What is the difference between a Catholic and a Roman Catholic?

Answer 1

The Catholic Church has consistently referred to itself as the “Catholic Church” at least since 107 AD, when the term appears in the writings of St. Ignatius of Antioch

The 'new' Anglican Church in England started using the term “Roman” in the 1500s as one of many ways of demeaning and demonizing Catholics.

Catholics accepted this late coming adjective without too much protest. Today “Catholic” and “Roman Catholic” are interchangeable terms. Both terms are even used in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

To add a little more confusion, some apply the term “Roman Catholic Church” only to the Latin Rite Catholic Church, excluding the Eastern Rite Catholic Churches that are in full communion with the Pope, and are part of the same Church, under the Pope.

The term “Roman” neither increases nor decreases the faith, hope and love of the Catholic Church.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

The word Catholic means all embracing. The attachment of the word "Roman," was a perjorative. You cannot qualify the word "all" or it ceases being "all." It was intended as an insult by Protestants.

Catholics however have taken it up in the sense that a slap in the face is an honor for the Lord.

In a more modern sense, Catholics do at times distinguish between Catholics of the 23 independent churches that make up the Catholic Church for mental convenience. So for example, a Byzantine Catholic in the US is simply a Catholic like any other, except the service was derived from the service written by James instead of the service written by Peter. They are highly similar but still very different. A Catholic who always attended a service in the form of the Roman rite, which is derived from the services of Peter and the services used in the Gallican Church, might get a culture shock if they attended a service written by James the apostle and were not expecting it. Likewise, the Thomas Christians who are Catholics whose Churches were founded by Thomas the Apostle have services unlike the Roman service.

There are two answers for this.

One is that all Catholics are simply Catholic and that such a qualifier is technically improper unless one happens to be a resident of Rome as opposed to a New York Catholic would be a Catholic from the City or State of New York.

The second answer is that it is a convenient method for Catholics to talk with one another about the independent self-governing Churches within the whole Church. It is an accident of history, but sometimes those accidents hold a positive anyway.

Answer 3

Catholicm is broken down into two two rites: the Western Rite and the Eastern Rite. The Western rite has only one Church which is the Roman Catholic Church. The Eastern Rites has around 22 Catholic Churches. Some of these include the Coptic Catholic Church and the Russian Byzantine Catholic Church. The differences lie in the customs. Eastern Rite Churches are known for their orthodoxy as well as allowing priests to be married. However both rites recognize the Pope.

So overall, the short answer is a Roman Catholic is only part of the whole Catholic Church. It is only one out of 23 different Catholic Churches, it is however the largest one. All in all, the churches are all the same, the description before just explains the style in which Mass is celebrated.

PS An Irish Catholic is a Roman Catholic.

Answer 4

I typed in Catholic vs Roman Catholic on google and got the link below. The differences are lengthy, so you'll have to read it yourself. Starts out:

"This question has been asked many times. Most Orthodox, in attempting to distinguish between Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism, usually mention the Pope or Purgatory, sometimes the filioque. Historically, the differences, however, are far more numerous and quite profound.

Also, in modern times, since Vatican II of thirty years ago, that major, if not tragic attempt, to "update" Roman Catholicism (e.g., the revision of canon law), the differences between Orthodoxy and the followers of the Pope have widened."

And heres a few of the easy ones:
"The Orthodox do not fast on Saturday (except Holy Saturday) or Sunday. Roman Catholics experience no such restriction.
Orthodox do not kneel on Sunday; Roman Catholics do. Orthodox have no "Stations of The Cross;" Roman Catholics do.
Orthodox presbyters and deacons may marry before ordination; Roman Catholic clergy are celibate.
Orthodox worship towards the East; Roman Catholics, not necessarily.
In the Orthodox Liturgy, the "bread" of the Eucharist is "leavened" (zyme); in the Roman Catholic Mass it is "unleavened" (azyme).
The Orthodox faithful receive both the "body" and "blood of Christ" in Holy Communion; Roman Catholics receive only the "bread," a wafer.
There are no orders of Orthodox monks (male and female) as there is among Roman Catholics (Jesuits, Dominicans, Benedictines, Cistericans, etc.). More recently, many Roman Catholic monks and nuns have put away their traditional habits.
Orthodox clergy wear beards; Papist clergy are generally beardless.
There are many other differences, often the product of culture. Also, it is noteworthy that many of these differences, whether profound or not, do not apply to the contemporary religious situation. Ecumenism has brought great confusion, so that it is not always easy to say with any precision what Roman Catholics believe, while so-called Orthodox have abandoned the traditional teachings of the Church."

Answer 5

By Definition catholic means universal. Many Christian churchs use the word to mean they are part of a universal church. Roman Catholic is the church presided over by the Bishop of Rome.

Answer 6

Catholics are split into Irish and Roman and I think there are some others. The most common is Roman Catholic which I am but we just call it Catholic for short.

Answer 7

there is a difference... catholic is another word for christian belief, the undivided, ancient belief in Christ

Roman Catholic is a specific branch of Christian faith, with specific practises and procedures of worship

here's the Merriam Webster definitions:


catholic:(adjective): 1 a often capitalized : of, relating to, or forming the church universal b often capitalized : of, relating to, or forming the ancient undivided Christian church or a church claiming historical continuity from it
2 : COMPREHENSIVE, UNIVERSAL;

Catholic (noun): 1 : a person who belongs to the universal Christian church
2 : a member of a Catholic church; especially : ROMAN CATHOLIC

Roman Catholic (adjective); of, relating to, or being a Christian church having a hierarchy of priests and bishops under the pope, a liturgy centred in the Mass, veneration of the Virgin Mary and saints, clerical celibacy, and a body of dogma including transubstantiation and papal infallibility

Roman Catholic (noun): a member of the Roman Catholic Church

Answer 8

.Yeah, totally no difference. There are Irish Catholics, but they practice the Roman Catholic religion, dig? The Catholics basically just gave they're christian beliefs a living figurehead, the Pope. That is all. Catholisism is practiced world-wide, but all have the same hierarchy. deacons, priests, monks, cardinals and all lead up to the Pope in ROME. (not positive about the order, but you didn't ask about that anyway.)

Answer 9

the word catholic means ' univeral' and is used in the 'apostles creed' as such this creed is used by anglican churches and others who would hardly describe themseves as Roman Catholic. in reality the creed waqs included by the church at the Council Of Nicea in the 6th century........................... aren't all protestant churches descended from the catholics from the 16th century (luther , calvin etc) onward with many variations on a theme.

Answer 10

None whatsoever...Roman was dropped as the precurser when it was not seen as prudent to be aligned with Rome..ie During Mussalini's fascist regime.