Clarification on terms used in the Catechism

[djc91]

Hello, I am a Protestant reading the Catechism and I keep coming across some terms that wanted clarification on:
“Latin Rite,”“Western Church”- The Catholic Church
“Eastern Church”, “Byzantine Rite”- All Orthodox Churches
“Coptic Church”- the Egyptian Church

Are these assumptions correct? and If so why does the Catechism talk so much about non-catholic Churches?

Thanks

 

[Micosil]

Hello, I am a Protestant reading the Catechism and I keep coming across some terms that wanted clarification on:
“Latin Rite,”“Western Church”- The Catholic Church
“Eastern Church”, “Byzantine Rite”- All Orthodox Churches
“Coptic Church”- the Egyptian Church

Are these assumptions correct? and If so why does the Catechism talk so much about non-catholic Churches?

Thanks

It’d be helpful it you pasted the relevant sections.

But a bit of information:

The Catholic Church is made up of 1) the Western Church, and 2) all the 23 Eastern Churches in full communion with Rome. Together, a total of 24 Churches make up what is known as the Catholic Church.

The Byzantine Rite is one of many liturgical rites. It is used by some of the Eastern Catholic Churches, namely the Albanian, Belarusian, Bulgarian, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, Greek, Hungarian, Italo-Albanian, Macedonian, Melkite, Romanian, Russian, Ruthenian, Slovak and Ukrainian Catholic Churches.

The other liturgical rites are the Alexandrian, the West Syrian, the East Syrian, and the Armenian.

When one says “Coptic Church”, it can be confusing, as it can refer to the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, an Oriental Orthodox church not part of the Catholic Church, or the Coptic Catholic Church, which is in communion with Rome.

 

[porthos11]

It’d be helpful it you pasted the relevant sections.

But a bit of information:

The Catholic Church is made up of 1) the Western Church, and 2) all the 23 Eastern Churches in full communion with Rome. Together, a total of 24 Churches make up what is known as the Catholic Church.

The Byzantine Rite is one of many liturgical rites. It is used by some of the Eastern Catholic Churches, namely the Albanian, Belarusian, Bulgarian, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, Greek, Hungarian, Italo-Albanian, Macedonian, Melkite, Romanian, Russian, Ruthenian, Slovak and Ukrainian Catholic Churches.

The other liturgical rites are the Alexandrian, the West Syrian, the East Syrian, and the Armenian.

When one says “Coptic Church”, it can be confusing, as it can refer to the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, an Oriental Orthodox church not part of the Catholic Church, or the Coptic Catholic Church, which is in communion with Rome.

And further, there is no such thing as THE Latin Rite. There is THE Latin Church (aka the Western Church). The Latin Church has multiple rites, the largest of which is the Roman Rite, but there are other Latin Rites as well, some of which are now extinct: Gallican, Mozarabic, Ambrosian, Sarum. None of these rites are shared by other churches.

In the east, however, a single Rite can be used by multiple churches, as listed above (e.g. the Byzantine rite is used by the Melkite, Ukrainian, Greek, Ruthenian, etc. churches.)

An individual person is always a member of a church, never a rite.

 

[Micosil]

And further, there is no such thing as THE Latin Rite. There is THE Latin Church (aka the Western Church). The Latin Church has multiple rites, the largest of which is the Roman Rite, but there are other Latin Rites as well, some of which are now extinct: Gallican, Mozarabic, Ambrosian, Sarum. None of these rites are shared by other churches.

In the east, however, a single Rite can be used by multiple churches, as listed above (e.g. the Byzantine rite is used by the Melkite, Ukrainian, Greek, Ruthenian, etc. churches.)

An individual person is always a member of a church, never a rite.

That is precisely why I refrained from saying “the Latin Rite”.

 

[Ad_Orientem]

Colin Donovan over at EWTN has put together a good page on this, as has James Likoudis.

 

[jaimeleglise]

Micosil, that is a very beautiful summary of the Catholic Church to which you posted a link.

I think the prayers sound much better in Spanish.
You outlined the necessary things to know.

God bless you

 

[Genesis315]

Hello, I am a Protestant reading the Catechism and I keep coming across some terms that wanted clarification on:
“Latin Rite,”“Western Church”- The Catholic Church
“Eastern Church”, “Byzantine Rite”- All Orthodox Churches
“Coptic Church”- the Egyptian Church

Are these assumptions correct? and If so why does the Catechism talk so much about non-catholic Churches?

Thanks

Short answer, those all refer to portions of the Catholic Church, even though there are also parallel separated communities (ie there are both Coptic Catholics and Coptic Orthodox).