By some people I hear the term Roman Catholic and by others Catholic, are there so many different types of?

Question

Catholics out there that there is a reason to distinguish some as Roman Catholic (unless they are indeed from Rome). I mean I don't hear of Polish Catholics, or Russian Orthodox Catholics, or Greek Catholics, etc. And while some may say they are called Roman Catholics because the Vatican is in Rome, the Vatican is not in Rome, it's in Vatican City - a country in and of itself. Therefore they should be called Vatican Catholics.

Not trying to stir things up, just curious why some people tend to call Catholics "Roman Catholic" while others just call them Catholic.

drwooguy: I can see where Catholics = Christians, but Jews absolutely do NOT equal Muslims, and the word Atheist means NOT a theist, not all the rest of the theists rolled together. Despite what else you wrote, I stopped reading after your first statement.

Answer 1

I use the terms to be specific. If I am speaking of Papal Catholicism in accord with the Vatican Councils, I say "Roman Catholic." If I am speaking of Papal Catholicism that rejects the Vatican II reforms, I say, "Old Catholic." If I am speaking of Patriarchal Catholicism, I'll speak of the specific denomination of the Patriarch to which I refer, such as "Greek Orthodox" or "Russian Orthodox," as these have distinct differences in teaching. If I am speaking of the unifying dogmas across the various Catholic faiths, such as Transubstantiation, then I use the generic (as I just did).

There is sufficient distinction between the various Catholic churches to warrant being precise in one's meaning.

Answer 2

There were a couple of splits in the Catholic Church. The first major split happened around 1000 AD, with the Eastern branch of the church becoming what is now known as the Eastern Orthodox Church. The use of the term Roman Catholic is used within the Catholic Church to differentiate between the Western Catholic Church, and the Eastern Catholic Church, from my understanding. The various Orthodox Churches are not considered part of the Catholic Church, Eastern or Western (Latin).

The 'catholic' church, means 'universal', where the 'Catholic Church', means the church lead by the Pope. The lower case can be applied to any orthodox Christian church.

Vatican City is contained within the city limits of the city of Rome.

I think that in the West, the terms Catholic and Roman Catholic are likely intended by the user to mean the same thing.

Answer 3

There was a time there were two Popes. I believe the Constantinople was the other seat. There are a lot of orders of Catholicism that you seldom if ever hear of. Kalil Gebran, Author of 'The Profit' and 'Jesus Son of Man', was of the Marion Catholic Church.

I hate people who cut and paste but the following from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_%28disambiguation%29, will answer some of the disambiguation you've received in your answers. There is a lot of additional information as well.

The Roman Catholic Church, often called simply the "Catholic Church", is made up of twenty-three particular Churches which are all in full communion with the See of Rome, headed by the Pope, also known as the Bishop of Rome.

The Eastern Orthodox Church also identifies as "Catholic", as in the title of The Longer Catechism of the Orthodox, Catholic, Eastern Church known also as The Catechism of St. Philaret.

The Old Catholic Church, the Polish National Catholic Church, the Orthodox Catholic Church, and other independent Catholic Churches incorporate the term "Catholic Church" in their name.

Other Christian denominations identify explicitly as "Catholic", based on their affirmation of the Nicene Creed, but do not include the term in their proper names (as, for example, within Anglicanism and Lutheranism).

Where "catholic church" is interpreted as encompassing all Christians, most Christian denominations will describe themselves as "catholic" and understand in this sense their affirmation, in the Nicene Creed and/or the Apostles' Creed, of belief in the 'One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church'.

According to an Anglican theological concept called the Branch Theory, the "Catholic Church" is an entity consisting of three "branches" of Catholic and Apostolic Christianity: the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Anglican Communion. Neither the Catholic nor the Orthodox Church accept this theory, nor is it official Anglican doctrine.

Answer 4

Roman Catholics are the oldest Catholics. they were they only Catholics until 1054 when the Greek Orthodox broke away. The word Catholic mean Universal, The Roman in front of it is there because that is where the head of the Church sets. It is the place Where St. Peter is Buried and the Pope now lives. But the Name Roman Catholic is Just referring to the oldest first Catholic Church there is.

Answer 5

All Catholics are Roman Catholic. The reason it is called Roman Catholicism is because it became the official religion of the Roman empire. However Orthodox is a different path.

Answer 6

A lot of it's just cultural rather than any difference to beliefs.

An Irish catholic is exactly the same faith as a Roman catholic from Australia. But an Irish priest will always have a different style.

Answer 7

Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox.... Yeah, several forms of "Catholic".

They say Roman Catholic to differentiate themselves from the others. You likely haven't run into any of the others, they are not common here in the states.

It's called Roman Catholic because it arose during and was associated with the Roman Empire, not because the head of the Church is headquartered in/near Rome.

The word catholic means "universal".

Answer 8

i'm not sure why they say one sometimes and the other at other times. the 'correct' title would be Roman Catholic as it all falls under the Vatican.. in Rome

but Catholic is what most people in many of the regions of the US call it, whether they go there or not...

catholic doesnt = christian tho.... and christian does not = catholic

some people in the catholic church are born again, but many are not.... my motherinlaw says she is catholic, not christian???? what the heck?

but it is like that in every church... people think they just have to sit in a pew once a week and they are 'set' for the week.... but that is not what the bible says... it isnt about a church.. it is about Jesus and having a relationship with Him

Answer 9

I think some people just use Roman Catholic and some use Catholic.

gw

Answer 10

Roman Catholic = western Catholic
Orthodox = eastern Catholic

At least in the US. That is mostly how/why people make the distinction. This is oversimplification and there are other branches, but this is how I see the distinction made most often.