January 18, 2012 – Catechism 1267-1274

Two things. That all Baptized Christians are recognized as Christians by the Catholic Church. I don’t know if non-Catholics recognize this. I don’t know if they understand this or feel that Catholics see them in a different light. Catholics do draw a distinction between Christians and those Catholics in full communion with the Catholic Church. I wonder if non-Catholic Christians feel the same about Catholics. Do they consider Catholics Christians or do they not even put us in that category. And I used “Catholics in full communion” on purpose. Cafeteria Catholics are still Christians and may even call themselves Catholics, but it may be in word alone. The Catechism makes it pretty clear that a true Catholic is one that is in full communion or believes and joins in all the teachings of the Church. You could make the argument that a Cafeteria Catholic is no different than a non-Catholic Christian as far as their standing with the Church.

The second thing is that after Baptism we are marked forever. Nothing we can do can ever take away that mark of God. There is no sin so great that we can erase what God has given to us. Remember this when you think that you cannot come back to Him. I have heard many people talk about how much they have done and that they don’t feel right about coming back or don’t deserve to come back. This is the one sin that God cannot forgive, the one that is never is asked to be forgiven. There is nothing that God cannot forgive you and if you have been Baptized, He has already marked you and is longing for you to come back to Him.