[Marysecretary]

I try to make it clear but there’s no understanding of what I’m saying. Nor do I believe they really care to understand it. Sigh.

[Petronski]

It's simple, really. Protestants define "a Christian" as "one who is saved." Catholics define "a Christian" as "one who believes Jesus was Christ." (Using shorthand here.)

Roughly put:

Since Protestants believe sola fide, they believe they can know they are saved, because they believe the salvation won by Christ protects them from the consequences of their sins continuously, imputing to them the merit before God that they themselves could never hope to achieve.

Since Catholics believe the formula is faith-plus-works, they believe that they can bring themselves to a state of venal or mortal sin, at which time they would seek absolution for their sins. Since, thus, a Catholic can only hope and pray they are saved, but not know, they would never brag of being saved. Yet, they are Christians for they believe Jesus is Christ, the Messiah, their Lord and Savior, who suffered, was crucified and died for our sins before rising from the dead on the third day.

Anyone who professes the Creed and believes himself a Catholic is by his faith a Christian, but by his own admission, not necessarily saved.

[OLD REGGIE]

I try to make it clear but there’s no understanding of what I’m saying. Nor do I believe they really care to understand it. Sigh.

Oh, I they understand. It just doesn't suit their purpose.