whats the difference between roman catholic and catholic?

Question

is there any difference to start with?

so can i safely assume they have about the same belief ?

Answer 1

In everyday speak, they are one and the same. But in technical theological terms, a Roman Catholic is one who specifically subscribes to the doctrine of justification by grace and works as a central tenet. Catholicism is known as the "and" religion: grace and works, Scripture and tradition, Jesus and Mary, etc.

The word "catholic" means universal and applies to most Christians. Common beliefs include the Trinity, virgin birth, atonement of Christ and resurrection from the dead. There's complete agreement among denominations on these points.

Answer 2

The Catholic Church has consistently referred to itself as the “Catholic Church” at least since 107 C.E., 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.

Eastern Rite Catholic Churches include:

Alexandrian liturgical tradition
+ Coptic Catholic Church
+ Ethiopic Catholic Church

Antiochian (Antiochene or West-Syrian) liturgical tradition
+ Maronite Church
+ Syrian Catholic Church
+ Syro-Malankara Catholic Church

Armenian liturgical tradition:
+ Armenian Catholic Church

Chaldean or East Syrian liturgical tradition:
+ Chaldean Catholic Church
+ Syro-Malabar Church

Byzantine (Constantinopolitan) liturgical tradition:
+ Albanian Byzantine Catholic Church
+ Belarusian Greek Catholic Church
+ Bulgarian Greek Catholic Church
+ Byzantine Church of the Eparchy of Križevci
+ Greek Byzantine Catholic Church
+ Hungarian Greek Catholic Church
+ Italo-Albanian Catholic Church
+ Macedonian Greek Catholic Church
+ Melkite Greek Catholic Church
+ Romanian Church
+ Russian Byzantine Catholic Church
+ Ruthenian Catholic Church
+ Slovak Greek Catholic Church
+ Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

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

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13121a.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic

With love in Christ.

Answer 3

There is also the Eastern Orthodox, AKA Greek Orthodox. So "Roman" Catholic is a more precise term.

Answer 4

Roman Catholic means the Pope's church.

Here's the scoop:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_catholic

Answer 5

they both have the same faith the only way they differ from one another is casue us roman catholics show our support as the pope as the head bishop the bishop of rome in which makes him the highest catholic priest on earth

Answer 6

In America they are the same, but there are different types of Catholics in other countries.
Off the top of my head all I can think of are Greek Catholics.
Maybe also a Russian Othodox Catholic.

Answer 7

Just another title for the same religion.Catholics are ruled by the power of the pope in Rome.

Answer 8

i m italian and i can tell u that roman catholic and catholic are the same thing!
ps: i don t belive in God

Answer 9

They are both the same thing.
Don

Answer 10

They are both a part of false religion.