Is the term "Roman Catholic Church" pejorative?

[Herculees]

I’ve noticed that few Catholics actually refer to themselves as “Roman Catholics.” It’s a term normally used by Protestants or other non-Catholic Christians, almost as if to imply that one can be “catholic” without actually being part of the Catholic Church (i.e. the one that’s headed by the pope). Although, I realize that some Catholics describe themselves as Roman Catholics to emphasize that they are of the Roman rite, as opposed to the other non-western rites used by the Eastern Catholics.

However, I’ve always considered the term “Roman Catholic Church” (RCC) to be somewhat of a misnomer- and one that’s almost exclusively used by Protestants, again as if to imply that a church could be “catholic” without being in communion with Rome. In my mind, there is only one Catholic Church and it consists not only of the Latin (Roman) Church, but also the 23 Eastern Catholic Churches. Anyway, I was reading one of Pope Benedict XVI’s books, and I noticed that the author bio referred to him as “the head of the Roman Catholic Church.” Was this simply an oversight, or is the term RCC considered acceptable?

I’ve also had several history professors who almost always say RCC when talking about the Church. Should I take issue with this? Or is it acceptable to say RCC when talking exclusively about the history of western Europe?

At one time it was a pejorative term. Technically we are simply “The Catholic Church”. Protestant put the term “Roman” on us because they want the right to say they are catholic “meaning universal”.

 

[Kielbasi]

At one time it was a pejorative term. Technically we are simply “The Catholic Church”. Protestant put the term “Roman” on us because they want the right to say they are catholic “meaning universal”.

I can take your word on this, it certainly makes sense.

But the operative phrase here is “at one time”, and that one time is a very long time ago, considerably before St. Matthew’s church was built on Pittsburgh’s South Side where they chiseled “Roman Catholic” right into the building to identify it.

Language is pretty flexible, and now it isn’t offensive in the slightest and hasn’t been for ages.

 

[TK421]

Protestant churches seldom try to push calling themselves ‘catholic’ since the meaning of the word is lost to a large number of people. The reason this was controversial at one point is because in the various splits that took place in the 1500s, the arguments went, “we are Catholic!” and then the other group, “No, they are fakes/usurpers, we are the real Catholics!” This was between the Catholic Church in Rome and protestant groups, along with protestant groups and protestant groups. The term ‘Catholic’ was important because it was understood as ‘universal’, or, that they were the church people ought/needed to go to because it held the fullness of truth.

So it may have been a pejorative at one point, but it also gave clarity, because you might have several groups of Christians that would say they are Catholic, but if you were Catholic in union with the Holy Father in Rome, then it was no question with whom you were affiliated.

 

[jimkhong]

It’s a term normally used by Protestants or other non-Catholic Christians, almost as if to imply that one can be “catholic” without actually being part of the Catholic Church (i.e. the one that’s headed by the pope).

Because it is. Many protestant and some evangelical denominations also recite the Nicene Creed in their mass/service, including the part “One, holy, catholic and apostolic church” So, many still see themselves as part of the wider catholic church but not the Roman Catholic Church. They will always emphasise the lower case ‘c’ in catholic.

 

[Michael85]

Orthodox, Anglicans and other groups of Protestants will sometimes say “We’re Catholic but not Roman Catholic”, meaning that they claim to hold to the original universal Christian faith but not to the faith that modern Catholics believe.

The Reformed church that I used to attend confessed the Apostles’, Nicene and Athanasian Creeds, however, the translation of the Apostles’ Creed approved by the denomination read “I believe a holy catholic church”. Because Latin has no definite or indefinite articles, the translation is technically correct, but stems from an obvious bias against the Catholic Church. The Nicene Creed translation read “I believe one holy catholic and apostolic church”.

I’ve heard some churches have removed the word ‘Catholic’ entirely from the Apostles’ Creed and replaced it with the word ‘Christian’.

 

[Expatreprocedit]

I use the term “Roman Catholic” where it is necessary to distinguish Catholics in union with Rome from other Catholics, like myself, who are not. It is not meant to be pejorative when I use it. I have had Catholics take offense at it. And I’m sure that it has been used pejoratively.

 

[Graceful_Lamb]

I am Roman Catholic. I don’t see anything pejorative about the term at all.

 

[Michael85]

Interestingly, my daily Missal that I use for the traditional Mass is entitled “Roman Catholic Daily Missal”.

I do find the term to be pejorative, as they are essentially saying that we are not Catholic. Dr James White wrote an article in response to this article by Jeffrey L. Morrow. In it, the Catholic apologist is surprised to discover that there is a difference between Catholic and Roman Catholic. And yet White chides Morrow for making the Protestants in his article stupid.

 

[TK421]

I’ve heard some churches have removed the word ‘Catholic’ entirely from the Apostles’ Creed and replaced it with the word ‘Christian’.

Were these Catholic Churches or other churches that use the Apostle’s Creed in their worship?

 

[Solomonson]

But those are Greek Catholics, people who aren’t referred to as “Roman Catholic” at all, at least not by informed people.

Just try telling a Maronite Catholic they’re “Greek Catholics.”

In any event I was responding to:

I don’t know of any Catholics who would be insulted by the term “Roman Catholic”…

 

[Solomonson]

I remember going to a required prayer service many years ago at my parish when I was going through RCIA to get confirmed as an adult.

There was a Lutheran minister speaking along with my pastor. The Protestant minister began with something like “I’m Lutheran catholic and you’re Roman Catholic…” I quietly got up and left. Others did too from what I understand.

That sorta talk had no place in a Catholic church…

 

[Bookcat]

catholic.com/qa/what-is-the-difference-between-the-roman-catholic-and-the-catholic-religion

catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/roman-catholic

From Catholic Answers

 

[Kielbasi]

Just try telling a Maronite Catholic they’re “Greek Catholics.”
:

I wouldn’t tell anyone what they are, but I might ask one if there is an appropriate situation. But the Byzantine Catholics are usually known as “Greek Catholics” and call themselves by the term, and the adjective “Roman” distinguishes us Roman Catholics from them.

 

[Michael85]

Were these Catholic Churches or other churches that use the Apostle’s Creed in their worship?

The Lutheran Service Book of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod has “the holy Christian Church”, with the following footnote:

Christian: the ancient text reads “catholic,” meaning the whole Church as it confesses the wholeness of Christian doctrine.

 

[exnihilo]

Yes, some do use it as a pejorative to mean papists. But not everyone does and as noted the Church herself uses the term. I typically just use Catholic.

I think if I said that, most people wouldn’t know what that meant.

That could be a good thing. It could cause people to ask what that is. You can then explain the Eastern Catholic Churches. Learning about them helped me in my own conversion.