[esquirette]

Cronos, I know that Romans believe they own the word ‘catholic’ but it is actually appropriated. The universal church of the saved in Christ crosses sectarian lines. No Protestant sect or denomination believes it is the only congregation in which a soul might be saved. There is great unity in the Protestant denominations in the area of soteriology. This is not so in respect to the Romans who believe that they alone dispense the means of grace. So, truly, the term ‘Roman Catholic’ is an oxymoron, for one part of the term is sectarian, and the other is universal. It is the Protestant churches that are catholic, but not Roman.

[Cronos]

esquirette, it's a term that has been used. By your logic, I can say that even the terms Presbyterian, Evangelical, Pentecostal, Orthodox, etc have been 'appropriated'.

There is no great unity in the various groups -- for instance,

Let's see --

1. which one is right? one should believe in something as basic as Jesus was always God (Trinitarian position) or that Jesus Christ was man made God (Oneness PENTECOSTAL Protestant position) or the Angel Michael (Seventh Day Adventist Ellen G White teaching)
2. which one is right? that there is the REAL Presence of Christ in the Eucharist (Lutheran, some Anglicans, maybe even Methodists), or is it just a symbol (Calvinists)
3. which one is right? that one MUST talk in tongues (Oneness Pentecostal) to display faith or not?
4. which one is right? that there should be an episcopate (Lutheran, Anglican) or not (Presbyterians)?
5. which one is right? that apostolic succession is important (Anglican) or not (others)?
7. which one is right? that Baptism is for infants and sufficient (Presbyterian etc.) or not (Baptists)?
8. which one is right? that God pre-damns people to hell (Calvinism) or not (others)?
9. which one is right? that vestements are ok (or in the silly words of one poster allowing men in dresses and silly hats) (Anglicans, Lutherans, some Methodists, Presbyterians, even Baptists and Pentecostals) or not?
10. which one is right? that Jesus came only for the salvation of a few (Calvinists) or he was Savior of the world (everyone else)?
11. which one is right? agree or disagree with soul sleep? (Calvin: "As long as (the soul) is in the body it exerts its own powers; but when it quits this prison-house it returns to God, whose presence, it meanwhile enjoys while it rests in the hope of a blessed Resurrection. This rest is its paradise. On the other hand, the spirit of the reprobate, while it waits for the dreadful judgment, is tortured by that anticipation. . .", Psychopannychia,
12. which one is right? agree or disagree with worshipping on a Sunday (Presbyterians, Pentecostals etc.) or not (Seventh Day Adventists)
13. which one is right? agree with the Adventists that one should follow kosher laws or not?
14. which one is right? believe that we still have spiritual gifts like prophecy amongst us (Pentecostals) or not (Presbyterians)
15. which one is right? agree with being "slain in the spirit" (Pentecostalism) or not (Presbyterianism, Lutheranism etc)
16. which one is right? that Regeneration comes through Baptism (Lutheranism) or not (Baptists)
17. which one is right? that grace can be resisted (Pentecostalism, Lutheranism, Methodism) or not (Calvinism)
18. which one is right? that baptism is three-fold (Mennonites) or not?
19. which one is right? that there is no free will (Calvinism) or that man has free will (Mennonites)
20. which one is right? that it is faith + works (Mennonites: Menno Simons told the followers of Luther and Calvin: “If you wish to be saved, you must walk in the way of the Lord, hear His Word, and obey it. For nothing avails in heaven nor on earth unto salvation, … not even Christ with His grace, merit, blood, and death, if we are not born of God, … if we do not believe His Word sincerely, and if we do not walk in the light and do right. As John says: …>If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie.’” (Complete Writings of Menno Simons, p. 208)) or not?
21. which one is right? that there is imputed righteousness (Calvinism) or not (Mennonites)

[Cronos]

And, of course do note that we hold the graces dispensed by the Orthodox and Orientals to be valid and them to be in communion with us.

At a pinch we also acknowledge the trinitarian baptism shared between your group and the Church. however, you Presbyterians are not in communion with the Oneness Pentecostals, for example.

That is your choice note -- I'm just pointing out the differences.

[Cronos]

And if you want to just say the Catholic Church which fully describes the 23 rites of the Church, including the Roman, Mennonite, etc. that’s ok too — I refer to my Church as such

[Iscool]

It is the Protestant churches that are catholic, but not Roman.

HaHaHa...And that is so true...We are the catholic church but they are the Roman Catholic religion...

While catholic may mean universal, it describes the 'church'...Roman Catholic Church is a title, like Sears and Roebuck...

[one Lord one faith one baptism]

well, since protestants first appeared on the world stage in the 16th century, i’m glad to learn none of them believe they are the only congregation in which a soul might be saved. a true Catholic holds to the Catholic Faith received from the Apostles and believed by the Church for 2,000 years. Since protestants deny the real presence in the Eucharist and baptismal regeneration, in what sense can their faith be called “catholic”, since these doctrines were unheard of before the 16th century?