Dear Conrad -- Why do they consider Catholicism a Christian religion? – Vidal Pizzaro

I’m guessing this is a question from a Protestant’s point of view.

Ultimately the simple answer is because they worship Christ. Therefore putting the ‘Christ’ in Christ-ian.

A super-oversimplified view of history of the dominant Christian Churches from Christ’s ascension to Protestants would be:

-New Testament Church split into Eastern and Western Churches
-The Western Church became the Catholic Church
-Protestants broke out of the Catholic Church during the Reformation

Both Catholics and Protestants believe in Christ, the Trinity and the need of faith in Christ to be saved. The major difference is that Catholicism believes you need faith and works to be saved, Protestants believe you only need faith (and works is a byproduct of faith).

To break it down even further you have many denominations for both Catholics and Protestants. Not all Catholics pray to Mary. Not all Protestants believe in present day speaking in tongues. But each at its core believes Christ is necessary for salvation.