The Patrick Madrid Show Why the Difference Between Saying "Catholic" and "Christian" Can Be Misleading (Special Podcast Highlight)
On this episode of The Patrick Madrid Show, Patrick explores a topic that many Catholics might not even realize they’re accidentally messing up: how we talk about Catholics and Protestants. If you’ve ever said, “Oh, I’m Catholic, and they’re Christian,” Patrick is here to gently (but firmly) ask you to stop doing that.
The Big Idea:
Patrick reminds us that Catholics ARE Christians: the OG Christians, to be exact. When Jesus established His Church 2,000 years ago, it wasn’t some vague, do-it-yourself Christianity. Nope, it was the Catholic Church. So, when we use language that separates "Catholic" from "Christian," we’re actually misrepresenting the truth about who we are as followers of Christ.
What About Protestants?
Yes, Protestants are Christians, but their Christianity is different. It stems from the Protestant Reformation, which started as a protest against the Catholic Church about 500 years ago. Patrick explains how Protestantism branched into countless denominations because of the idea of Sola Scriptura (the belief in “Bible alone”): an idea that’s not biblical or part of historic Christianity.
Patrick points out the endless debates among Protestant groups: “Does baptism save you or not?” “Can you lose your salvation or nah?” It’s like a theological Rubik’s Cube with no solution.
The result? Protestants follow a fragmented version of Christianity that leans heavily on individual interpretations of the Bible. Patrick notes that some churches basically just pick a “mini-Pope” (a charismatic pastor) to tell them what the Bible means.
Catholicism = Historic Christianity
Patrick doesn’t hold back: the Catholic Church is the original Christianity. Full stop. When you open the Bible, especially the Book of Acts, you’re seeing the Catholic Church in her beginnings. By the early second century, Saint Ignatius of Antioch was already calling it the Catholic Church.
The Eucharist, Apostolic succession, the sacraments, the teachings of Christ: they all come from the Catholic Church. It’s not just a Christian church; it’s THE Church Christ established.
Why Words Matter
Patrick’s key takeaway is this: how we talk shapes how we think. By casually separating "Catholic" and "Christian," we’re accidentally buying into the false idea that Catholicism is just one denomination among many. I’s not. It’s the Church that Jesus Himself founded.
So Stop Saying...
“Oh, I’m Catholic, but they’re Christian.”
Start Saying...
"I’m Catholic: part of the original Christian Church."
Patrick isn’t here to bash Protestants; he just wants Catholics to stop selling themselves short. The next time someone asks you about your faith, remember: being Catholic is being Christian, and it’s time we talked like it.