Can a "Catholic" be a "Christian"?

Doctrine Article - D.0214

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1. The purpose of this article is not to insult others who also believe in God. It is intended to open dialog with those who may not otherwise understand this important matter, and to provoke the reasoning necessary for all of us to become sound in the faith.

2. It should be noted that many Catholics will answer the question, "are you a Christian?" with the reply, "No, I'm Catholic." (In all fairness, that is a true and accurate response from them.) In general, however, the Catholic church promotes itself, and is seen by most, as being the largest segment of the Christian community.

3. Jesus said, "except a man be born_again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) After a person is born again, he/she can rightfully call himself/herself a "Christian."

4. But, the Catholic church does not teach this gospel of Salvation by faith in Christ. There are a great many serious errors in doctrine taught by the Catholic church, but we will only take space to include a few, as follows:

You can prove these doctrines are taught by the Catholic church by following along in the 1994 Catholic Catechism

a. There is no salvation outside of the Catholic church. (846 and other places)

b. Tradition is equal with scripture (82) (Also found in chapter VI para 24 of Dogmatic Constitution, pg vi, Catholic NAB 1990-1991)

c. Bible interpretation is not for the common man, but only for the Pope and bishops of the Catholic church (100)

d. Mary was sinless (508 and 966)

e. Mary is a co-redeemer/co-redemptrix with Christ (969)

f. Salvation by baptism (1257, 1263)

g. Purgatory (1030-1031)

h. Sacraments are necessary for Salvation (1129)

i. The Mass - a re-sacrificing of Christ (1365, 1367)

j. Communion with the Dead (1370)

5. We do not intend to address these doctrines in this article. For now, it is sufficient to say that God records the fierceness of his wrath, in his judgment of the Catholic church, the great whore, Babylon the Great in the book of Revelation. (Rev 17:1)

6. However, the error of the doctrines taught by the Catholic church will become self-evident, if we are able to demonstrate that she is that great whore, Babylon the Great, the subject of God's fierce wrath. And let us say up front that some of God's people are in the Catholic church, so we write this to broadcast God's warning to them in to "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." (Rev 18:4)

7. In Revelation chapter 17, the apostle John is shown a vision of the judgment of "the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:" For us to understand who she is, we are told the characteristics of this woman. In the bible, Christians are symbolized by virgins, the bride of Christ. Conversely, religious non-Christians are depicted as harlots. The woman of Revelation 17 is called the "Mother of Harlots".

Who is this woman in Revelation chapters 17 and 18?

The answer is in our article, "A Warning to Catholic Christians"