Of course, if one really wants to nitpick, they could note that Maronites are originally based out of Lebanon, which was a part of the Byzantine Empire up until the Muslims occupied the region. The Byzantine Empire, of course, did not call itself the Byzantine Empire - it continued to call itself the Roman Empire. The “Byzantine” title was placed upon it by the West, which wished to distinguish that Empire from the Holy Roman Empire.
This is significant because, even under the rule of Islam, Middle Eastern Christians tried to retain their “Roman” identity and called themselves such. So, TECHNICALLY, Maronite Catholics are “Roman Catholics” in a very real sense.
I could be wrong on that, but it’s true if memory serves.
Actually, they'd be Maronite Catholics who are Roman, but still not Roman Catholics.
sitetest
Actually, prior to the schism, the Maronite Church would have fallen under the Patriarch of Antioch, not the Patriarch of Constantinople. The liturgy they use is the West Syro-Antiochene Liturgy of St. James (with a couple of minor modifications). (Note: on the other hand, the Melkite Church uses the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.
This is significant because, even under the rule of Islam, Middle Eastern Christians tried to retain their “Roman” identity and called themselves such. So, TECHNICALLY, Maronite Catholics are “Roman Catholics” in a very real sense.
That is a pretty thin "nit" you are picking at there, FRiend.
As it is used, the term "Roman Catholic" would apply to those who would be in the ancient Patriarchate of the West (whose patriarch is the Bishop of Rome). The so-called "Eastern" Catholics, including the Maronites, each have their own liturgical traditions and would have been part of distinct patriarchates. The difference between Eastern Catholics and Eastern Orthodox is that the Eastern Catholics either never broke communion with the Western Patriarch or have since re-established communion.
One other point is that the Oriental Churches (as opposed to Eastern Churches) broke communion with the rest of the Christian world after the Council of Chalcedon. Some have since been reconciled...if memory serves correctly, the Assyrian Orthodox Church has reconciled with the Chaldeans (thus bringing them in communion with Rome).
The Maronites have a unique history, particularly dealing with the time of the Crusades...but while I won't argue about particular churches within the Byzantine Empire calling themselves "Roman" -- there are a lot that never would have (Syro-Malobars, Chaldeans, and Copts come particularly to mind).
I could be wrong on that, but it’s true if memory serves.