what does roman catholic mean?

Question

from colonial tome to present time. did it change

Answer 1

+ Catholic +

Catholic means universal.

The three (non-Jewish) Magi visiting the baby Jesus was one of the first signs that Christianity would reach out to the entire world.

Later Jesus treated non-Jews like Romans and Samaritans with dignity and respect. In consequence, these Romans and Samaritans became some of the first Christians.

After Jesus' Resurrection, more and more Gentiles became believers and the Apostles decided under the influence of the Holy Spirit that they did not have to convert to Judaism to become Christians.

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

Wherever the bishop appear, there let the multitude be; even as wherever Christ Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church.

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/ignatius-smyrnaeans-hoole.html

All of this was long before the Council of Nicea and the Nicene Creed from 325 A.D. which states, "We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church."

+ Roman Catholic +

The term "Roman" Catholic is rather recent.

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.

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

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

confused