Another word for Roman Catholicism?

[Petergee]

This is a very important point.

We as non-Catholic Christians generally do not truly appreciate being called a “Protestant” that believes in “Protestantism.” I have not seen any concentrated efforts by any Catholics anywhere to make sure proper “courtesy” and “respect” are offered by not using such pejoratives.

Rubbish. In my experience most Christians who belong to communities tracing their way back to the 16th century protestant revolt are proud to be called protestants and they place the word in many of their official docuuments. eg the British monarch swears “to uphold the Protestant Religion”. On rare occasions such a person has said here they don’t wish to be called “protestant” and Catholics here have complied with this. In my experience Catholics call non-Catholics whatever they want to be called. We even call one protestant organisation “The Church of Christ” even though we believe of course that that is what WE are. But it is preposterous to demand that Catholics call some other organisation by their own name.

Why anyone insist such respect be a one way street is beyond me. It really undermines their whole position to begin with, IMV.

…

So stop doing it then.

 

[Philothea53]

But what of all the instances “Roman Catholic Church” is used when speaking of the Catholic Church entire?

Should we as non-Catholics ignore those?

I don’t think that is necessary.

…

Ignore those? Sure, ignore away. As a non-Catholic why should it matter to you? Aren’t there enough protestant denominations for you to try to keep track of?

Anyway, in the United States the Roman Catholic Church is the Catholic Church.

 

[Ani_Ibi]

Lex orandi lex credendi. Language is power. If they can appropriate the name ‘Catholic’ then it is another way to marginalize us.

 

[PoliSciProf]

Romanism is really bad–the election of 1884 labeled the Democrats as the party of “rum, Romanism and rebellion.” There is nothing wrong with the term Catholic. We should never be defensive about it.

 

[mark_a]

So, recently, I’ve been using the word “Romanism” to describe the RCC’s set of biblical interpretations, and I’ve recently found out thats somewhat of a derogatory word. I never meant it in that context, and I apologize for having used it (As I have a few times on these forums)

My question is this, is there a way to refer to the RCC’s set of beliefs without using the word “Catholic”?

The reason I ask is much the same as why newspapers never print the words “Jesus” and “Christ” next to each other. To call him “Jesus” is to refer to a historical figure, but if you call him “Jesus Christ,” you make an editorial statement, that he is the Christ.

Much in the same way, it bothers me when I use the word “Catholic,” or “Roman Catholic” to refer to a belief the RCC holds, because in doing so, I make an editorial statement, that the Roman Catholic Church is the universal church (meaning of the word “catholic”), a statement I do not endorse.

I know this is sure to get a bunch of posts like “why not call it “Christianity”” or, “Try “True Faith,”” but remember, I don’t agree with those statements (to clarify, that the RCC is alone christian, not that it isn’t christian), so, is there another word?

Calvinism
Lutheranism
Arminianism
and?..

More than one of the fathers of our country referred to Catholicism as papism.

Fits in nice with the rest of your listed isms.

 

[Atemi]

Rubbish.

So non-Catholics don’t generally liked to be called Protestant and it is “rubbish.”

Meanwhile you do not want to be called the “Roman Catholic Church” even though your own church uses the term but that is somehow not “rubbish.”

I think this position just highlights the whole point of the OP spectacularly.

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[Catholig]

This has already been discussed quite a bit - but I’ll just re-iterate the point that by saying “Roman Catholic Church” one is excluding those people who belong to an Eastern Rite. In any case - maybe instead of asking “what is politically correct” or “religiously tolerant/sensitive” we should ask what is “generally understood”. I mean certain denominations may feel that they are entitled to call themselves “Catholic” - but really when someone says Catholic (in reference to religion) what comes to mind? The Church headed by the Pope. This Church which calls herself the Catholic Church has more members than any of the others - and they call themselves Catholics… It is a generally understood term.

Catholig

 

[Philothea53]

This has already been discussed quite a bit - but I’ll just re-iterate the point that by saying “Roman Catholic Church” one is excluding those people who belong to an Eastern Rite. In any case - maybe instead of asking “what is politically correct” or “religiously tolerant/sensitive” we should ask what is “generally understood”. I mean certain denominations may feel that they are entitled to call themselves “Catholic” - but really when someone says Catholic (in reference to religion) what comes to mind? The Church headed by the Pope. This Church which calls herself the Catholic Church has more members than any of the others - and they call themselves Catholics… It is a generally understood term.

Catholig

I don’t know why that is so hard to be understood and why some people need to argue the point so much. Fact is fact.

 

[jemfinch]

So non-Catholics don’t generally liked to be called Protestant and it is “rubbish.”

It’s rubbish because many of them don’t care at all. In fact, I know many who are proud to be called Protestant. For those who do dislike the term, I say “non-Catholic Christian.” It’s common courtesy.

Meanwhile you do not want to be called the “Roman Catholic Church” even though your own church uses the term but that is somehow not “rubbish.”

It’s just not accurate to argue against Catholic beliefs and refer to them as beliefs held by “The Roman Catholic Church.” They’re beliefs held in common by all particular Catholic Churches, not just the Roman Rite.

Jeremy

 

[faithfulrock3r]

considering the christian church was called the catholic church around 100 AD (and most scholars believe that it was called that earlier that 100 AD), I think we have a pretty legitimate claim to the term “catholocism”. if you want to get that “theologically correct”, then you better stop calling the “Church of Christ” such, the “Bible Christians” such, the “baptists” such, etc.etc.

 

[faithfulrock3r]

It’s rubbish because many of them don’t care at all. In fact, I know many who are proud to be called Protestant. For those who do dislike the term, I say “non-Catholic Christian.” It’s common courtesy.

It’s just not accurate to argue against Catholic beliefs and refer to them as beliefs held by “The Roman Catholic Church.” They’re beliefs held in common by all particular Catholic Churches, not just the Roman Rite.

Jeremy

We ARE called the Roman Catholic Church, which is by far the largest catholic rite, so to generalize and call a catholic belief an RCCian belief is fine with me. I got no problem with the fact that I am part a universal church that is loyal to the papacy.

 

[Mike_Brick]

So, recently, I’ve been using the word “Romanism” to describe the RCC’s set of biblical interpretations, and I’ve recently found out thats somewhat of a derogatory word. I never meant it in that context, and I apologize for having used it (As I have a few times on these forums)

My question is this, is there a way to refer to the RCC’s set of beliefs without using the word “Catholic”?

Afterburned, below is why Catholics become offended by terms like "Romanist, or “Romish”:

1. MARTIN LUTHER
   Luther was well known for his hot temper, pride and violent language, rather than for his saintliness and humility. He called the Pope the “Antichrist” and even heaped abuse on fellow-reformers like Zwingli and Bucer who disagreed with him. He encouraged the German Princes to seize church property in return for protection for the Reformation…His language grew in violence: “If we punish thieves with the gallows . . . why do we not still more attack with every kind of weapon . . . these Cardinals, these Popes, and that whole abomination of the Romish Sodom . . . why do we not wash our hands in their blood?”

Those words were written almost 500 years ago, were offensive then, and continue to be used to this day. No appology is necessary from you because you explained that your use was not intended to be offensive, just descriptive. But now you understand a little about Catholic sensitivity on terms like those used as hate speech.

God Bless You My Brother in Christ

 

[Petergee]

So non-Catholics don’t generally liked to be called Protestant and it is “rubbish.”

Yes, your assertion, that members of non-Catholic communities who decsend from the 16th century protestant revolt, “generally” don’t like to be called “protestant”, is absolute rubbish. Of the many thousands of protestants I have met, only two (both on this forum) have ever objected to being called protestant or implied that they found it in any way offensive or pejorative.

Meanwhile you do not want to be called the “Roman Catholic Church” even though your own church uses the term but that is somehow not “rubbish.”
…

You keep asserting that the Catholic Church uses that term for itself, but you are unable to provide any evidence.

 

[Petergee]

We ARE called the Roman Catholic Church, which is by far the largest catholic rite, so to generalize and call a catholic belief an RCCian belief is fine with me. I got no problem with the fact that I am part a universal church that is loyal to the papacy.

You mean that you are a member of the Latin rite of the Catholic Church. Sometimes inaccurately and misleadingly called the Western Rite or the Roman Rite. It is wrong to call the Latin rite “the Roman Catholic Church” as it does not have that title. It is doubly wrong, as well as insulting to the members of all the Eastern Catholic churches, to use this name for the Catholic Church as a whole. It is triply wrong to use it given its well-known origin and history as a term of abuse which is commonly exploited by anti-Catholic bigots today.

 

[Afterburned6387]

Mike,

Thanks for the additional info, and thanks for accepting my apology…this thread, however, seems to have gone way beyond my original intents of just hearing a few opinions on what to call the RCC…

 

[Michael_Francis]

And on that wise and charitable note. This thread is now closed.