Are terms like "Roman Catholic" and "Eastern Catholic" oxymorons?

[Ben_Sinner]

“Catholic” is derived from a word that means “Universal”

So how can the church be universal and strictly meant only for the Roman/Eastern rites at the same time?

That’s like saying the Roman Universal Church or the Eastern Universal Church.

It’s either got to be Roman/Eastern or Universal. It can’t be both.

 

[Wesrock]

“Roman” Catholic was first put into use by Anglicans in order to distinguish what they believed was their true Church versus the Church of Rome and those in communion with Rome.

Roman versus Eastern Catholic nowadays distinguishes between rites and canons and history, though Roman Catholic refers to just the Latin Rite and Eastern Catholic refers to many different eastern rites.

 

[mdgspencer]

I don’t like the term Roman Catholic.
However, it would be legitimate if these words refer to rites, that is to Roman Rite and to Eastern rites of the Catholic Church.
However, this isn’t how the term Roman Catholic is used. It is strange to use the word Catholic, which means universal, and then attach a geographic term with it, like saying Sandusky World, or using the term Washington United States.

 

[Padres1969]

“Roman” Catholic was first put into use by Anglicans in order to distinguish what they believed was their true Church versus the Church of Rome and those in communion with Rome.

Roman versus Eastern Catholic nowadays distinguishes between rites and canons and history, though Roman Catholic refers to just the Latin Rite and Eastern Catholic refers to many different eastern rites.

Actually the first documents referring to the RCC as the “Roman” Church date back to approximately the 8th century, not the 1500’s.

 

[TK421]

“Catholic” is derived from a word that means “Universal”

So how can the church be universal and strictly meant only for the Roman/Eastern rites at the same time?

That’s like saying the Roman Universal Church or the Eastern Universal Church.

It’s either got to be Roman/Eastern or Universal. It can’t be both.

The important part as far as salvation is concerned is the “Catholic” part, but they are differentiated because of the different rites. This is not critical.

 

[Ubenedictus]

Actually the first documents referring to the RCC as the “Roman” Church date back to approximately the 8th century, not the 1500’s.

I still think he is right, the document you speak of probably says ‘roman church’ or ‘the church of rome’, the terms ‘roman catholic, papist etc’ were coin around the 1500’s by anglicans and protestants.