nope...as you said, there were thousands of them and they BECAME KNOWN, by the public and themselves, as Catholic. The title can therefore be attributed to those who came before.....That's not a big deal in and of itself....there was a group of people, starting with the Apostles, who venerated Christ, followed Him as the Reedemer and postulated their beliefs to the masses. As they grew in number they became known as Catholics.....whatever....it was one group of people which grew to what the Catholic church is now.
No they didn't. They were a part of the body of Christ, the universal (catholic) church.
Scripture doesn't mention Catholic, only catholic.
Forcing your extra/anti Biblical belief system into the New Testament is a futile endevour.
Nope! The people who followed the Savior Jesus Christ, were known as "Christians":
and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. (Acts 11:26)
Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” (Acts 26:28)
However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. (I Peter 4:16)
The followers of Christ were called Christians and it was after the first century when the faith Christians held began to be called "catholic", because it was recognized as a universal faith that ALL those who followed Christ held to the same faith in Him as Savior, Lord and God.
Acts 11:17
So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”
Acts 11:26
...The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
Somewhere along the line, the Romans decided to have their OWN division - thus the Roman Catholic Church was created to separate from those 'other' catholics who would NOT submit to it's rule.