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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.''' In [[Western civilization|Western societies]] the term Catholic has evolved, to refer to the [[Roman Catholic Church]] specifically. '''see also''' [[American Christianity]]

<br>'''1.''' In [[Western civilization|Western societies]] the term Catholic has evolved, to refer to the [[Roman Catholic Church]] specifically. '''see also''' [[American Christianity]]

<br>'''2.''' Originally '''Catholic'''' 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>'''2.''' Originally '''Catholic''' 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 [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Eastern Catholic]] churches such as the Ukrainian Catholic, and Maronite churches, which form part of the [[Roman Catholic Church]], yet follow [[Catholic ChurchEastern 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.''' [[Orthodox Church]], and [[Coptic Church]] consider themselves to be part of the catholic church but not Roman Catholic.  

<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.

==See Also==

==See Also==

*[[Christianity by continent]]

*[[Christianity by continent]]

==References==

==References==

[[Category:Christianity]]

[[Category:Christianity]]

[[Category:Orthodox Church]]

[[Category:Orthodox Church]]

[[Category:Catholics]]

[[Category:Catholics]]