AmericanPapist Comments
I remember reading many years ago in the Chicago Tribune an article about Italian dictator, Benito Mussilini. The author noted he was a "devout" Catholic. It kind of goes like this. Italians are Catholic, Mussilini is Italian, and Catholics are "devout." With minimal research the author would have known that Mussilini was an atheist who hated the Catholic Church. Whatever. Tom
True, but what word should we use for those of us who believe all the Church teaches. "I am Catholic who actually believes the Church is not talking through its hat when it proposes teachings on faith and morals" is such a mouthful. :)
I call myself an orthodox Roman Catholic, in the spirit of GK Chesterton.
Well, Scott, not "devout". I belevie everything the Church teaches, no one calls me devout, nor should they. fbow, I'm not.
Surely what one must call oneself is, naturally enough, a Papist. ;-)
Let's see.
Devout means:
1: devoted to religion or to religious duties or exercises 2: expressing devotion or piety
Just because the media is getting it wrong....doesn't mean we chunk something out does it? I mean, after all, Mark Shea is a devout Catholic, isn't he? LOL
I call myself a 'devout' Catholic all the time and, I assure you, I am one. I don't think there's anything at all wrong with that word or calling someone that.
devout, like "holy", seems to be a title best attributed to you, not to yourself. i think that's humble.
I like "practicing" or "practical" Catholic, myself
Likewise, never take advice from anyone who calls themself a "Good Catholic".
I consider myself a "serious Catholic" and probably satisfy the proper definition of "devout". Certainly not a "Good Catholic" though.
right tim (and a couple others). folks think "devout" means "beleieving." it doesn't, it means committed to the exercise of RELIGION not so much belief. and RELIGION is a cultic (in the good sense) activity, distinguishable from Faith. fwiw.
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