Different Catholic "Sects"?

[boppaid]

I received an email from a friend, pointing out different Catholic “sects”. Iknow they are not sects, perse, (that’s her word), but I am not familiar with any of these except Roman Catholicism. Her point is that there are so many splits within Catholicism, how can we criticize the Protestants? Here’s an excerpt from her email. Help me respond (she’s Baptist):

Here are the Catholic sects I found doing a little bit
of research:

1. Roman Catholic
2. Spanish Catholic
3. Orthodox – severed their ties with Rome in the 11th
   Century
4. Byzantine Catholics
5. Polish National Catholics
6. Old Catholics
7. Eastern Orthodox
8. White Robed Benedictine Network of Catholics –
   guided by its own Bishop, follows the Vatican Council
   II
9. Lutheranism – still considered part of Catholicism
   in some articles
10. Universal Catholics

I am interested in learning more about the Mt:16:18
church of Peter and how those actual words align with
Peter, and even moreso how Peter’s Church aligns with
all the sects of Catholicism and Protestanism.

 

[mark_a]

The dividing line is who these “sects” consider to be the pope. If its B16, and he recognizes that they are in communion with him, then they are part of THE Catholic Church.

Just because a church has “catholic” in their name does’t mean they are Catholic.

I think.

 

[Della]

Along with mark a’s fine response, I have to add that most of the “sects” your Baptist friend listed are not sects, in the Protestant sense of the word. They merely represent the various rites within the Catholic Church that believe all the things the Latin Rite (or Roman) does. A better compaison would be that of a family with many brothers/sisters with one mother rather than many groups who happend to believe some of the same things but who are free to disagree with one another to the point of disunity, as Protestant sects truly are.

 

[quasimodo]

Along with mark a’s fine response, I have to add that most of the “sects” your Baptist friend listed are not sects, in the Protestant sense of the word. They merely represent the various rites within the Catholic Church that believe all the things the Latin Rite (or Roman) does. A better compaison would be that of a family with many brothers/sisters with one mother rather than many groups who happend to believe some of the same things but who are free to disagree with one another to the point of disunity, as Protestant sects truly are.

what? I only recognize two in the list as Catholic.

two listed are the the same more or less - Orthodox and Eastern orthodox.
Universal Catholics - never heard of 'em
Polish National Catholics & Old Catholics - schismatic
Spanish Catholic - not aware of a schismatic group like this
White Robed Benedictine Network of Catholics – eh ???
Lutherans - the list is totally untrustworthy with the inclusion of this one

Whose “scholarship” produced this list. it is a joke as far as I can see

 

[Atreyu]

Boppaid I want to give you a brief definition of these so-called “sects” as I understand them.

1. Roman Catholic That is, the Latin rite of the Catholic Church, by far and away the biggest rite of the Catholic Church (altogether there are more than 20 rites)
2. Spanish Catholic Never heard of a “Spanish Catholic” but I’m guessing these are Latin rite Catholics who happen to be from Spain.
3. Orthodox – severed their ties with Rome in the 11th
   Century That would be the Eastern Orthodox. Mostly the EO are not heretical with respect to the Catholic Church, but only with respect to the doctrine of Papal primacy. Also the EO doctrine is less developed than the Catholic doctrine. Finally, many of the Eastern Orthodox have crossed back over to the Catholic Church in the various Eastern rites of the Catholic Church that are in Communion with the bishop of Rome.
4. Byzantine Catholics One of the Eastern rites of the Catholic Church; they are in full Communion with the bishop of Rome.
5. Polish National Catholics A true particular Church, but not in Communion with the Catholic Church (ie they are schismatic, just like the Eastern Orthodox).
6. Old Catholics Same as Polish National Catholics.
7. Eastern Orthodox Already in the list.
8. White Robed Benedictine Network of Catholics –
   guided by its own Bishop, follows the Vatican Council
   II The Benedictines?! Who could say that they are not a part of the Catholic Church?! They simply follow a particular rule, same as the Franciscans, the Passionists, and so on.
9. Lutheranism – still considered part of Catholicism
   in some articles Which articles consider Lutherans to be a part of Catholicism?! That is crazy. Lutherans are not only schismatic, but heretical to boot. Maybe they consider themselves Catholic, but if a stranger approached them in the street and asked them where is the nearest Catholic Church, I doubt they would point out their own church building…
10. Universal Catholics Never heard of them

 

[Fidelis]

I received an email from a friend, pointing out different Catholic “sects”. Iknow they are not sects, perse, (that’s her word), but I am not familiar with any of these except Roman Catholicism. Her point is that there are so many splits within Catholicism, how can we criticize the Protestants? Here’s an excerpt from her email. Help me respond (she’s Baptist)…

Suffice to say, based on on the excellent answers given, your friend is lacking in her “research” skills. Perhaps you can steer her over to these forums (or to the Catholic Answers home page where she can get a few things straightened out.

 

[mystified]

There is but One Holy and Apostolic, Catholic, Church. We include some 20 rites, or ways in which we celebrate the Eucharist, be it specific actions or by language, and are all in communion with the Pope.

If one were to Google for all those who use the word “catholic” in their church’s title, one would find dozens, plus dozens more using the term “orthodox”, and more using both words. Calling oneself catholic does not make i t so.