Difference between Catholic and catholic?

Ask an Apologist
#1

A friend of mine asked what the meaning is of Catholic spelled with a capital “C” vs catholic spelled with a lower case “c”.

Thanks
Don

#2

The word “catholic” by itself means simply universal, wide ranging, broad. If the first letter is capitalized then it refers to the specific Church, the Catholic Church.

If I said: “I received a catholic education.” The lower case “c” denotes I received a broad, wide ranged education in many subjects.

If I said: “I received a Catholic education.” The capital “C” denotes I received an education based in the Roman Catholic faith.