"Western Catholics"?

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Peter_J

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Just a thought: Western Catholics, how do you feel about being called … well, Western Catholics?
 
How do you feel about being called Eastern Catholic?

It’s not a big deal. It usually isn’t used in a derogatory way. And as long as it is not used as such, I have no qualms with it, as it is just an identifier.

It’s the same as if I’m called a white male. I have no problems with it, as it describes me, but if used in a derogatory way, then I find issue.
 
Any Catholics whom I know, and I myself, have never called or thought of ourselves as “Western Catholic”
We simply call ourselves “Catholic”, certainly in my country.
Therefore the question has never arisen.
I imagine that “non-Catholics” don’t think of themselves with that particular term also. 🙂
It’s a matter of perspective, perhaps?

God bless, Peter. 🙂
 
Trishie said:
Any Catholics whom I know, and I myself, have never called or thought of ourselves as “Western Catholic”
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Oddly enough, I myself have seldom said (or written) “Western Catholics”. Usually I’ve said “Roman-Rite Catholics” or “Latin Catholics”.
 
Who really cares, except those who love to argue on internet sites? Why not be concerned about more serious things, like public morality in the US going to hell in a handbasket with nobody yelling and screaming about it because they don’t want to be branded as a religious fanatic.
 
Oh… I thought this was a reference to Western World Catholics?
 
The term is a bit confusing because it could refer to Catholics of the Western World,I prefer Latin-Rite or Roman.
 
I know what you mean, RCIAGraduate. I myself have generally said either “Latin Catholics” or “Roman-Rite Catholics”. I prefer the former, since it includes them all (i.e. all members of the Latin Catholic Church), whereas “Roman-Rite Catholics” excludes Ambrosian-Rite Catholics, Bragan-Rite Catholics, etc. But I’ve also been finding that many people are confused about those 2 terms, which leads me to wonder if the term “Western Catholics” (like the term “Eastern Catholics”) would be better, practically speaking … 🙂
 
Doesn’t bother me in the least. If I had my way we would all be just Catholics, but I understand that some like to differentiate. I don’t see it as a derogatory term, if that is what you are asking.
 
“Western Catholic” is fine, as are Christian, Catholic, Western Christian, Latin Catholic, Roman Catholic. I usually self-identify as “Catholic” but may give more or less specificity depending on context (from what I am differentiating).

How do you feel about “Eastern Catholic,” Peter J.?
 
Sure. Works for me. Isn’t that what we are if we aren’t “Eastern Catholics”?

Besides, I’d rather be a Catholic in the free world rather than in the Eastern Bloc. 😛

Oh wait, we’re in 2013.
 
Peter_J said:
Just a thought: Western Catholics, how do you feel about being called … well, Western Catholics?
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I haven’t heard it used. I’ve heard Eastern Catholic and Roman Catholic, tho most Eastern Catholics I know say Latin Catholic, and Latin Church, not Roman…
 
Trishie said:
Any Catholics whom I know, and I myself, have never called or thought of ourselves as “Western Catholic”
We simply call ourselves “Catholic”
Click to expand...
I think it’s kind of like the term “continental United States”. I.e. if you live there you’re not likely to say “continental United States”, but you might if you live in Alaska or Hawaii.

Likewise, Latin Catholic are not likely to say or hear the terms “Latin Catholic”, “Western Catholic” or “Roman-Rite Catholic” … but Eastern Catholics do.
 
I’m not offended by the term “Western Catholic”, but I wouldn’t encourage its use. As far as I know, it is not used in any official capacity. It is, as other posters have noted, very confusing as to the modern world “Western” typically means the “Western World” and the Latin Church is by no means confined to Western culture (thanks to the missionary efforts of Europeans over the past several centuries). The Latin Church, as it exists in Africa, East Asia, or Latin America, while it does certainly have “Western” influence, is also greatly informed by the local very non-Western cultures. I’ve worshipped according to the Roman Rite in various lands and the variety of local spiritualities, informed by the local culture, is astounding.

I always identify as Latin Catholic - and when people look at me funny, I simply take a moment to explain what the term means. Most Latin Catholics don’t realize that what they identify as THE Catholic Church is really just the Latin Church…but Eastern Catholics need to be patient - when one Church comprises 98% of the communion, it is easy to assume you’re all there is… 😛
 
Peter_J said:
I think it’s kind of like the term “continental United States”. I.e. if you live there you’re not likely to say “continental United States”, but you might if you live in Alaska or Hawaii.
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Alaskan’s do NOT use the term - we use “Lower 48” instead. Why? Because we are on the continent.

Beware the presumptions - they can cause major issues in terminology.

Western Christians can be construed to mean Roman Rite, Galican Rite, and all the derivatives thereof, as well as the myriad protestant sects.

Western Catholics pretty much implies the assorted rites-minor of the Roman Church… but note that not all Churches’ members covered in the CCEO are comfortable being called “Eastern Christians”… there have been heated discussions in the past about that very issue.
 
If you say you’re Catholic where I live, you get the inevitable follow-up question: “Roman or Greek?” 😃
 
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