The Term "Roman Catholic"

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anima_Christi
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
40.png
DavidFilmer:
IMHO, this is a shortcoming within the Church. We ought to have an appropriate term to describe ourselves! Since we lack such a term, I suppose we have no right to complain.
Click to expand...
We did have an appropriate term to describe ourselves - Christian. Then all these other people started saying they were Christian too. So we thought OK we have to clarify and called ourselves Catholic - and other people started calling themselves catholic:eek: . The nerve of them stealing our name like that:whistle:
 
The term Roman Catholic was originally intended to be both heretical and pejoritive.

Heretical because it was to imply that there were valid and licit Catholic Churches that were not in union with and submission to the Bishop Rome, and pejoritive in the class, mentioned already above, of words such as “papist”, “popery”, “romish”, “romanism” etc.

The term is sadly becoming common place and accepted. This would be fine with me, a simple evolution of language, if not for the existence of the Eastern Catholic Churches, which I feel the term is very disrespectful towards.

They are all Catholic, in union with Rome (as all faithful Catholic Churches are…) but are not Roman Catholic…which is a term associated properly with the Latin Rite…though I admit that using it as such (ie, to designate the Latin Rite) is confusing and should not be done lightly…

I have no objection to, for example, the case of a town that had 2 parishes…one named “St. Joseph’s Byzantine Catholic Church” and the other named “St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church”. This use of “Roman Catholic” I think is fully acceptable, because there was no ambiguity and clear distinction of Eastern Rite/Latin Rite. It would be weird if it were called “St. Joseph’s Latin Catholic Church”…people would think they were radical traditionalists who say everything in latin…

But I am angered by the use in, say, my history textbook, of the term “the Roman Catholic Church” as if that were the official name of the entire institution. The Catholic Church is what she calls herself. Not “Roman Catholic”, which is the name for a single rite, like “Byzantine Catholic” or “Syro-Malabar Catholic”…but one which is confusing, and so I prefer “Latin Rite”…
 
40.png
Ter:
We did have an appropriate term to describe ourselves - Christian. Then all these other people started saying they were Christian too. So we thought OK we have to clarify and called ourselves Catholic - and other people started calling themselves catholic… The nerve of them stealing our name like that
Click to expand...
That’s really good! Except I think you got it backwards. First came other Catholics, then came other Christians.

I’m starting to warm up to “Papist.”
 
Fidei Defensor:
I like “Roman Catholic”, because it distinguishes our direct subordination to the Patriarch of Rome (the Pope). All the Eastern Catholic Churches are also (indirectly) subject to the Pope as Supreme Pontiff, but not as Patriarch. The Eastern Catholics have their own patriarchs. I think of “Roman Catholic” as a patriarchal term, not a blanket description for all Catholics.
Click to expand...
Thank you…thank you…thank you…my feeling exactly!
~ Kathy ~
 
I do not mind the term “Roman Catholic” and use it in my profile here.:yup:
 
Fidei Defensor:
I like “Roman Catholic”, because it distinguishes our direct subordination to the Patriarch of Rome (the Pope). All the Eastern Catholic Churches are also (indirectly) subject to the Pope as Supreme Pontiff, but not as Patriarch. The Eastern Catholics have their own patriarchs. I think of “Roman Catholic” as a patriarchal term, not a blanket description for all Catholics.
Click to expand...
But that’s not how it’s understood.
There should be a Patriarch of the Latin Rite AND a Supreme Pontiff of the entire Church. The two offices should not be held by the same person as is the case now. This would makeit clear that the Latin rite is one Rite among many, even though it is by far the biggest.

And no, I don’t like “Roman Catholic”. Maybe “Apostolic Catholic”?
 
40.png
DavidFilmer:
IMHO, this is a shortcoming within the Church. We ought to have an appropriate term to describe ourselves! Since we lack such a term, I suppose we have no right to complain.
Click to expand...
We do have a term, it is the correct name for the Church and the term is “The Catholic Church”.
 
I just use the term “Catholic”. If necessary to specify further, I’ll say “Latin-Rite Catholic”. In my experience, non-Catholics who use the term “Roman Catholic” have no idea that there are various rites within the Catholic Church – they use “Roman Catholic” to indicate anyone who belongs to a church in communion with Rome. I consider the term somewhat derogatory, myself; hence I use just “Catholic”.
 
Anima Christi:
Does anyone else dislike the term “Roman Catholic”? Personally, I *hate *that term–it’s just Catholic! Not *Roman *Catholic. The Catholic Church never calls herself the “Roman Catholic Church” but only “the Catholic Church.” If I understand correctly, this term was invented by Anglicans after the Protestant Reformation. It implies that there are Catholic churches besides the one, Catholic and apostolic church in communion with the See of St. Peter in Rome. And I’ve also noticed that Catholics usually just say “Catholic” but non-Catholics, especially high-church Protestants and Orthodox always say “Roman Catholic.” I know I’m on a rant, but it is like scratching a chalkboard whenever I hear it. Does anyone feel similarly?
Click to expand...
I actually happen to love the term “Roman” Catholic because of my particular fondness for ancient Rome. Infact, understanding the Roman Republic helps tremendously in understanding not only why the Catholic Church is the way it is, but also why such a deep rift exists between Orthodox and Latin-rite operations.

A thorough explanation would be too long, but basically the Romans were very traditionally minded individuals. The Romans were very conservative and when changes were proposed, they would have to be viewed in the light of what the Roman Fathers did. This is the difference between Julius Caesar and Octavius. While both were emperors, Julius Caesar was killed because he blatantly went against the tradition of the Roman Republic, while Augustus manipulated the Repulican system to, in effect, make him emperor while presenting the appearance of carrying on the traditions of the ancients. Julius was killed, Augustus was hailed.

Furthermore, the Romans were very legalistic and if you observe the practices of the Latin-rite Church and the Eastern Orthodox, this difference becomes apparent in how worship and theology is approached.

In either event, as I am a big fan of ancient Rome, I am proud to call myself a Roman Catholic 🙂
 
This is a little tough. I agree with the sentiments expressed by Ignatius and didymus. I think we should all be known as simply Catholic, but unfortunately, when the world thinks Catholic it thinks Roman Catholic. So I guess we have to make the distinction.
Ethnically, I’m a mutt. So in that sense I like the term Roman Catholic. So my faith, my “Roman,” is a big part of my identity, my culture. I also like Roman when I’m discussing matters of faith with my children. I think it conveys a sense of history, stability and authenticity… that church written about in the Book of Romans.

Jim
 
40.png
Jayson:
I prefer Latin-rite Catholic.
Click to expand...
:yup:

me too! id prefer Latin Rite Catholic or i belong to the Latin Catholic Church.

If i will say that i am a Catholic then maybe somebody will ask me," if in eastern or western rite"😉 ?
 
It’s my belief that ‘Roman’ Catholics live in Rome. 😛
Now I don’t, and I’ve never even been there. But I am an American Catholic or a Kansas Catholic and even an Annunciation Parish Catholic. 👍

As you can see, I don’t like the NAME.

Kotton :rolleyes:
 
Fr Ambrose:
Well, judging by the numerous church signs in front of churches which proclaim “St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church”, they must have lots of little colonies all around the world 😃

http://www.stm-cc.org/images/front-sign2.gif
Click to expand...
Aha! I’m not the only one who noticed! Used to think the UN , the Bilderbergers, Skull and Bones, Bohemian Grove and Hollywood were outposts of the headquarters of the conspiracy to tak over the world.

Now I find out it the Catholic Church. Which doesn’t even call itself that. Which has many names. Or so “Catholics” say.

My 80 yr old neighbor brings me over soup now and then. Lithuanian. Devout Catholic. The soup has a taste unlike any soup I’ve had before…thought it was some Baltic state seasoning…now I’m not so sure…
 
40.png
mike182d:
I actually happen to love the term “Roman” Catholic because of my particular fondness for ancient Rome. Infact, understanding the Roman Republic helps tremendously in understanding not only why the Catholic Church is the way it is, but also why such a deep rift exists between Orthodox and Latin-rite operations.

A thorough explanation would be too long, but basically the Romans were very traditionally minded individuals. The Romans were very conservative and when changes were proposed, they would have to be viewed in the light of what the Roman Fathers did. This is the difference between Julius Caesar and Octavius. While both were emperors, Julius Caesar was killed because he blatantly went against the tradition of the Roman Republic, while Augustus manipulated the Repulican system to, in effect, make him emperor while presenting the appearance of carrying on the traditions of the ancients. Julius was killed, Augustus was hailed.

Furthermore, the Romans were very legalistic and if you observe the practices of the Latin-rite Church and the Eastern Orthodox, this difference becomes apparent in how worship and theology is approached.

In either event, as I am a big fan of ancient Rome, I am proud to call myself a Roman Catholic 🙂
Click to expand...
As a lover of ancient Roman civilization myself, I feel it necessary to make a correction to your post. Gaius Julius Caesar was never Emperor. He was Imperator, and he was named Dictator for life, but he was NEVER an Emperor. The first Emperor was Octavius, his nephew, who took the name Augustus. It’s true that the name Caesar became synonymous with the Emperor (“Caesar” is the root word for the Russian “Czar” and the German “Kaiser”) but Julius himself was never declared, nor did he ever declare himself to be Emperor.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top