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7_Sorrows
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do you mean the whole faith as in universal? i was always taught there was the word Catholic with the large C and the word catholic with the small c.
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Bluegoat
Guest
I have often thought a cassock might be ok for hot weather if made of the right fabric (NOT polyester) and if worn without street clothing underneath. But most men I have talked to are not very comfortable with that idea. The colour would be a challenge though - do priests in hot places ever wear white instead?
I think it’s generally a good idea for priests to wear some sort of badge of their profession so that they are identifiable, though I don’t think it needs to be a cassock. And since a priest is, in a way, on duty all the time, I think there is a good argument for it to be his regular dress.
I do think there are times when it may be inappropriate - just like police detectives and undercover cops don’t wear a uniform, there are situations where the priest might better fulfill his duties without it. And I am inclined to think someone on vacation should have the option - priests can really get in a place where they need some time without people constantly asking them for things.
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FrDavid96
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I think you meant to type “I was always taught” and not “i was always taught” ???
It makes no difference though, the meaning comes across perfectly clear. There’s no difference whatsoever. Even though “i” *should *be capitalized, the lack of capitalization does not in any way change the meaning of what you typed. You aren’t two different people, of course.
The word Catholic comes from the Greek; from kath and holos. Kath meaning faith (or belief, or teaching–it means “what is handed-down” or “taught”) and holos meaning whole. It’s an interresting word, because it has a double meaning.
On the one hand, it means the “faith of the whole” It’s the universal faith. It doesn’t belong to any one region or nationality, or any other distinction. It’s universal. Indeed, the two phrases, “the universal Church” and “the Catholic Church” mean exactly the same thing.
It also means the “whole faith” meaning the Christian faith in its entirety, and without any part omitted.
The catholic faith means all of the faith, so that means that it is impossible for one to reject essential beliefs of the catholic faith (such as the Petrine ministry, the universal jurisdiction of the Pope, the teachings of all the eccumenical councils, the necessity of the priesthood, and the necessity of an unbroken Apostolic succession, to name but a few examples) and yet still claim to be “catholic.”
There is no difference between Catholic and catholic. The two words mean exactly the same thing. That’s merely a modern language-device to artificially make a distinction which does not, and indeed cannot exist. In the English language, Catholic is a proper noun. As such, in contemporary English, it gets capitalized. That’s all–there’s no more meaning beyond that. There is no such thing as the “catholic church” being in any way (not even the slightest way) different from “the Catholic Church”–it’s just a matter of hitting the “shift” key. i am sure you see what i mean.
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Aramis
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Actually, per Catholic Teaching, only Bishops can bind and loose… priests may absolve and forgive, a different role. Bishops may declare a specific item sinful or not (bound or loosed); priests may only forgive and absolve sins.
But not only Catholic priests; also Orthodox priests. See canon law for the details.
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Mel_Stones
Guest
This is similar to a thought I had recently. My parish (for a couple of reasons) had a new priest assigned a year and a half ago who was then replaced a year later. I started wondering who checks if the new priest was really sent for the Bishop. How do we know the guy who shows up is for real? What if he was an impersonator?
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FickleFreckled
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The bishop approves parish assignments, even when the priests are from religious orders.
However, that brings up a similar topic: impersonator Catholic parishes. Not to cause even more trouble, but there are churches that put out signs calling themselves “Roman Catholc” when they aren’t. They’re break-aways or new ones altogether. There’s a small one just a few blocks from my parish, in an old Protestant church building. Their sign describes them as Roman Catholic. They’re listed in the phone book as Roman Catholic. It’s not against the law; they can call themselves anything they want. Our former pastor warned about them during a homily and let parishioners know that they weren’t simply a small Catholic church for Traditionalists, which is apparently how they were billing themselves and attracting people.
Whether it’s clergy, religious or even a church, if you’re in doubt, call the diocese and ask or look it up on the diocesan website. The world’s gotten to be a really weird place.
Dioceses have internet and printed directories, too.
However, that brings up a similar topic: impersonator Catholic parishes. Not to cause even more trouble, but there are churches that put out signs calling themselves “Roman Catholc” when they aren’t. They’re break-aways or new ones altogether. There’s a small one just a few blocks from my parish, in an old Protestant church building. Their sign describes them as Roman Catholic. They’re listed in the phone book as Roman Catholic. It’s not against the law; they can call themselves anything they want. Our former pastor warned about them during a homily and let parishioners know that they weren’t simply a small Catholic church for Traditionalists, which is apparently how they were billing themselves and attracting people.
Whether it’s clergy, religious or even a church, if you’re in doubt, call the diocese and ask or look it up on the diocesan website. The world’s gotten to be a really weird place.
Dioceses have internet and printed directories, too.
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mystified
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Neither a cassock nor a Roman collar makes a priest. Some religious orders wear similar attire, and there are a number of non-catholic groups whose clergy, on occasion, wear these items of clothing. Of course it is a dead giveaway if the “Father” in clericals is a woman…[edited].
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Bluegoat
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You were taught correctly, for practical purposes. Your question, however, also gets into the theology of what the Church is.
On a purely day to day level, Catholic, as in Roman Catholic or Eastern Catholic, is a proper name. So it is capitalized, like other proper names; New York, Mary, or whatever.
The word catholic means universal, which is how much (not all) of Christianity understands itself - Christianity is meant to be the religion of all people. In this sense, almost all churches consider themselves catholic. Some churches use the word in this way only - some share the sentiment but do not use the word catholic.
Many of the churches who tend to deliberately use the work catholic, however, tend to mean a bit more than that - they see themselves very much as part of, or constituting the whole of, the Church which has existed since the beginning, instituted by Christ. Many recognize apostolic succession in some form. Catholics, under the Pope clearly fall into this, seeing themselves, and the Orthodox, as constituting the whole of the Church. The Orthodox, though they tend to use the word orthodox, also recognize themselves as catholic - they believe they alone constitute the entirety of the Church. As well, Lutherans and Anglicans fall into this group - the reformers in those churches did not see themselves as breaking away or starting a new church, but rather reforming the catholic Church. Historically their view on Catholics and the Orthodox has varied somewhat. There are some others in this group too.
So as you can see, Catholics consider themselves to be catholic, and exclude Protestants from this, but many Protestants also claim to be catholic and believe in a catholic Church… The Orthodox, on the other hand, say they are all just Protestants
Clear as mud?
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FrCorey
Guest
I read about a case in Arizona years ago were a impersonator worked as a priest for years before they caught him. there was a lot less of this a long time ago when our holy rite books were not sold to just anyone.
some orthodox churches still teach only in person, like in the old days.
to learn the way of the priests, you must be taught by a priest. I get asked a lot to loan out my rite books, and I politely refuse.
like my main sacramentary, it’s Holy because it’s used in mass, and should be treated as a Holy object.
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FrCorey
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yes, if you are unsure, call the diocese office.
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Aramis
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First question to ask: Which diocese and who is the bishop?
A quick trip to the library later and you can check that the bishop listed is the same one shown on the USCCB.org website.
Ask clergymen you don’t know to see their clerical ID card. At least in Alaska, all of the Catholic priests and deacons are issued one. It shows their affiliation with the diocese, and their name and photo. (I’ve even seen a priest asked for it by a sacristan. Sacristan didn’t know the new circuit priest, and hadn’t been warned. So, he asked.)
A quick trip to the library later and you can check that the bishop listed is the same one shown on the USCCB.org website.
Ask clergymen you don’t know to see their clerical ID card. At least in Alaska, all of the Catholic priests and deacons are issued one. It shows their affiliation with the diocese, and their name and photo. (I’ve even seen a priest asked for it by a sacristan. Sacristan didn’t know the new circuit priest, and hadn’t been warned. So, he asked.)
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Ghoti
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FrCorey
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