Quick Question

[EdmundBlackadderTheThird]

We are debting over in non-denom a topic that is heavily debated, Real Presence. My question is not about that as I Am fairly well versed in the Catholic viewpoint. I Have asked my fellow non-denom posters to not use the term RCC or Roman Catholic as I have been told it is an offensive term by a fair number of my Catholic bretheren. I am being told that it is not and that it is the proper name of the Catholic Church. Am I off base on this? Have I been misled? Please let me know.

 

[Maggie893]

I think there was a thread recently to find out if the term was offensive to us. I don't believe most people had a problem with it. I certainly don't. I am Roman Catholic. The area though that is probably most sensitive would be for those in the "eastern" rites of the Catholic Church. They are not in the Latin rite so Roman Catholic would probably not be a suitable phrase to use for them but they are most definitely Catholic and in communion with Rome. It would probably just be easier to say, Catholic's. Not sure that helps.

 

[Skripper]

You're going to get some varying opinions on that here.

 

[epiclesis]

some people find it offensive, some don't. simple as that

 

[King of the Nations]

We are debting over in non-denom a topic that is heavily debated, Real Presence. My question is not about that as I Am fairly well versed in the Catholic viewpoint. I Have asked my fellow non-denom posters to not use the term RCC or Roman Catholic as I have been told it is an offensive term by a fair number of my Catholic bretheren. I am being told that it is not and that it is the proper name of the Catholic Church. Am I off base on this? Have I been misled? Please let me know.

While there is nothing wrong with the name "Roman Catholic" in and of itself, it is indeed often used in a deragatory fashion by Protestants who emphsize either explicitly or implicilty the "Roman" aspect over the "Catholic". Whereas "Catholic" tends to just mean "Catholic" no matter who is using the word, "Roman Catholic" tends to be used by many Protestants as a synonym for words like "Romish", "Popish" or whatever other term they can come up with that denigrates the Church into some man-made, heretical institution. So, as a general rule, no, we Catholics do not appreciate it when the "Roman" is tacked on to "Catholic", simply for this reason.

Additonally, for whatever it's worth. Using the term "Roman Catholic" to refer to the whole Church isn't entirely correct anyway. The one "Catholic Church" (it's proper name) is actually made up of about 22 different Catholic Churches (Byzantine, Coptic, etc.) throughout the world (that all share the same faith, just using different modes of expression basically), including the largest and best known of them all, the Roman Catholic Church.

Hope this helps.

Greg

 

[MParedon]

From what I understand the Church identifies itself as the Catholic Church. The term 'Roman Catholic' started as a way to talk about 'Those papists' etc.
Since then, the bite has gone out of that particular term, alot of people have decided to 'own' the term therefore that is where the offensiveness of the term varies depending on whom you talk to.

I agree that it seems to exclude the Eastern Rite Catholics. I also think that the Catholic Church should be able to name itself and not have some 'term' forced on it by popular opinion.

 

[Skripper]

While there is nothing wrong with the name "Roman Catholic" in and of itself, it is indeed often used in a deragatory fashion by Protestants who emphsize either explicitly or implicilty the "Roman" aspect over the "Catholic". Whereas "Catholic" tends to just mean "Catholic" no matter who is using the word, "Roman Catholic" tends to be used by many Protestants as a synonym for words like "Romish", "Popish" or whatever other term they can come up with that denigrates the Church into some man-made, heretical institution. So, as a general rule, no, we Catholics do not appreciate it when the "Roman" is tacked on to "Catholic", simply for this reason.

Additonally, for whatever it's worth. Using the term "Roman Catholic" to refer to the whole Church isn't entirely correct anyway. The one "Catholic Church" (it's proper name) is actually made up of about 22 different Catholic Churches (Byzantine, Coptic, etc.) throughout the world (that all share the same faith, just using different modes of expression basically), including the largest and best known of them all, the Roman Catholic Church.

Hope this helps.

Greg

Egg-zactly! And depending on who is using the term, and how it is being used, will provide some insight into how it is truly being used, whether as a slur or not.

 

[Maggie893]

Egg-zactly! And depending on who is using the term, and how it is being used, will provide some insight into how it is truly being used, whether as a slur or not.

I understand what you are all saying however I can be called American and if the inflection is wrong it's a slander and if it's "right" it's not. It doesn't change the fact that I am an American. I am neither ashamed of being a follower of the Roman pontiff nor of being Catholic so why should someone's inflection determine my attitude regarding the term Roman Catholic. I am still a Roman Catholic. The word Christian was initially used as a slur and still is by many in the world but I won't resent someone calling me a Christian even if they don't like Christians. It is what I am.

The only regard I have for this discussion would be for the those not in the Latin rite. For their sake I would suggest that the term Catholic Church alone is more appropriate.

 

[Ave Maria]

I'm not offended by it but I guess some are.

 

[stray bullet]

We are debting over in non-denom a topic that is heavily debated, Real Presence. My question is not about that as I Am fairly well versed in the Catholic viewpoint. I Have asked my fellow non-denom posters to not use the term RCC or Roman Catholic as I have been told it is an offensive term by a fair number of my Catholic bretheren. I am being told that it is not and that it is the proper name of the Catholic Church. Am I off base on this? Have I been misled? Please let me know.

I believe the term was invented by Anglicans when they split with the Catholic Church. The name of the Church, headed at the Vatican and including all the eastern rites and Churches who are in communion with the Pope, is called collectively, "The Catholic Church".

Anglicans believed that they, along with the Orthodox (those in union with the Patriarch of Constantinople) and those in communion with the Pope make up a greater 'Catholic Church'. Thus, to call us the Catholic Church would exclude them, so we are merely the "Roman" part of the Catholic Church, hence Roman Catholic.

Though it is often used with ill intent, I find that most of the time it is used to assert a theology I don't agree with. Nowadays it seems to be used by Catholics themselves to describe the western realm of the Catholic Church.

From a Catholic viewpoint, I find it wrong to use. From the viewpoint of a multi-denominational forum, I think it is completely fair to use, as they are speaking from their beliefs about what Jesus' Church is- that the Universal (Catholic) Church is made up of three groups they believe has apostolic succession, Anglican, "Roman" Catholics and Orthodox.

 

[stray bullet]

The only regard I have for this discussion would be for the those not in the Latin rite. For their sake I would suggest that the term Catholic Church alone is more appropriate.

Calling a Catholic in one of the eastern churches a "Roman" Catholic would probably go over as well as calling a Greek Orthodox a Russian Orthodox.

 

[KennySe]

Calling a Catholic in one of the eastern churches a "Roman" Catholic would probably go over as well as calling a Greek Orthodox a Russian Orthodox.

*sarcastic, rhetorical question below, to show that I am in agreement with stray bullet*
But if all Catholics are "Roman Catholic", then all Orthodox are "Greek orthodox", right?

*****

Hence my title of "Catholic Catholic".

 

[Gwendolyn]

There are some great answers here, so this may be redundant, but here it is in a nutshell:

• Roman Catholic refers to the Roman/Latin rite of the Catholic Church, and it is incorrect to use the term "Roman Catholic" to refer to the Catholic Church as a whole. This is because it neglects our Eastern rite brothers and sisters - Ukranian Catholics, Byzantine Catholics, Maronite Catholics, Melkite Catholics, etc.
• "Rites" are not denominations, and the entire Catholic Church shares a uniformity of belief.
• "Roman Catholic" can be used in a durogatory fashion, and that is where many of us get offended. If someone refers to me as a Roman Catholic, I am not offended, because that is what I am - a Roman/Latin rite Catholic. However, if someone calls me a Roman Catholic with the connotation of "that papist" or whatever, that is what is offensive.

Does that make sense?

 

[pax]

Personally I would say I'm a member of the Latin Church, which is a particular church of the Catholic Church. The Latin Church follows the Roman Rite. So, in a way Roman Catholic is correct, but in a way it isn't. I don't get offended by the use of the word "Roman," but if someone were to ask me, I'd say I was just "Catholic."

 

[SorensScapegoat]

The one "Catholic Church" (it's proper name) is actually made up of about 22 different Catholic Churches (Byzantine, Coptic, etc.) throughout the world (that all share the same faith, just using different modes of expression basically), including the largest and best known of them all, the Roman Catholic Church.

Hope this helps.

Greg

Dear Greg,

And pray, to what do the Protestants refer to when they recite the Niceed Creed? "... We believe in one holy Catholic and Apolostolic Church" ?

Just curious.

--S

 

[Kepha]

Personally, it doesn't bother me either.

 

[Paul S]

Personally I would say I'm a member of the Latin Church, which is a particular church of the Catholic Church. The Latin Church follows the Roman Rite. So, in a way Roman Catholic is correct, but in a way it isn't. I don't get offended by the use of the word "Roman," but if someone were to ask me, I'd say I was just "Catholic."

Most of the Latin Church follows the Roman (or Latin) Rite. There are a few dioceses which have their own rite, plus the Anglican Use, plus the TLM.

I always just say I'm Catholic, and I say "the Catholic Church" or just "the Church", since there's only one.

 

[Paul S]

And pray, to what do the Protestants refer to when they recite the Niceed Creed? "... We believe in one holy Catholic and Apolostolic Church" ?

You'd have to ask them for their beliefs, but as I've heard it, they believe that there is some universal church encompassing all the denominations, which all Christians are part of.

We believe it refers to the Catholic Church, the one founded by Jesus, although those who are baptised and who have not rejected the Church by committing heresy, schism, or apostasy (which requires full knowledge and consent, and many Protestants, having been raised Protestant, do not have this) are still part of the Church.

 

[Adammi]

We are debting over in non-denom a topic that is heavily debated, Real Presence. My question is not about that as I Am fairly well versed in the Catholic viewpoint. I Have asked my fellow non-denom posters to not use the term RCC or Roman Catholic as I have been told it is an offensive term by a fair number of my Catholic bretheren. I am being told that it is not and that it is the proper name of the Catholic Church. Am I off base on this? Have I been misled? Please let me know.

I have no problem with it, but they should know that there are 21 (I think) other rites (like the Byzantine and Coptic Rites) of Catholicism that believe exactly what we believe but just have different liturgical traditions.

 

[chrislife]

In and of itself, the phrase "Roman Catholic" is not offensive, if it is used properly. Properly, it refers to the Latin Rite Church, just as Byzantine Catholic refers to the Byzantine Rite Churches. I <i>am</i> a Roman Catholic, so I can't take offense at being called one. However, it bothers me when people use the phrase to refer to the universal Catholic Church because it implies that all the other authentic Catholic Churches don't exist or don't count.

I've also heard schismatic Catholics use the phrase "Roman Catholic" in reference to the Catholic Church, as a sort of attempt to legitimize their own schisms by acting like it's just another variety of Catholic.

As long as the word is used correctly, I see no offense in it.

---Christina