Catholic v Roman Catholic

[Ewtn2000]

Ok, this is the first time I have run into this claim. A non-Catholic is trying to disprove the Catholic claim of her rich history from the very begining since Jesus Christ Himself institued her as his bride. His claim is; yes the earliest Church was Catholic, but it was not Roman Catholic. He then adds that there are branches of Christianity that never came from the “Roman Church”.

I

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Ewtn2000:

Ok, this is the first time I have run into this claim. A non-Catholic is trying to disprove the Catholic claim of her rich history from the very begining since Jesus Christ Himself institued her as his bride. His claim is; yes the earliest Church was Catholic, but it was not Roman Catholic. He then adds that there are branches of Christianity that never came from the “Roman Church”.

I

In a way he is right.

Just as today, the Roman Catholic Church is not the Catholic Church, it is one of the Churches that make up the Catholic Church.

 

[otm]

Ewtn2000:

Ok, this is the first time I have run into this claim. A non-Catholic is trying to disprove the Catholic claim of her rich history from the very begining since Jesus Christ Himself institued her as his bride. His claim is; yes the earliest Church was Catholic, but it was not Roman Catholic. He then adds that there are branches of Christianity that never came from the “Roman Church”.

I

It is hard to discuss without more specifics. Are they saying this with no evidence of what they speak, or are they saying “so and so Church”.

There are something like 21 to 23 rites in the Catholic Church (depending on how they are counted; someone may step in with a different way of counting them) all in union with the Pope. One of them happens to be the Roman or Latin rite, which is numerically the largest. Ulitmately, however, they almost all trace back to the apostles, or are subsets of the Church founded by the Apostles throughout the then known world.

 

[Semper_Fi_1]

The Church is the Catholic Church, not just the Roman Catholic Church. There are 23 (or 24) sui juris Churches which make up the Catholic Church. The Ukrainian-Greek Catholic Church is the biggest Eastern Catholic branch.

 

[Joe_Monahan]

To resolve the issue, there are 23 sui iuris Churches within the Catholic Communion. To see a full list, search for a series of posts by Irish Melkite on a thread similarly named to this one - probably about a year ago or else go to the CNEWA site. The list on the EWTN site that is oft-referenced is inaccurate.

Joe

 

[otm]

Joe Monahan:

To resolve the issue, there are 23 sui iuris Churches within the Catholic Communion. To see a full list, search for a series of posts by Irish Melkite on a thread similarly named to this one - probably about a year ago or else go to the CNEWA site. The list on the EWTN site that is oft-referenced is inaccurate.

Joe

Thanks. Never could keep the numbers straight.

 

[Genesis315]

When most Protestants use the term Roman Catholic they mean the entire Catholic Church (including Melkite, Byzentine, Ukrainian, etc.).

I guess if you count the gnostics as Christian, then they are right that there are some that didn’t originate from the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. Of course, I don’t know anyone who considers the Gnostics as Christian

 

[RobHom]

Ewtn2000:

Ok, this is the first time I have run into this claim. A non-Catholic is trying to disprove the Catholic claim of her rich history from the very begining since Jesus Christ Himself institued her as his bride.

In reality, the “non-Catholic” can try, but will ultimately fail. All of their supporting information will be sourced from their own sources, which have changed, yes…literally rewritten history, to fit their needs.

His claim is; yes the earliest Church was Catholic, but it was not Roman Catholic. He then adds that there are branches of Christianity that never came from the “Roman Church”.

Its an overly simplistic half truth at best. But even then I doubt if it even rates being called a half truth. I am not an expert in Church history…but it seems that all Catholics stemmed from the original Church…and in reality there were no other “Christian” churches in existence…and if I am incorrect, someone please correct me, but just about the only “religions” around at that time were: Catholics, Jews, and Pagans… not including any existing Asian peoples.

I don’t even debate the issue with them anymore… I just tell them: “Its your lie, you tell it any way you want to…” Seems to generally bring the nonsense to an end.