! (I am, btw, a member of the Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholic Church, worshiping at a Roman Catholic parish.)But, that wasn’t the question, was it
?
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I think we all understand what you were trying to say, but we Eastern Catholics are most assuredly not Roman Catholic. But together we are Catholic!
I understand, it could go either way. Hmm, I wish there was an official opinion on this. Perhaps I should ask an apologist haha.
Nope. That won’t work. Within the one Catholic Church, there are 23 particular churches (not rites), the largest of which is the Roman Catholic Church, whose head is the Bishop of Rome, the heir of St. Peter. I have no problem acknowledging the Pope of Rome as the heir of St. Peter and the visible head of the Church. However, please do not tell me that I am a Roman Catholic. I am a member of the Byzantine Catholic Metropolia of Pittsburgh. I do not see the adjective “Roman” anywhere in the title of my particular Church, and see no reason why I should adopt it in describing what sort of Catholic I am.Check this out:
newadvent.org/cathen/13121a.htm
From what I understand, the Church of Rome is the Roman Catholic Church with the Holy See located in Vatican City in Rome, and the Holy See is the head of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
There is in the Roman Catholic Church 23 main rites, 22 Eastern and 1 Western, the Latin Rite. The Latin Rite has “sub-rites” within itself. An Eastern Catholic is not a Latin Rite Catholic but is nevertheless Roman Catholic. Roman in this case obviously is not saying that you have to be from Rome. Rome symbolizes the unity of Christ’s true Church.
Just my two cents…
Not only that but…
I do not think it is proper to say that the Vatican City is “in Rome” when it is a sovereign state of its own. I also believe that it falls outside of the Diocese of Rome and is ruled by the Pope through the curia and not through the chancery of the Diocese of Rome.
This is also incorrect. There are only five main Rites within the Catholic Church. What you call “main rites” here are actually called sui iruis Churches.
Yes I’ve looked into this and I understand that they are churches, not rites. I just get a little confused with Catholic terminology sometimes. In regards to the word “Roman”, I just want to have an official answer with proof, because the argument can go either way depending on what you mean. It’s not the most important thing in the world though, but the reason you would adopt it is because your church is in communion with Rome. If we all labeled ourselves as Roman Catholic regardless of rite or church then we would all be indicating our communion with Rome, which of course unites us. But anyway, this isn’t that serious an issue but I would still like an official document or explanation.
Well, show me the actual proof, because you might very well be right that perhaps Vatican City is not technically in Rome anymore but you know what I meant. If everybody on here spoke in strictly technical terms it would drive me crazy. It’s just like if I lived in the outskirts of a large city, but NOT TECHNICALLY WITHIN THE CITY, I would still say I lived in that city because I live in that general area although I would not technically be correct. Vatican City is surrounded by Rome and at least in that sense it’s in the Rome, ruled by the Bishop of Rome…
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (para. 1203) actually identifies seven rites - Maronite being the addition to your list of six.
Why should we label ourselves with a Church we are in communion with? If the argument is that we are in communion so we should use that name then why not call everyone Byzantine Catholic as you are in communion with us.
I don’t feel the need to provide any proof. I am telling you how I and almost every other Catholic does it.
Thank you! Yeah I’ve been a little confused about that because I’ve seen 23, 22, 6, 3, and now 7. I haven’t gotten that far in the Catechism yet so thank you!
No modifier is necessary. I just want to know what the official position on this is if any because I could see the argument go either way but no this doesn’t really matter. Catholicism is Catholicism, no matter what you call it.
I understand what you meant. I was speaking in a different sense.