Are Catholics Christians?

I taught my sons once they were old enough to go to school  to respond with great conviction: “Of course I am! I am a Catholic! I am an original Christian of the Church established by our Lord Jesus Christ himself!

You see, there was no other church than the Catholic Church for the first 1000 years after the death and resurrection of Christ. The was no other. And so the first Christians had no doubt about how to determine which was the true Church. You know why? There was only one Church. For the first 1000 years after Christ there was no wondering what which was the one true Church. There was only one: and that was our Catholic Church. Then in 1054AD the orthodox church split away and later the Reformation protestants and so they had no doubt how to determine what was the true Church and which doctrines were the true teachings of Christ. The test was simple: just trace back the apostolic succession of the bishops and popes. And so apostolic succession is this line that all over the world, all Catholic bishops are part of a line that goes back to each of the twelve apostles, something that is impossible for protestant denominations. Protestant churches only go back to 1517AD, one thousand five hundred years after Christ. Some even just go as far back as 100, 50, 25, 10, 5, even only two years ago! This is why there are more than 40,000 protestant denominations (and growing) these days and still only one holy, catholic, and apostolic church.

My boys are young men now. One is married and is establishing his faithful Catholic family. The other is still single. He stands firm in his Catholic identity as a young man of God.

Some freeze when asked the question: “Are Catholics Christians?” Learn from my boys and answer with conviction. And, by the way, since we’re on this topic … Catholics are indeed saved and are born again (when we were baptized!).