Religion:
Rick re "'Roman Catholic'"

The Catholic Church calls itself the Catholic Church - outsiders call it the Roman Catholic Church (although, much like a friend of mine whose name is pronounced 'vazz-kezz' but refers to himself as 'vas-kwes' because everyone screws it up, some American Catholics do say that). The term 'Roman Catholic' is sometimes used to refer to the Latin, or Roman, Rite - a subdivision of the Catholic Church as a whole (and the largest subdivision). The Latin Rite is the one most familiar to Americans because its the one Hollywood knows. Mass used to be in Latin, priests wear the cool collars and are celibate, etc. But there is also an Armenian Rite, a Byzantine Rite, a Ruthenian Rite, etc., etc. All have slight variations (in the language of the Mass, order of liturgy, dress and discipline of priests, etc.), all are part of the Catholic Church.

So the term 'Roman Catholic' is not like saying "Global European Church" but more akin to saying 'Canadian Soccer' - soccer is everywhere, but this refers specifically to soccer in Canada.

—Rick Stump
May 2003

You're right and I was wrong. Thanks for pointing out my mistake.

It's non-Catholics that started the trend of using the term "Roman Catholic." In fact, it's a popular term in the US partly because it plays into the "anti-Papism" that's part of our heritage (along with a more general disdain for experts).

If I'm going to poke fun at the Catholic Church for having an ironic name, I need a new rant.

—JoT
August 2003

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