I think there are several issues here. The issue of it being Roman being used as pejorative, Roman being used as descriptive (Latin Rite or to reinforce where the Holy See resides), and being used to assert a claim to universality.
I think that most (Catholic or non-Catholic) don’t agree that its pejorative use is befitting Christian charity.
For many Catholics and non-Catholics like PCMaster, we used it as descriptive. For Catholics it was to distinguish the Rite. For non-Catholics it was to distinguish that they see a universality that is broader than Catholic understanding. There is no overt harm done in this use in most cases.
For some Catholics, unfortunately it is used as a hammer to denigrate our separated breathren. This too is not befitting of a Christian.
But for most it just who we see ourselves as- The Church ordained by Christ Himself with huge burdens and responsibilities for not only Catholics but all Christians and even non-Christians. We take this very seriously and with a great deal of humility.
For me I see the issue raised in this thread this way, let charity prevail.
Most Catholics now prefer just Catholic as we have a better grasp of our diversity of Rites. With the growing diversity in our cities of different Rites because of immigration that is no longer just European or Latino, we don’t want to appear to foster division where in fact it doesn’t exist. Until I got out of college, I never knew that a family, who attended my home parish that said proudly often they were Marronite, were really Catholic. I just thought they came to my parish because they liked us and I just looked down when I saw them going to Communion as I thought it inappropriate.
I totally understand where PCMaster is coming. However, I urge him to reconsider from charity.
I used to use the term “protestant” to describe all non-Catholic Christians. I have come to know that it is offensive to some as they don’t see them as protesting anything. I only saw it in the context of my Catholic vernacular that any denomination outside the Church contains an element of protest or opposition to the Catholic Church. Out of respect for my Christian breathren, I now only use Protestant if the context is clear that I’m only talking about those denominations who consider themselves Protestant and try to err on the side of just using non-Catholic Christian.
I think the moniker that Manny wants to pin on PCMaster is emblematic of this issue. You don’t consider yourself Protestant but he does. He insists on putting a label on you that you don’t think is accurate. He insists on doing so as he wants to describe you from a Catholic perspective. I understand your frustration PCMaster. But the shoe goes the other way, too. We should do our best to meet your wishes and we ask the same of you.
I am also quite comfortable using the proper name of denominations who call themselves “Apostolic”, “Bible”, “Church of Christ”, etc. despite the fact that I don’t agree w/ their theological assertions or potential implication that those who don’t belong are “non-Apostolic”, “non-Bible” or “non-Church of Christ.” I’m confortable because this is how they want to call themselves. I don’t read into it an assertion that those outside are “nons”.
Even if the members of those denominations really believe that we are “nons”, I will not insult them by calling them anything but what they want to be called. To do otherwise would be uncharitable.
PCMaster and others who think like PCMaster, I ask you with charity to not infer the worst by the words of some Catholics who drop “Roman” as a denigration of your denomination or your fear it is an implied assent to the claim of the Catholic Church of its unique place as specifically ordained by Christ. I just ask you to accept that we desire to be called this out of respect and charity. And in this charity, you are assuming the best of motives which is always a good thing.
