Are Eastern Catholics "Roman Catholic"?

[petronus]

If “Roman Catholic Church” is good enough for Pope Pius XII, it’s good enough for me.

And Pope Pius XI in " Divini Illius Magistri " .

 

[Peter_J]

Originally Posted by Ad Orientem

Well, I wish both the said Popes had referred to Eastern Catholic Churches as Churches and not Rites. But what are ya’ gonna do, right? Mainly I’m just glad that nowadays we’ve set that straight – they’re Churches.

Hence I also prefer the term “the Roman Communion” but if you prefer “the Roman Catholic Church” that’s your prerogative. Anyhow, I think we can both agree on calling it “the Catholic Church”.

 

[BVMFatima]

Well, I wish both the said Popes had referred to Eastern Catholic Churches as Churches and not Rites. But what are ya’ gonna do, right? Mainly I’m just glad that nowadays we’ve set that straight – they’re Churches.

Hence I also prefer the term “the Roman Communion” but if you prefer “the Roman Catholic Church” that’s your prerogative. Anyhow, I think we can both agree on calling it “the Catholic Church”.

So using the term Roman Catholic would mean the whole Roman Communion and not just the Latin church, correct? Then I don’t understand why Archdiocese and Diocese just don’t identify themselves as Latin Rite? The use Roman instead

 

[Peter_J]

So using the term Roman Catholic would mean the whole Roman Communion and not just the Latin church, correct?

No, not necessarily. If I say “I went to a Roman-Rite parish”, then you can clearly tell that I’m talking about a parish in the Latin Church. Actually I’m being even more specific, b/c I’m saying which of the many rites in the Latin Church it was.

Personally, I tend to avoid the term “Roman Catholics” because it’s ambiguous, where as “Roman-Rite Catholics” is not.

 

[petronus]

No, not necessarily. .

Personally, I tend to avoid the term “Roman Catholics” because it’s ambiguous, where as “Roman-Rite Catholics” is not.

There is nothing ambiguous in the term whatsoever . It is crystal clear . Roman Catholics are Catholics who are in communion with the See of Peter , with the Bishop of Rome .

 

[Peter_J]

There is nothing ambiguous in the term whatsoever . It is crystal clear . Roman Catholics are Catholics who are in communion with the See of Peter , with the Bishop of Rome .

Some people, however, might not interpret it that way: they’d think that you meant “Roman-Rite Catholics” but just omitted the word “Rite”. Maybe they shouldn’t interpret it that way, but they do.

Incidentally, I know a number of Orthodox who believe that Eastern Catholics shouldn’t be called “Roman Catholic”.

 

[Aelred_Minor]

Well, the vast majority of the members of the Latin Church do use the Roman Rite. But there are also Ambrosian-Rite Catholics, Mozarabic-Rite Catholics, etc in the Latin Church.

But having said that, there’s no problem with saying “I’m a member of the Roman Communion” … which is another way of saying that I’m in communion with Rome.

All of which are Latin rites, as is the Roman rite. Hence the name “Latin rite Church” rather than “Roman rite Church.” I suppose this could be another argument against using the term “Roman Catholic” as a synonym for Latin Catholic.

 

[BVMFatima]

All of which are Latin rites, as is the Roman rite. Hence the name “Latin rite Church” rather than “Roman rite Church.” I suppose this could be another argument against using the term “Roman Catholic” as a synonym for Latin Catholic.

Hmm

 

[petronus]

The Baltimore Catechism Question 118 : " That is why we are called Roman Catholics , to show that we are united to the real successor of St. Peter , and are therefore members of the true apostolic Church . "

Questions 114 and 131 refer to the Universal Church as the Roman Catholic Church .

 

[BVMFatima]

The Baltimore Catechism Question 118 : " That is why we are called Roman Catholics , to show that we are united to the real successor of St. Peter , and are therefore members of the true apostolic Church . "

Questions 114 and 131 refer to the Universal Church as the Roman Catholic Church .

You are aware that the Baltimore Catechism was rejected by the Vatican right?

 

[Aelred_Minor]

You are aware that the Baltimore Catechism was rejected by the Vatican right?

Rejected by the Vatican? When and why? As far as I know the Baltimore Catechism, being a local catechism, was never specifically approved by the Vatican but there is a huge gulf of difference between this and rejection.

In any case the Baltimore Catechism reflects the nineteenth century (and the nineteenth century is not as long ago as many of us imagine) American meaning of the term, and it would be absurd to say the American bishops did not know about Eastern Catholics.

I really wish that we could put this issue aside, those of us here who have discussed it to death anyway. The simple fact is that the word is used in different ways in different contexts and it is no use denying that fact or reading anything sinister or “incorrect” into any particular Catholic usage.

 

[BVMFatima]

Rejected by the Vatican? When and why? As far as I know the Baltimore Catechism, being a local catechism, was never specifically approved by the Vatican but there is a huge gulf of difference between this and rejection.

In any case the Baltimore Catechism reflects the nineteenth century (and the nineteenth century is not as long ago as many of us imagine) American meaning of the term, and it would be absurd to say the American bishops did not know about Eastern Catholics.

I really wish that we could put this issue aside, those of us here who have discussed it to death anyway. The simple fact is that the word is used in different ways in different contexts and it is no use denying that fact or reading anything sinister or “incorrect” into any particular Catholic usage.

I have read it was rejected by the Vatican, when I find the link I will let you know.

 

[UncleBill]

The Baltimore Catechism Question 118 : " That is why we are called Roman Catholics , to show that we are united to the real successor of St. Peter , and are therefore members of the true apostolic Church . "

Questions 114 and 131 refer to the Universal Church as the Roman Catholic Church .

Thak God the Baltimore Cat has gone the way of the dinosaur!

 

[Peter_J]

The Baltimore Catechism Question 118 : " That is why we are called Roman Catholics , to show that we are united to the real successor of St. Peter , and are therefore members of the true apostolic Church . "

Questions 114 and 131 refer to the Universal Church as the Roman Catholic Church .

True: “114 … The Roman Catholic Church is the only one that can show these marks, and is, therefore, the only true Church, as we shall see in the next lesson.”

Well as I say, I would prefer if they said “the Roman Communion”, rather than “Church”, since it is the communion consisting of several different churches. But what are ya gonna do, right?

 

[petronus]

I have read it was rejected by the Vatican, when I find the link I will let you know.

Have you not found it yet ?

 

[Aramis]

There is nothing ambiguous in the term whatsoever . It is crystal clear . Roman Catholics are Catholics who are in communion with the See of Peter , with the Bishop of Rome .

In turkey, that’s true, using Roum Catholic; but turks also use Roum Orthodox for the Byzantine Rite Orthodox, so are poorly representative. In the rest of the universe, it is usually understood to be only members of the Roman-Rite Latin Church.

 

[Vico]

Have you not found it yet ?

I Learned By The Baltimore Catechism Series. The Apostolic Constitution Fidei Depositum On The Publication Of The Catechism Of The Catholic Church Prepared Following The Second Vatican Ecumenical Council (1992), states:This catechism is not intended to replace the local catechisms duly approved by the ecclesiastical authorities, the diocesan Bishops and the Episcopal Conferences, especially if they have been approved by the Apostolic See. It is meant to encourage and assist in the writing of new local catechisms, which must take into account various situations and cultures, while carefully preserving the unity of faith and fidelity to Catholic doctrine.
vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_19921011_fidei-depositum_en.html

 

[malphono]

I’m not involving myself in this thread except to say that in the Levant, (of which Turkey is tangentially a part), the term “roum” applies to Byzantines only, not to Latins or anyone else. It derives from “New Rome” not from “Rome” itself. So, “roum catholique” refers to the Melkites, whereas “roum orthodoxe” refers to the AOC. I’ll add here that the distinction “roum” also means they are not in any way related to the Syriac (including Maronite) Churches.

 

[bben15]

I usually prefer the term “Latin Catholic” over “Roman Catholic.” The reason being is the term “Roman Catholic” was invented by Protestants in the 16th century as a derogatory term.

God Bless.

 

[malphono]

the term “Roman Catholic” was invented by Protestants in the 16th century as a derogatory term.

Even if that’s true, it’s interesting that the term was never repudiated by Rome. Quite the opposite: it seems to have been been embraced.