Posted on 01/05/2010 9:46:47 PM PST by the_conscience
I believe three “Catholic Churches” exist: The Roman Catholic, The Eastern Orthodox, and the Anglo-Catholic or Anglican Church. Most High Anglicans/Episcopalians (ie Oxford Movement) are very traditional and vary narrowly from Rome. In fact, I think the Reformation was needed but Catholicism is also needed.
Why should that matter? I received a Trinitarian baptism. It was not a Romanist Church.
Please now tell me the difference between the Church of Christ and the Catholic Church.
There is a difference between “catholic” and “Catholic.” The latter is used to describe a denomination. The former is used to mean “universal.” It is similar to the denomination, “Church of Christ.” Every Christian is a member of the church of Christ. It has always seemed rather arrogant to name a denomination, THE Church of Christ. The issue is that the Roman Catholic Church does not make a distinction between small “c” and capital “C” catholic. Only those that are in communion with the Bishop of Rome are considered catholic.
No, the Orthodox are what we Catholics (of the Roman variety) call “Schismatics”.
Most Roman Catholics are happy to be referred to as Roman Catholic. It seems a miniscule minority are working to co-op a word which historically and accurately has covered all Christianity - catholic, meaning universal.
I suggest we Protestants insist everyone be required to call us (and only us) Christians.
From now on there are Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox and Christians.
The answer simply depends upon whether the "C" in Catholic is capitalized.
So Catholic is hierarchical churches as opposed to Presbyterian style mixed government churches and Congregational democratic churches?
Oh...I'm very much pro-man! Love y'all to death! :o)
It's about the "abortion" issue. One can be for the woman and her unborn child. That is what being "pro-life" is all about. It is not an either/or question.
Yet being pro-life, it is important to include affirmation of the father of the baby too.
In other words, Catholic ARE Christians, in fact, the first Christians.
Catholics, Protestants, and History (the faith of the early church)
I identify as Christian.
No hyphenation, no sub-level definitions, no denominations, or any such.
That seems fair although the Romanists on this forum insist that there are other sects associated with Rome so maybe they need to further qualify based upon their different sects.
The first?
That would imply that the modern-day individuals were around 2,000 years old.
I could vote for that. :o)
I spoke of individuals.
When it is history that is spoken of, all good Christians trace the lineage of their faith back to Christ.
Of course! It was actually a slogan on a bumper sticker I had on my car. I didn't claim to make it up. I felt it was an important idea to make known. Do you not agree?
So only if the Orthodox reunite with the Romanists will they be allowed to call themselves Catholic?
Actually the "Roman" in "Roman Catholic" is more of an slur started by the Anglicans. The history behind this pejorative label is described in some detail in this article.
I suggest we Protestants insist everyone be required to call us (and only us) Christians.
Then please allow me to make the equivalent counter suggestion that we Catholics should also change our language. A far more accurate description of any protestant who would deny the Christianity of Catholics would be heretic.
I am 100% pro-life, too!!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.