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To: jo kus; Forest Keeper
I don't know when the first use of "Roman Catholic Church" came about

Officially, never. The earliest document known to mention the "Catholic Church" is the letter St. Ignatius (who was appointed bishop of Antioch by St. Peter) read in 107 AD before he was martyred in a Roman arena in Smyrna (today's Turkey).

St. Polycarp, who was born around 65 AD (he was a disciple of St. John), and also martyred in Smyrna, also mentions the Catholic Church in 155 AD.

The name was apparently used to distinguish the Church established by Christ from various heretical groups who also called their gatherings as "churches."

St. Cyril of Jerusalem (circa 335 AD) writes to that effect:

Orthodox Church also refered to itself as a Catholic Church, all the way up to the Vatican I. The proclamation of papal infallibility dogma, however, brought further distancing and the need to distinguish the true or orthodox Catholic Church from the the particular (Latin) Church which strayed into error on this issue.

The term Roman Catholic refers specifically to the Roman Catholic Diocese, somuchso that the Cardinals are officially known as the Roman Catholic Cardinals, as each has a diocese inside the city of Rome. In the English speaking world, the term Roman Catholic became commonly used at one point, probably under Anglican influence which subscribed to the "three branch" theory of the Church (Anglican, Roman and Orthodox).

But, the Church is only one, both Apostolic and Catholic. All other Christian congregations to some extent touch, or share part of that Church, or are fully included in it.

1,861 posted on 01/22/2006 4:59:11 PM PST by kosta50 (Eastern Orthodoxy is pure Christianity)
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To: kosta50
The proclamation of papal infallibility dogma, however, brought further distancing and the need to distinguish the true or orthodox Catholic Church from the the particular (Latin) Church which strayed into error on this issue.

An impossiblility, if you believe that Christ protects the doctrinal statements of His Church. At what point do you believe that Christ abandoned His Church? If you believe that the first Seven Councils are infallible, then Vatican I, a validly convened ecumenical council by the Successor of Peter, is also infallible.

But, the Church is only one, both Apostolic and Catholic. All other Christian congregations to some extent touch, or share part of that Church, or are fully included in it.

Agree.

Regards

1,881 posted on 01/23/2006 5:18:03 AM PST by jo kus
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