonsense. I sometimes don't believe that there is such a thing as a Baptist history scholar. If what you said was meant as a joke I would be laughing my head off but unfortunately I know you are serious and that is very sad.

Gary R,

I have no problem with sound doctrine, do you? I do have a problem with poor history scholarship and someone passing off lies as truth.

Answer 5

The Catholics are the real Christians. They are the real faithful of Jesus Christ. hence, the they are the Christians.
Catholic is just applied as to the faithful to distinguish the true faithful who are communion in Rome. But in the first to ninth century, the term Christian can only be apply to all faithful of Christ because there are no heretics nor schismatics yet.

Answer 6

Catholics are Christian.
Christian is just the broad term describing the many different denominations that believe in God, Jesus Christ, and follow the Bible [with different interpretation]. Baptist, Catholic, Protestant, Non-denominational, etc., are all Christian.

Answer 7

Catholics ARE Christian - they believe in Christ.

Every branch of the church has it's own ceremonies, beliefs, traditions. I'm sure there are some web sites for every demonination there is - check these.

**when are people going to practise what they preach and understand that there are more similarities than differences between denominations? Some of these answers from people professing to be faithful are disgusting!!

Answer 8

Catholics are Christians.

The difference is in the sects: Catholic-Protestant, Catholic-Orthodox, Protestant-Orthodox.
Catholic- believes the bread and wine at mass turn into the body and blood of Christ through divine intervention, we pray for help through the saints, and pray through Mary.
Protestant- Doesn't believe in that and many don't have saints and do not believe Mary deserves as much respect as in Catholicism.
Orthodox- i don't know much about it and it is late and my brain is not working well today

Answer 9

the catholic church is nothing like the church of the Bible!!! all you have to do is learn what the Bible says the church should be like and then compare it to catholicism. so it is NOT the original church the original church was persecuted terribly in the three centuries it belonged to Christ, so fulfilling the scriptures. catholicism began in the 3rd century AD when the emperor constantine made the national religion of rome christianity and was the persecutor of mankind (as studied in history books). learn your history guys. the apostles would never be calling it the church of GOD it is an apostate (rebel) church. and does a great many things that the LORD God does not approve of. but i know that many thumbs down votes will be given to this...again proving the Bible right,
2 Timothy 4:1-4 (New International Version)
"In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. " peace

Answer 10

All Catholics are Christian, but all Christians are not Catholic.

Just like all Lutherans are Christian, but all Christians are not Lutheran.

Catholicism is just one denomination of Christianity. The first and original denomination.