What's in a Name?
When President-Elect Joe Biden is sworn in next month, he will become just the second Catholic Commander-in-Chief to serve our nation. Of course, plenty of individuals argue that Mr. Biden is not "truly" Catholic because parts of his platform do not align with official Church teaching. This is reflective of a broader debate within Catholicism: under what conditions may a person use the name "Catholic?" Despite the fact that Catholic means "universal," many advocate for a strict interpretation of the label. You should only be able to call yourself a Catholic if you believe in all of the teachings and sincerely try to adhere to them in all facets of your life. These are the purists, and they believe the Church is weakened by not calling out the sinners within their pews. In the other camp are the generalists, those who believe individuals have a right to determine their religious affiliation for themselves. Sure, they may wonder why you would call yourself