Why do some Protestants not consider Catholics as Christians?

Answer 1

It is not a question of not considering Catholics as Christians. This would mean that Protestants would be judging Catholics and this would be contrary to what Jesus taught in not judging others. The vast majority of Protestants simply regard Catholics as another denomination of Christianity and, as Catholics are able to recite the Creed where the essential beliefs and foundations of Christianity are expounded, then they are regarded as true Christians, just like the other Protestant and Orthodox denominations. This is more lenient and inclusive, actually, than how Catholics officially regard Protestants, in that Catholics regard themselves as the one True Church and all others as false, and not worthy of being 'in communion' with it, which is very sad. The problem that some Protestants have regarding Catholics, is that they believe that Catholics have moved too far from the original Christian doctrine of the early church in that they have introduced practices and doctrines that are not Biblical, contrary to scripture and introduced by fallible humans rather than by Christ. These include the selling of indulgences in the middle ages, celibacy of the priesthood, an exclusively male clergy, praying to saints, veneration of relics, infallibility of the pope, purgatory, limbo, over-veneration of the Virgin Mary (even suggesting that she was a co-redemptrix with Christ), the idea of transubstantiation, and an over-use of liturgy. Nevertheless most Protestant Churches still regard Catholics as basically Christian as, despite the differences, the most important Christian issues are shared with other denominations, and the differences are not so fundamental (such as those between Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons and true Christianity) so as to deem Catholicism a cult.

Answer 2

Because some evangelical protestants believe that you have to be "born again" and accept Jesus as your personal lord and savior to be Christian. Catholics simply require baptism and belief in the Christian (i.e. Catholic) faith.

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AnswerBecause that is what they have been told their whole lives by those who were instructing them. It is an extremely sad situation since Our Blessed Lord only established one Church, His Church, and founded it on St. Peter (see St. Matthew 16:17-19), guaranteed it until the end of the world, and send the Holy Spirit to guide it into all truth. If you have been raised outside the Catholic Church, do not accept the Propaganda that you have been given your entire life, go down to the local Catholic Church and ask to speak to the priest or the RCIA leader and find out what the Catholic Church really thinks, and how it really follows God, and then make up your own mind.

Answer 3

Catholics are the first Christian religion, dating back nearly 2000 years, and have always been considered as mainstream except by a few Pentecostal groups, or cults.