What is a Catholic and a Roman Catholic?

Answer 1

.

Catholic AnswerRoman is an epithet first commonly used in England after the protestant revolt to describe the Catholic Church. It is rarely used by the Catholic Church. Basically, the English "Church" which was started by Henry VIII, and formally founded by Parliament under Elizabeth I, has tried to describe itself (at least some of its members) as "Anglo-Catholic", and Roman as the Catholics who owe allegiance to the Bishop of Rome, otherwise known as the Pope.

.

A Catholic Dictionary, edited by Donald Attwater mentions that "Roman Catholic" was originally used by English speaking non-Catholics for members of the Catholic Church. The problem, of course, is that many people, even Catholics, confuse "Roman Catholic" with Latin-Rite Catholic as opposed to Byzantine, Armenian, Chaldean, Coptic, Ethiopic, Malabar, Maronite and Syrian. This is a little confused as the Latin Rite is technically the Roman Rite but only when those two words are joined "Roman-Rite". Every Catholic, of whatever Rite looks to the Holy Father in Rome as the Vicar of Christ. Attwater concludes "But its use by Catholics is unnecessary and, having regard to its connotation for many non-Catholics, sometimes to be avoided. Basically, the term "Roman Catholic" was coined as a put-down, a slur: something which most Catholics today do not even know. Catholic, on the other hand:

.

from Modern Catholic Dictionary by John A. Hardon, S.J. Doubleday & Co., Inc. Garden City, NY 1980

Catholic. It's original meaning of "general" or "universal" has taken on a variety of applications in the course of Christian history. First used by St. Ignatius of Antioch (A.D. 35-107) ( Letter to the Smyrneans, 8, 2), it is now mainly used in five recognized senses: 1. The Catholic Church as distinct from Christian ecclesiastical bodies that do not recognize the papal primacy; 2. The Catholic faith as the belief of the universal body of the faithful, namely, that which is believed "everywhere, always , and by all" (Vincentian Canon); 3. Orthodoxy as distinguished from what is heretical or schismatical; 4. The undivided Church before the Eastern Schism of 1054; thereafter the Eastern Church has called itself orthodox, in contrast with those Christian bodies which did not accept the definitions of Ephesus and Chalcedon on the divinity of Christ.

In general, today the term "Catholic" refers to those Christians who profess a continued tradition of faith and worship and who hold to the Apostolic succession of bishops and priest since the time of Christ. (Etym. Latin catholicus, universal; Greek katholikos, universal.)

Answer 2

The roman catholic church is basically a religion that is the main branch of Christianity. Unlike Byzantine catholics the roman catholics dont believe in idols. There are about 1,135,729,000 catholics in the world according to the most recent census.

Clarification:

Catholicism is not a branch of Christianity. It isChristianity, the first Christian Church as founded by Christ. All other churches calling themselves Christian either split from Catholicism or split from other Protestant denominations. Byzantine Catholics are in union with Rome and true Catholics and do not use idols but more commonly use icons rather than statues in decorating their churches.

Answer 3

CATHOLIC ANSWER:

The term "Roman Catholic" is historically a distinction created by non-Catholic Christians -- around the time of the Protestant Reformation in the 15th Century AD -- who view themselves as catholic (small "c"). The Catholic Church, however, does not now, nor has She ever, identified Herself as "Roman Catholic" because such a distinction would be technically false. The term: "Roman Catholic" implies that the Latin/Western Rite of The Catholic Church constitutes The Catholic Church/community when in fact the Catholic Church includes several other Rites/sects as well, i.e., Eastern Rite, Byzantine Rite, Maronite and several others. The Latin/Western Rite, however, is, by far, the largest Rite/sect within The Catholic Church. All Catholic Church Rites agree on all matters of faith & morals. They differ, primarily and essentially, in their cultural practices. In addition, the term "Roman Catholic" implies, or may imply, falsely that Rome Italy or the Italian Government somehow has authority over the Catholic Church when in fact, it does not.

For an extensively documented and authoritative Catholic explanation of the term: "Roman Catholic", please see: New Advent (2) link below. For an extensively documented & authoritative Catholic explanation of the term "catholic" please see: (New Advent link below)

The term: "catholic" as explained below seems essentially correct to me, as a Catholic.

The term "Roman Catholic" as explained below is a non-Catholic viewpoint.

Please also see: (Wiki link below)

Note: Referring to a Catholic by the term "Roman Catholic" is considered a religious slur by most Catholics.

Protestant Answer

Contrary to the above answers, the term 'catholic' (with a small 'c') means 'universal'. The word derives from the Greek καθολικός (katholikos), meaning 'universal', and denotes the whole of the Christian Church worldwide, and is the Church that professes Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and adheres to the teaching of the Nicene Creed as set down in the early catholic (again, small 'c') Church. The catholic Church worldwide includes Roman Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, Orthodox, Anglicans, Salvation Army, Pentecostals, Reformed, and allChristian Church denominations. It does not, however, include Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses as these groups follow a theology that is so far removed from conventional Christianity (eg by not accepting the divinity of Jesus) and so these groups, and others like them, are not included in the worldwide catholic Church.

The term Roman Catholic (or simply 'Catholic' with a large 'C') describes that remnant of the early church after several splits (eg the Great Schism, the Reformation etc) that still accepts the infallible leadership of the pope and is the part of the universal Church based at Rome. Many Roman Catholics would claim that the Roman Catholic Church is still the 'true' church (including the present pope) but almost all other denominations of the catholic (small 'c') Church reject certain doctrines that have crept in over the years and see them as heretical and contrary to scripture and the nature of the catholic (small 'c') Church as set up by Jesus Christ himself. That said, however, the Roman Catholic Church, despite its additional doctrines, still upholds the main and important tenets of the Christian Faith and is as much part of the worldwide Christian Church as any other denomination.

Answer 4

It depends in what sense...

The Roman Catholic Church is the catholic church and all it's members. The pope is the head of the church and we believe in the trinity and that Jesus s the son of God who died for our salvation.

A Roman Catholic Church is the building in which Catholics meet to celebrate mass and to be with God

Answer 5

This is a deep, complicated question. If you can find enough history to study, and not revisionist history, you will learn much of what is Roman Catholicism. It is made up of that organization's acts throughout history, as well as statements made. Some of the most enlightening are their statements made which are in conflict with generally believed positions of Christianity. This is a system I am referring to, and not to individuals within the organization.

Answer

The Church is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic.

.

Catholic Answer"Roman" Catholicism is a slang term for Catholicism, which is the only Christian Church founded by Our Blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ as His Way to be here to save all men throughout history. He guaranteed the Catholic Church until the end of the world, and sent the Holy Spirit to guide it always. The Catholic Church is the one that preserves the teaching of Our Blessed Lord and wrote it down. In other words, the Catholic Church is the author of The Bible in a very real sense, and certainly the one (with the Holy Spirit) who chose the books for the New Testament and preserved them for all these centuries. "Outside the Church there is no salvation" (see link below).

Answer 6

Roman Catholics are the sect of people who fall under the Roman Catholic Church under the leadership of the pope. They believe in the Holy Trinity and Virgin Mary as the Mother of God. Sunday is the sabbath day for them and ought to attend the Eucharist on that day.

Answer 7

Catholic AnswerThe Roman Catholic religion is the following of Jesus Christ and the worship of God. The term "Roman" is not found at all in the Catholic Church, much less in the Catechism, it is a term that has come into use since the protestant revolt. The term "Catholic" is used, but the usual term is just "the Church" as this implies the Church that was founded by Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, and is still led by them.

Roman Catholic

from A Catholic Dictionary, edited by Donald Attwater, Second edition, revised 1957

A name used by many English-speaking non-Catholics for members of the Catholic Church, as a qualification of their exclusive right to be called Catholic, of whatever rite, looks to Rome as the centre of the Church and the seat of her supreme pontiff and head, the expression in itself is unobjectionable and is in fact sometimes employed by them, especially in certain countries of Europe. But its use by Catholics is unnecessary and, having regard to its connotation for many non-Catholics, sometimes to be avoided.

from Modern Catholic Dictionary by John A. Hardon, S.J. Doubleday & Co., Inc. Garden City, NY 1980

Roman Catholicism. The faith, worship, and practice of all Christians in communion with the Bishop of Rome, whom they acknowledge as the Vicar of Christ and the visible head of the Church founded by Christ. The terms "Roman Church" and "Roman Catholic Church" date from at least the early Middle Ages, but the stress on these terms became prominent after the Protestant Reformation. The reason was to emphasize the distinctive quality of being not only a Christian, because, baptized, but of being a Catholic, because in communion with the Pope.

Catholic

from A Catholic Dictionary, edited by Donald Attwater, Second edition, revised 1957

I. The word is derived from Greek and simply means universal. In combination with the word "church" it essentially merely indicates one of the marks of the Church, and was so used by St. Ignatius at the beginning of the 2nd century; but in the course of history it has come to be the distinguishing epithet of the Church of Christ and his faith: under other circumstances its place might have been taken by "apostolic" or "one." The use of the word in this distinguishing way became current and common in England only from the middle of the 16th century. In some mediaeval translations of the Creed unam sanctam catholicam et apostolicam ecclesiam is rendered "one holy apostolic church general."

ii. A Catholic is any person who, having been baptized, does not adhere to a non-Catholic religion or perform any act with the intention or effect of excluding himself from the Church. A "good Catholic" is one who practises his religion to the best of his ability.

iii. Catholics normally call themselves Catholics without qualification, and are distinguished by the name alike in West and East; except for a body of High Anglicans, no other Christians use the name as a distinguishing title. But Catholics of the Byzantine rite sometimes calls themselves Greek Catholics, Chaldeans are so called, and Maronites always refer to themselves simply as Maronites - they avoid the name Catholic for the good reason that there is no such thing as a Maronite who is not a Catholic, and because in Syria the epithet particularly designates a Catholic Melkite.

iv. As an adjective, Catholic in this special sense should only be used of subjects of which Catholicity is predicable, e.g., a man as man, a church, building, or catechism. To speak of a Catholic artist or grocer, Catholic poetry or truth is inaccurate and misleading: an artist or grocer who is a Catholic is a Catholic as a man (and this without reference to whether he paints only ecclesiastical pictures or supplies cheese only to the clergy); poetry may deal with a Catholic theme or be written by a poet who is a Catholic, but is not by that fact anything but poetry; truth is truth and it is improper to call the truth about the Catholic Church, Catholic truth; (cf., Catholic arithmetic, a Wesleyan judge, Quaker music, and, particularly, Catholic culture).

Answer 8

"Roman Catholic" is actually a misnomer. A Catholic is a Catholic. The term Roman was tagged on to Catholic because their leader or pope has his headquarters in Vatican City which is in Rome.