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| | The term '''Catholic''' has a number of related defined meanings: | | The term '''Catholic''' has a number of related defined meanings: |
| − | <br>'''1.''' originally it comes from a Greek word meaning universal (''katholika'') - and thus, referred to the non-Jewish or [[gentile]] '''church as a whole, as opposed to a particular local church'''. This is the sense in which it is used in the historic creeds ("one holy, catholic and apostolic church") - and in this sense Protestants, Eastern Orthodox it also refers to the [[Catholic Church#Different churches|Eastern Catholic]] churches such as the Ukrainian Catholic, and Maronite churches, which form part of the [[Roman Catholic Church]], yet follow Eastern rather than Roman traditions in liturgy and other matters.<ref>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resource/56009/the-rites-of-the-catholic-church</ref> | + | <br>'''1.''' In [[Western civilization|Western societies]] the term Catholic has evolved, however, to refer to the [[Roman Catholic Church]] specifically. '''see also''' [[American Christianity]] |
| − | <br>'''2.''' [[Orthodox Church]], and [[Coptic Church]] consider themselves to be part of the catholic church but not Roman Catholic. | + | <br>'''2.''' originally it comes from a Greek word meaning universal (''katholika'') - and thus, referred to the non-Jewish or [[gentile]] '''church as a whole, as opposed to a particular local church'''. This is the sense in which it is used in the historic creeds ("one holy, catholic and apostolic church") - and in this sense Protestants, Eastern Orthodox it also refers to the [[Catholic Church#Different churches|Eastern Catholic]] churches such as the Ukrainian Catholic, and Maronite churches, which form part of the [[Roman Catholic Church]], yet follow Eastern rather than Roman traditions in liturgy and other matters.<ref>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resource/56009/the-rites-of-the-catholic-church</ref> |
| − | <br>'''3.''' In [[Western civilization|Western societies]] the term Catholic has evolved, however, to refer to the [[Roman Catholic Church]] specifically. '''see also''' [[American Christianity]]
| + | <br>'''3.''' [[Orthodox Church]], and [[Coptic Church]] consider themselves to be part of the catholic church but not Roman Catholic. |
| | <br>'''4.''' Catholic can also be used to refer to [[Independent_Catholic_churches | Independent Catholic churches]] which have broken away from the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. It is used in particular to refer to those groups which while breaking away maintain much of the Roman Catholic church's traditions - as opposed to [[Protestant]] churches, which rejected much of the Roman Catholic Church's position when they split from it | | <br>'''4.''' Catholic can also be used to refer to [[Independent_Catholic_churches | Independent Catholic churches]] which have broken away from the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. It is used in particular to refer to those groups which while breaking away maintain much of the Roman Catholic church's traditions - as opposed to [[Protestant]] churches, which rejected much of the Roman Catholic Church's position when they split from it |
| | <br>'''5.''' Catholic also refers to a tendency in [[Anglicanism]] ([[Anglo-Catholicism]]), which sees the Anglican church as nearer to the Roman Catholic Church than to Protestantism, and thus adopts many of the Roman Catholic church's tradition. A similar tendency also exists in the [[Lutheran]] churches. | | <br>'''5.''' Catholic also refers to a tendency in [[Anglicanism]] ([[Anglo-Catholicism]]), which sees the Anglican church as nearer to the Roman Catholic Church than to Protestantism, and thus adopts many of the Roman Catholic church's tradition. A similar tendency also exists in the [[Lutheran]] churches. |