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=="Roman Catholic" versus "Catholic"==

=="Roman Catholic" versus "Catholic"==

The term "catholic" (from the Greek ''katholikos'') means "universal", and its roots in ecclesiastical parlance go back to the early years of Christianity. Some Protestants believe that (Roman) Catholics do not have the right to monopolise the term, and so prefix it with the adjective "Roman". Some Catholics object to this nomenclature, precisely because it denies the status of the (Roman) Catholic Church as ''the'' universal Church of Christ. Historically speaking, the term "Roman Catholic" was coined in nineteenth-century Britain as a [[euphemism]] to replace insulting terms such as "papist" that had previously been in use.

The term "catholic" (from the Greek ''katholikos'') means "universal", and its roots in ecclesiastical parlance go back to the early years of Christianity. Some Protestants believe that (Roman) Catholics do not have the right to monopolize the term, and so prefix it with the adjective "Roman". Some Catholics object to this nomenclature, precisely because it denies the status of the (Roman) Catholic Church as ''the'' universal Church of Christ. Historically speaking, the term "Roman Catholic" was coined in nineteenth-century Britain as a [[euphemism]] to replace insulting terms such as "papist" that had previously been in use.

The Catholic Church is made up of thirty-one distinct branches or "rites", including the Byzantine Rite, the Ambrosian Rice (only in [[Lombardy]], an northern [[Italy|italian]] region)] and the Maronite Rite. By far the largest Rite, and the most prevalent in the West, is the Latin Rite, and Catholics sometimes use the term "Roman Catholic" to denote this component of the Church.

The Catholic Church is made up of thirty-one distinct branches or "rites", including the Byzantine Rite, the Ambrosian Rice (only in [[Lombardy]], an northern [[Italy|Italian]] region)] and the Maronite Rite. By far the largest Rite, and the most prevalent in the West, is the Latin Rite, and Catholics sometimes use the term "Roman Catholic" to denote this component of the Church.

== History ==

== History ==

=== Catholic Growth in the Imperial Decline ===  

=== Catholic Growth in the Imperial Decline ===  

Until the early fourth century AD Christianity enjoyed mixed reception in the Roman Empire and Christians

Until the early fourth century AD Christianity enjoyed mixed reception in the Roman Empire and Christians were frequently subject to persecution. In the 310s Christianity became legalized and shortly thereafter became officially recognized by Constantine. In the following years Christianity in general and Roman Catholicism in particular became increasingly powerful in the Roman Empire, although [[Arianism]] remained strong. In 380 AD, [[Theodosius I]] established the Catholic Church as the official religion of the Roman Empire. While the Empire continued to decline, Catholicism and Christianity continued to grow both among those directly under the Empire and among the barbarians until Rome was sacked by [[Alaric]] in 410. Alaric was an Arian Christian. After the collapse of the Empire, the Catholic Church became the most powerful political and religious force in Europe and by the 8th century had achieved near total religious dominance with the removal of the last significant Arian groups.

were frequently subject to persecution. In the 310s Christianity became legalized and shortly thereafter became

officially recognized by Constantine. In the following years Christianity in general and Roman Catholicism in particular

became increasingly powerful in the Roman Empire, although [[Arianism]] remained strong. In 380 AD,  

[[Theodosius I]] established the Catholic Church as the official religion of the Roman Empire. While the Empire  

continued to decline, Catholicism and Christianity continued to grow both among those directly under the Empire

and among the barbarians until Rome was sacked by [[Alaric]] in 410. Alaric was an Arian Christian. After the

collapse of the Empire, the Catholic Church became the most powerful political and religious force in Europe and

by the 8th century had achieved near total religious dominance with the removal of the last significant

Arian groups.

=== Great Schism ===

=== Great Schism ===

=== Late Middle Ages ===

=== Late Middle Ages ===

Beginning in 1092 and continuing until the end of the 13th century, the Crusades occurred. These were a series

Beginning in 1092 and continuing until the end of the 13th century, the Crusades occurred. These were a series of religious wars instigated by the Church against various other groups, especially the Muslims. Despite the focus on removing Islamic control of the Holy Land, the Crusaders massacred Jews and sacked Constantinople.  

of religious wars instigated by the Church against various other groups, especially the Muslims. Despite the focus

on removing Islamic control of the Holy Land, the Crusaders massacred Jews and sacked Constantinople.  

During this time period, the [[Inquisition]]s started and would continue through the Protestant Reformation.  

During this time period, the [[Inquisition]]s started and would continue through the Protestant Reformation. The medieval inquisition focused on rooting out Cathars, while the later inquisitions such as the [[Spanish Inquisition]] focused on people who were believed to be secretly practicing [[Judaism]] or [[Islam]].  

The medieval inquisition focused on rooting out Cathars, while the later inquisitions such as the [[Spanish Inquisition]]

focused on people who were believed to be secretly practicing [[Judaism]] or [[Islam]].  

===Reformation===

===Reformation===

In 1517, [[Martin Luther]] started the [[Protestant Reformation]] which initially focused on the giving of  

In 1517, [[Martin Luther]] started the [[Protestant Reformation]] which initially focused on the giving of [[indulgences]] but eventually grew to have a wide variety of different causes and issues. Eventually, Protestants rejected the notions of saintly intercession, the authority of the pope and many of the sacraments. This eventually led to a series of religious wars in [[Europe]] and the Protestant-Catholic split became one of the dominant themes in European events until modern times.

[[indulgences]] but eventually grew to have a wide variety of different causes and issues. Eventually

Protestants rejected the notions of saintly intercession, the authority of the pope and many of the sacraments.

This eventually led to a series of religious wars in [[Europe]] and the Protestant-Catholic split became one of the dominant themes in European events until modern times.

=== Modernity ===

=== Modernity ===