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There are Roman Catholics and Greek Catholics and Russian Catholics, etc. ~ they are typified by having a religious hierarchy which is separate from the laity, and which provides a liturgical form of worship. In short, Catholics are Catholics are Catholics. Protestants are typically NOT Catholics, but they aren't Buddhists or Hindus either. They may or may not have a liturgical form of worship.

The Pope, who claims primacy over all Catholic bishops, recognizes the baptism of many Protestant bodies ~ my own included ~ and we recognize his as well and boy was there a fight over that one!

Now, regarding the Kennedy's, there are probably more Kennedys whose lineage dates from the Colonial period than from the Famine period. They were here longer, bred frequently, had enormous families, and spread out all over the country. The Murphys are even more numerous and have, to their credit THREE GREAT AMERICAN HEROES ~ Timothy Murphy, the most renowned enlisted man in the American Army in the Revolution, and Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier in the Armed forces of the United States in WWII. More recently another Murphy was awarded the Medal of Honor.

I know the first two are Protestant ~ this latest guy may be Catholic. But they're all Murphy, and that's what counts!

I wasn’t aware of the different waves of Irish coming to this country. Good info. Nor “Greek Catholics,” I would have assumed they would be more ethic than that. Thanks.

The Murphys are even more numerous and have, to their credit THREE GREAT AMERICAN HEROES ~ Timothy Murphy, the most renowned enlisted man in the American Army in the Revolution, and Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier in the Armed forces of the United States in WWII. More recently another Murphy was awarded the Medal of Honor.

I know the first two are Protestant ~ this latest guy may be Catholic. But they're all Murphy, and that's what counts!

Huzzah!

There are Roman Catholics and Greek Catholics and Russian Catholics, etc. ~ they are typified by having a religious hierarchy which is separate from the laity, and which provides a liturgical form of worship. In short, Catholics are Catholics are Catholics. Protestants are typically NOT Catholics, but they aren't Buddhists or Hindus either. They may or may not have a liturgical form of worship.

Russians/Greeks/etc. are Catholics in the sense of the Orthodox Church being officially "the Orthodox Catholic Church," but Eastern Orthodoxy is a separate church and religion from the Catholic Church in Rome. There are Vatican-affiliated Catholic churches among these Orthodox peoples but they are in the minority and traditionally disliked by their Orthodox neighbors for being "uniates."

How can someone who knows so much about Lapland and Santa Claus not know this?