Catholic vs Roman Catholic

[RyanBlack]

As I noted in my post immediately above this one, this use of the term “Roman Catholic” as a synonym for “Latin rite Catholic” (or “Latin Catholic” or “Western Catholic”) is not an official legal definition or even a common definition outside of certain particular circles. If you prefer the more limited definition that is your business, but I would charitably recommend caution in your use of it to avoid confusing others either about what the ordinary definition of the term is or about your own religious identity.

I’m quite capable of explaining what is the relationship of the Eastern Church of which I am a member to the Roman Catholic Church, without having to resort to calling myself a Roman Catholic, so I’m not at all worried about confusing others as to my own religious identity.

 

[Patrick1540]

What is the difference between the Catholic religion and the Roman Catholic religion? Is one stricter then the other? Thanks

Some one correct me if this is wrong. My understanding is that there are 27 different rites in the Catholic Church. Roman Catholic is just one of the western rites. Traditionally the Mass was done in Latin, were as other rites the Mass was done in there language. Eastern being the Liturgy of the Mass was originally done in Greek.I’m not an expert, but this is how it was explained to me. After the Apostles went out an establish the Church in different parts of the world, the Roman Empire was divide in two for Constitian( for give spelling) two sons. The Western rite of the Church fell under Peter and the eastern rite fell under Andrew,Peter’s brother, both Apostles .Western rites suffered heavy the first 1000 years, then eastern rites the next 1000 years.Because of geographic and other difficulties they were separate,but yet together in Apostolic Tradition, all being Catholic.

 

[BVMFatima]

As I noted in my post immediately above this one, this use of the term “Roman Catholic” as a synonym for “Latin rite Catholic” (or “Latin Catholic” or “Western Catholic”) is not an official legal definition or even a common definition outside of certain particular circles. If you prefer the more limited definition that is your business, but I would charitably recommend caution in your use of it to avoid confusing others either about what the ordinary definition of the term is or about your own religious identity.

If Roman is not legal, then why are parishes called Saint
N. Roman Catholic Parish, or explain why Archdioceses are called Roman Catholic archdioces of Rochester, Hartford etc

 

[Aelred_Minor]

If Roman is not legal, then why are parishes called Saint
N. Roman Catholic Parish, or explain why Archdioceses are called Roman Catholic archdioces of Rochester, Hartford etc

Oh, don’t misunderstand me! I don’t mean such names for dioceses or parishes are illegal or anything. Far from it.

What I mean is that you will not anything in the Code of Canon Law or other Catholic legislative texts defining the term “Roman Catholic Church” as synonymous with “Latin rite Catholic Church.” Instead, when the term comes up at all in Catholic or non-Catholic contexts it generally refers to the entire Catholic Church.

I should disclose that I am not a canon lawyer or any other kind of expert, but I’m fairly confident of what I am saying here. Certainly I think the onus is on the party arguing in an absolutist way for the less common usage to prove any official sanction of it. The idea that Eastern Catholics are “not Roman” is particularly counterintuitive given that formal Church documents sometimes use the term “Roman Church” (not even bothering with the word “Catholic”) to mean the Catholic Church.

 

[BVMFatima]

But when we use the term Latin Rite, its known as the 2nd name of the Extraordinary.form of the Mass.

 

[Aelred_Minor]

But when we use the term Latin Rite, its known as the 2nd name of the Extraordinary.form of the Mass.

You are thinking of the term “Latin Mass.” “Latin rite Church” is the official name of the sui iuris Church which includes the diocese of Rome, and in which the Roman Liturgy (including both its Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms) is by far the most common liturgy. I assume the term “Latin Rite” was originally synonymous with “Roman Rite”, even though some other Western rites such as the Ambrosian Rite are also traditionally said in Latin. In any case “Latin rite” is usually used today as a more politically correct term for “Western Catholic” (Latin rite Catholics in Asia in particular are often uncomfortable being called “Western”).

 

[BVMFatima]

You are thinking of the term “Latin Mass.” “Latin rite Church” is the official name of the sui iuris Church which includes the diocese of Rome, and in which the Roman Liturgy (including both its Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms) is by far the most common liturgy. I assume the term “Latin Rite” was originally synonymous with “Roman Rite”, even though some other Western rites such as the Ambrosian Rite are also traditionally said in Latin. In any case “Latin rite” is usually used today as a more politically correct term for “Western Catholic” (Latin rite Catholics in Asia in particular are often uncomfortable being called “Western”).

So why do parishes and dioceses call themselves Roman?

 

[Aelred_Minor]

So why do parishes and dioceses call themselves Roman?

Because they are Roman. Roman Catholic. Catholic. It all works out to about the same, the way most people use the words.

 

[BVMFatima]

So the terms Latin and Roman are equal correct?

 

[LEMAITRE]

What is the difference between the Catholic religion and the Roman Catholic religion? Is one stricter then the other? Thanks

Basically, there are different types of Catholics. Roman Catholics are just one, they are the Western church and the one you usually hear about but there are millions of other Catholics who are not Roman.

All Catholic Churches with their 22 different Rites are Catholic. The Roman Catholic Church worships in the Latin Rite.

All Catholic Churches are in communion with the Pope. They all recognise the central role of the Bishop of Rome within the College of Bishops and his infallibility when speaking ex cathedra.

Eastern Catholics are not Eastern Orthodox.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Oh, don’t misunderstand me! I don’t mean such names for dioceses or parishes are illegal or anything. Far from it.

What I mean is that you will not anything in the Code of Canon Law or other Catholic legislative texts defining the term “Roman Catholic Church” as synonymous with “Latin rite Catholic Church.” Instead, when the term comes up at all in Catholic or non-Catholic contexts it generally refers to the entire Catholic Church.

I should disclose that I am not a canon lawyer or any other kind of expert, but I’m fairly confident of what I am saying here. Certainly I think the onus is on the party arguing in an absolutist way for the less common usage to prove any official sanction of it. The idea that Eastern Catholics are “not Roman” is particularly counterintuitive given that formal Church documents sometimes use the term “Roman Church” (not even bothering with the word “Catholic”) to mean the Catholic Church.

The term “Roman Church” has been used a lot in various Vatican documents. The Pope himself is called the “Roman Pontiff”.

 

[BVMFatima]

The term “Roman Church” has been used a lot in various Vatican documents. The Pope himself is called the “Roman Pontiff”.

I never understood what Roman pontiff means, what exactly does the Pope mean by.calling himself the Roman pontiff?

 

[ConstantineTG]

I never understood what Roman pontiff means, what exactly does the Pope mean by.calling himself the Roman pontiff?

It means he is the Pontiff of the Church in Rome.

 

[ConstantineTG]

To all the Roman Catholics or however you want to call yourselves,

It is extremely insulting to Eastern Catholics to be called Roman Catholics. Because we have been fighting so hard for so long for our right to exist a distinct particular Churches. To call us Roman Catholics says that we belong to the Roman Church and what we are are merely “Rites”, that is Liturgical traditions and expressions. That is not true. We have our own hierarchy, we have our own traditions, we in fact even have our own theology. We are not Roman Catholics following an Eastern Rite, we are Catholics belonging to an Eastern Church in communion with Rome.

 

[Patrick1540]

To all the Roman Catholics or however you want to call yourselves,

It is extremely insulting to Eastern Catholics to be called Roman Catholics. Because we have been fighting so hard for so long for our right to exist a distinct particular Churches. To call us Roman Catholics says that we belong to the Roman Church and what we are are merely “Rites”, that is Liturgical traditions and expressions. That is not true. We have our own hierarchy, we have our own traditions, we in fact even have our own theology. We are not Roman Catholics following an Eastern Rite, we are Catholics belonging to an Eastern Church in communion with Rome.

Thank you for explaining. I learn new things all the time.
God Bless

 

[BVMFatima]

To all the Roman Catholics or however you want to call yourselves,

It is extremely insulting to Eastern Catholics to be called Roman Catholics. Because we have been fighting so hard for so long for our right to exist a distinct particular Churches. To call us Roman Catholics says that we belong to the Roman Church and what we are are merely “Rites”, that is Liturgical traditions and expressions. That is not true. We have our own hierarchy, we have our own traditions, we in fact even have our own theology. We are not Roman Catholics following an Eastern Rite, we are Catholics belonging to an Eastern Church in communion with Rome.

Amen

 

[LEMAITRE]

To all the Roman Catholics or however you want to call yourselves,

It is extremely insulting to Eastern Catholics to be called Roman Catholics. Because we have been fighting so hard for so long for our right to exist a distinct particular Churches. To call us Roman Catholics says that we belong to the Roman Church and what we are are merely “Rites”, that is Liturgical traditions and expressions. That is not true. We have our own hierarchy, we have our own traditions, we in fact even have our own theology. We are not Roman Catholics following an Eastern Rite, we are Catholics belonging to an Eastern Church in communion with Rome.

It is insulting for me to be called Roman Catholic considering the term was coined by Anglicans as an especially derogatory term.

I have never called Eastern Catholics Roman Catholics. However I would not find it insulting if an Eastern Catholic called me Eastern Catholic. I don’t have a problem with that as it would most likely be misguided innocent comment. I wouldn’t get my nickers in a knot over it.

Frankly, I would prefer if we all just referred to ourselves as CATHOLIC respecting our theological and ritual differences and be done with it.

 

[ConstantineTG]

It is insulting for me to be called Roman Catholic considering the term was coined by Anglicans as an especially derogatory term.

I have never called Eastern Catholics Roman Catholics. However I would not find it insulting if an Eastern Catholic called me Eastern Catholic. I don’t have a problem with that as it would most likely be misguided innocent comment. I wouldn’t get my nickers in a knot over it.

Frankly, I would prefer if we all just referred to ourselves as CATHOLIC respecting our theological and ritual differences and be done with it.

The problem with your comment is that you do not appreciate the struggle of the Eastern Catholics through their history. And the other problem is that even today there are certain aspects of the relationship that is still lacking. We need to raise the banner of our identity strongly because we aren’t being treated accordingly.

And by the way, if “Roman Catholic” is something that the Anglicans invented, who do you think the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans were written to? Fact is, in the First Century the Churches were identified by the cities they were in. No one called the Church in Antioch as “Orthodox” or “Catholic”, they just called it “the Church in Antioch” or when the context can carry it, just “Antioch”. Same with Rome, it was always just “Rome”.

And if you want to get into derogatory names, the term “Christian” as used in the Book of Acts was meant to be a derogatory name. So why do you proudly call yourself Christian today?

 

[BVMFatima]

The problem with your comment is that you do not appreciate the struggle of the Eastern Catholics through their history. And the other problem is that even today there are certain aspects of the relationship that is still lacking. We need to raise the banner of our identity strongly because we aren’t being treated accordingly.

And by the way, if “Roman Catholic” is something that the Anglicans invented, who do you think the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans were written to? Fact is, in the First Century the Churches were identified by the cities they were in. No one called the Church in Antioch as “Orthodox” or “Catholic”, they just called it “the Church in Antioch” or when the context can carry it, just “Antioch”. Same with Rome, it was always just “Rome”.

And if you want to get into derogatory names, the term “Christian” as used in the Book of Acts was meant to be a derogatory name. So why do you proudly call yourself Christian today?

Exactly, the early Christians were originally called The Way, untill Pagens came up with the term “Christian” in Antioch.

 

[LEMAITRE]

The problem with your comment is that you do not appreciate the struggle of the Eastern Catholics through their history. And the other problem is that even today there are certain aspects of the relationship that is still lacking. We need to raise the banner of our identity strongly** because we aren’t being treated accordingly.**

And by the way, if “Roman Catholic” is something that the Anglicans invented, who do you think the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans were written to? Fact is, in the First Century the Churches were identified by the cities they were in. No one called the Church in Antioch as “Orthodox” or “Catholic”, they just called it “the Church in Antioch” or when the context can carry it, just “Antioch”. Same with Rome, it was always just “Rome”.

And if you want to get into derogatory names, the term “Christian” as used in the Book of Acts was meant to be a derogatory name. So why do you proudly call yourself Christian today?

Sounds like a chip on the shoulder to me. I find it difficult to believe that numerous Roman Catholics are insisting that you are Roman Catholic.

Who isn’t treating you accordingly? How many? Is it the Western Church hierarchy? I’m interested to know.

I don’t find the term Christian derogatory. I wear it with pride even if it is secondary however, I am Catholic first.

I find the term Roman Catholic derogatory but that’s just me. Others may not have a problem with it. I prefer to identify myself as a Catholic of the Latin Rite.