"Western Catholics"?

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Aramis said:
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.
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I’ve been told by some of my fellow Greek Catholics (i.e. Byzantine Catholics) that the term “Eastern Catholic” should apply to us only, and not to Maronite Catholics, Chaldean Catholics, Coptic Catholics, etc. I don’t know if that’s the same as what you’re talking about, but I’ve heard it a number of times.
 
twf said:
It would appear that like most Americans, Peter, you forget that there is a vast country called Canada between the Lower 48 and Alaska - not the opean sea 😃
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😃
twf said:
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.
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Yes, I know what you mean.

I think it’s a similar vein that some people (although there are other reasons too) say “Eastern-Rite Catholics” rather than “Eastern Catholics” – although we ECs find the former term a bit problematic since it can make it sound like we are ‘just a different Rite’.
 
Peter_J said:
I’ve been told by some of my fellow Greek Catholics (i.e. Byzantine Catholics) that the term “Eastern Catholic” should apply to us only, and not to Maronite Catholics, Chaldean Catholics, Coptic Catholics, etc. I don’t know if that’s the same as what you’re talking about, but I’ve heard it a number of times.
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I guess the others could be called Oriental Catholic, because of their Oriental rites, but that might make it seem like they don’t accept Chalcedon, because of the association with the Oriental Orthodox.
 
Peter_J said:
I’ve been told by some of my fellow Greek Catholics (i.e. Byzantine Catholics) that the term “Eastern Catholic” should apply to us only, and not to Maronite Catholics, Chaldean Catholics, Coptic Catholics, etc. I don’t know if that’s the same as what you’re talking about, but I’ve heard it a number of times.
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I’ve heard/seen Maronites make the same complaint - they don’t want to be called “Eastern Catholics”, and aren’t all that thrilled with “Oriental” either, but prefer it to “Eastern”
 
As long as were united makes no difference if your East or West Catholic.
In my opinion that is.👍
 
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