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Aelred_Minor
Guest
THE EASTERN CATHOLICS DO NOT FIND THEMSELVES COMPLIMENTED TO BE CALLED “ROMAN CATHOLICS” (a left handed compliment!!)Ref: Regarding the term “Roman Catholic”, there have been innumerable debates on the subject on these forums. I don’t mean to start another, but I do wish to point out that the term can validly be used in two very different ways, either to refer to all Catholics in communion with the bishop of Rome or to refer to the Latin Church exclusively. We may lament the fact that both meanings of the term are in simultaneous use both inside and outside the Church and the confusion this brings about, but denying one meaning of the term entirely only separates one from reality and increases the confusion in the Church about the subject.
It’s not a matter of complimenting or insulting anyone, but of different definitions for the same term.