Expert: Daniel Keeran - 3/30/2011

Question
A question I have is why do some protestants, especially Pentecostals and some Baptists like to say that Catholics are not Christian? I am Catholic and find some of these people rude and very insulting, as I love Christ and consider myself a devout Christian.

No offence to all protestants by the way, I have great respect for Anglicans, as I use to be an Anglican and they never ever insult the Catholic Church to me or call us not Christians. I am talking specifically about Pentecostals and some Baptists as they seem to hate us, they are ignorant on our teachings and say that we are not Christians. I find it quite ignorant, as the fact is that the Catholic Church taught the Christian Faith 1500 years before the protestant reformation.

A Christian is anyone who believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died on the cross to pay for our sins, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. Catholics believe this, so why do Pentecostals and some other protestants see us as not Christian? I am a Charismatic Catholic and I have a personal relationship with Jesus, I have been Baptised in the Holy Spirit and I am PROUD to call myself a Christian.

I am not claiming that the Catholic Church is infallible and that Protestant Churches are wrong. I question with some doctrines in the Catholic Church myself like papal infallibility, priests not aloud to get married, masturbation and contraception being serious sins, but I disagree a lot with Pentecostals and other protestants too on teaching that Catholics are not Christian, saying you can't ask saints for intercession and saying that anyone who dies in unbelief will go to hell.

But all Churches have differences, that's life, but I find it quite sad that some protestants believe that us Catholics are not Christians. In stead of arguing about small dogmatic differences, I believe Catholics, Pentecostals and all Christians should stand firmly together and proclaim the Good News to others. Why do some protestants say Catholics are not Christian? I find this rude, insulting and sheer ignorance.

Thanks

Mark

God Bless.

Answer
I find the best approach is to reflect and validate others views. Everyone is doing their best to seek God. Some Protestants feel Catholics are wrong to pray to Mary and venerate statues (which they see as idolatry), pray for souls in purgatory (which they see as negating the sufficient sacrifice of Christ), do deeds of penance (which they see as works salvation rather than trusting the blood of Christ).

But Protestants reject the necessity of baptism into Christ for the forgiveness of sins and entry to the body of Christ. Instead they substitute a sinners prayer idea. I recommend you look into the New Catechumen Way movement in the Catholic church.

For deeper understanding see http://www.wbschool.org