what is the difference between Roman Catholic and Catholic?

Question

im curious
i hear they are both the same
but i wonder why is roman added to it

Answer 1

The terms are the same.

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 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.

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

There are different Catholic churchs...the Eastern Orthodox and the Greek Orthodox being two I believe, but I know there are more. I wish I could explain it better. The Catholic church, as a whole, has split into factions as many churches have over time. The Roman Catholic church is believed to be the first "official" church and wielded great power in the early days of the church. There are many differences in Roman Catholic church (so named I suppose because it came about in Rome, lol) in the Catholic church today and the original church.

The Skeptical Christian
Grace and Peace
Peg

Answer 3

Pastor Billy says: they are the same. Roman was added at the time of the Protestant Reformation by first Protesters who wanted to retain the charism or title of Catholic for themselves. To distinguish their new communities from the one Catholic Church that had always existed in the west they started calling those Catholics who remained loyal to the teaching authority of the bishop of Rome as.......Roman Catholic and popish. Both titles were also meant to be derogatory by the zealot-like element amongst the reformers. Today's Catholics embrace the title because it clearly identifies where to find the original Catholic Christians.

Finally remember the early Christian creeds Nicene and Apostles. The Apostles Creed was originally the baptismal rite in the Roman Church in it Christians profess a belief in the.........Catholic Church which many Protestants today day still recite yet do not practise.

Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox are not that good at expressing both confess to be Catholic and Orthodox.
Protestants are no longer Catholic or catholic or catlik (for all the jokers who thunk they are funny)

Now "Can I get an, Amen?"

Answer 4

"Catholic" in simple terms means "all." All Christians are catholic, yet purely some (properly, a lot) are Roman Catholic. There are numerous different church homes that use the observe "catholic" of their call, incluidng Ukrainian Catholic, Anglo-Catholic, or perhaps Lutheran Catholic. some are reminiscent of the RC church, some in communion with it, mutually as others are distinctive, and not in communion. The "Roman" in Roman Catholic means you're under the Latin Church, of which the Bishop of Rome is the top. it truly is termed Roman by fact the Pope is the Bishop of Rome, and the authority is concentrated in Rome. different church homes artwork truly in yet in a distinctive way, and a superb form of have not got a considered necessary authority parent by fact the RC's do.

Answer 5

Wow- so many people have so little idea of what they're talking about! Of course, Catholicism is a subset of Christianity. We say Catholic to mean Roman Catholic because the vast majority of Catholics are R.C.
The Eastern Orthodox Church is also a type of Catholicism.
The White-Robed Benedictine Catholics are a asperate sect, and so are "independent Catholics".

Answer 6

Interesting comments and answers...

I will base my views on this tenet:
*The Catholic Church was established by Christ Himself; It was, it is, and ever shall be. In agreement with Dave P., it is universal. Thus, any deviation from, would be considered to be a denomination:
denomination -1398, "a naming," from L. denominationem (nom. denominatio) "a calling by anything other than the proper name, metonymy," from denominare "to name," from de- "completely" + nominare "to name."

In addition, the Catholic Church is the only Church that practices ALL of the sacraments established by Christ. Non-Catholic Christians do not accept every Sacrament and choose which are the most important to them and in some cases, may only practice two at the most. Again, making the Protestant forms of Christianity a denomination.

Because it is the first Church, Catholicism cannot be a subset of itself.

Answer 7

Roman is a rite within the Catholic Church:
http://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/catholic_rites_and_churches.htm

Answer 8

Roman Catholic is based in Rome. Then there is the Greek orthodox based in Greece.

Answer 9

In the early days of Christianity, the church split between Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic. The main differences arose in whether the Pope was infallible.

The Easter Orthodox Church allowed many denominations to flourish similar to what we have today in Protestants.

Because the Roman Catholic Church decreed that they were the *true* church, they proceeded to massacre all Jews and other heretics. They burned them together with their Torahs and Talmuds in synagogues.
.

Answer 10

Catholic actually means universal. This is why even protestants use the creedal statement "I believe in one holy, catholic, and apostolic church." The roman catholic church is that part of the universal christian church that is headquartered in Rome. (as opposed to the various orthodox churches which arose east of Rome).