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Lepanto
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To a large extent, that is reflective of Catholics not knowing their own history, not to mention ecclesiology.
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Irish_Catholic_1
Guest
It depends on how it is used. “Roman Catholic Church” refers to the Roma Rite within the Catholic Church. The Roman Rite is by far the largest, but there are others. There are Byzantine Catholics, Maronite Catholics… …there are many of them, listed here:
ewtn.com/expert/answers/catholic_rites_and_churches.htm
No doubt a Byzantine Catholic might be offended at being called a Roman Catholic. As for protestant usage of the term, I find it offensive when they say “The Roman Church”, which is usually a subtle way to infer that we are not Christian.
That does not say much. 1 in 4 Catholics have probably never even read the Catechism, if not more than that
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nlm
Guest
Hello Irish Catholic. Thank you for your explanation.It reflects what I was taught many years ago.Maria G referred to Catholics who refer to themselves as Roman Catholic as being uneducated.I would suggest most members of your church understand it exactly the way you have explained it.I would also suggest that our local Bishop and clergy also understand it the way you have explained it.Why? Because they use the term daily and as I have said most of our RC churches say so on their signage. I was looking at today’s obituary section of our local paper. All the members of your church were listed as belonging to a specific Roman Catholic Church.The funeral masses were to be held at the same Roman catholic Church.I also agree with your interpretation of these statistics. IN MY OPINION, if you were to poll the members of most of your churches,the majority, if not all ,would indicate they are members of the Roman Catholic Church.The Bishop of a nearby diocese was interviewed on TV recently.He was introduced as the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese. I am not saying this in a negative way but my comments reflect reality in this part of the world. I have great difficulty believing things are so different elsewhere.Thank you for such a matter a fact and clear and precise explanation.God Bless. NLM
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brb2
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The RCC ? … not at all. Our roots and first Pope reside in Rome.
But, today the CCC [Catholic Church of Christ] is more apt … and promotes the Ecumenism our Magi desires/seeks.
But, today the CCC [Catholic Church of Christ] is more apt … and promotes the Ecumenism our Magi desires/seeks.
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nlm
Guest
What you describe is exactly the same in Canada where I live.God Bless. NLM
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Axion
Guest
Most of the above is invalid.
- There is no Roman Rite in the Catholic Church. there is a Latin Rite.
- The term Roman Catholic has no official designation in the worldwide Catholic Church. It is a term coined by Protestants and used generally in English-speaking countries. Central Catholic Church documents and pronouncements do not use the term Roman Catholic, since it was devised to deny that the church is THE Catholic Church.
- As I explained in an earlier post, the term “Roman Catholic” has been used with regard to schools hospitals and some churches because it was FORCED on the church in certain countries by legislation. If you wanted to incorporate a church, school or hospital or deal with the government, you often had to designate it “Roman” Catholic.
- Some residual usage in english-speaking countries is a hang-over from those days. Many schools are still legally registered as RC schools.
- Outside english-speaking (or north european protestant countries) the term “Roman Catholic” is extremely rare.
- What some TV stations or newspapers use as a term has no bearing on the proper name of the Church.
- “Roman” Catholic implies that the Church is NOT the Catholic Church established by Jesus on Peter, and referred to by the Eartly Church Fathers, but some later invention, without that foundation and authority.
- The name “Roman” Catholic makes the Church sound UnBritish, UnAmerican, and foreign. It is the Church of Rome, which strange people with foreign connections attend, not the “Church of England”, or the local community church. If the Methodist Church was called the Hungarian Methodist Church, this would put many people off entering it or considering joining it.
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nlm
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One of the most difficult parts of this forum is the number of experts it brings to the forefront. In one post we are told one thing, thenwe are told another. In the past few months I have been told that even when taught by a nun, a priest or even a Bishop one may not be given the " official " information.IF the term Roman Catholic Church was coined by Protestants, why is it that the Catholics then chose to use this designation on their signage? I am quite certain no protestant ever held a gun to anyone’s head and made them write these words.How is it that the priests overseeing these churches don’t make the change? Canada is not a country where a term like Roman Catholic would be forced upon a religious group.Where would one go to get the " official"information? I was Catholic for 50 years, always attended a church bearing the RCC name, attended a school also bearing the RCC name, was taught by nuns who called themselves RCs.How could they all have been wrong? God Bless.NLM
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Lepanto
Guest
True, but as mentioned before, that’s why you NEED to read the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It is an OFFICIAL MAGISTERIAL document at the HIGHEST level of authority. You will NOT find a single reference to the “Roman Catholic Church.” (Notice, for starters, that the title of it is not "Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church).
Here is a link to the catechism on the Vatican’s website:
vatican.va/archive/catechism/ccc_toc.htm
As has been mentioned, it is almost always due to ignorance and Catholics NOT knowing their own history. 95% of Catholics couldn’t tell you what the Immaculate Conception is, either.
Again, read the Catechism of the Catholic Church. What parish bulletins say don’t count.
Many Catholics do NOT know Church history, nor do they care. Read history for yourself, starting with this:
ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/HOWNAME.HTM
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Thing
Guest
When you see Roman Catholic it means Catholic.
Simple enough.
They are not different things.
You are called NLM and also you have a real name, possibly also a nickname, and I feel I remember that ‘saved’ people will be given another name in the afterlife.
But through all this you are still the same thing, the same person, the same person, the same person.
Roman Catholic is another way of saying Catholic. Roman meaning Catholics loyal to the Pope and as all Catholics are loyal to the Pope all Catholics could call themselves Roman Catholics. The Pope could refer to the Church as the Roman Catholic Church if he means the entire worldwide Catholic Church, or he could just say The Catholic Church, same thing.
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Young_Ludovicus
Guest
I’m baptised as a catholic. But my family was very culturally catholic. Like wise I never been much to church and I don’t know that many religious people to begin with except for muslims. So I don’t count myself as a ‘real catholic’.
But I do think Roman Catholic is offensive. It’s Catholic. While the term is offensive I wouldn’t bat an eye. Nor do I think anyone really would.
(People who call the Netherlands, Holland, I get for example a bit more rowded up at)
In it’s origins it’s offensive, but it is in popular use and not used to offend anymore. (Or people have to do it with ill-intent) Roman Catholic is kind of an opposite of ‘Negro’, which is a correct term that began to be seen as offensive and fell out of favor.
But I do think Roman Catholic is offensive. It’s Catholic. While the term is offensive I wouldn’t bat an eye. Nor do I think anyone really would.
(People who call the Netherlands, Holland, I get for example a bit more rowded up at)
In it’s origins it’s offensive, but it is in popular use and not used to offend anymore. (Or people have to do it with ill-intent) Roman Catholic is kind of an opposite of ‘Negro’, which is a correct term that began to be seen as offensive and fell out of favor.
Origins notwithstanding, I don’t mind as I am really a Roman Catholic: I am a member of the Latin church and I practice the Roman Rite. That’s it.
I, however, would not call a Ukrainian, Maronite, Melkite, Armenian, Chaldean, etc. Roman Catholics, because they are not. They belong to different churches and practice different rites. They are in communion with the Pope, but it does not make them Roman.
I, however, would not call a Ukrainian, Maronite, Melkite, Armenian, Chaldean, etc. Roman Catholics, because they are not. They belong to different churches and practice different rites. They are in communion with the Pope, but it does not make them Roman.
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Young_Ludovicus
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The way I see it every Catholic (by the Catholic Chuch’s definition) is a Roman Catholic.
So the Maronites, Melkites are also Roman Catholic. As they are in communion with Rome.
But I do agree that it would be foolish to name them as such as it could seem like you’d imply that they are Latin Rite Catholic.
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