What's the difference between RCC and Catholics?

I was debating with a Catholic who kept telling me not to confuse him with the Roman Catholic Church. He says he does not pray to the Saints and he does not pray to Mary, and he also does not attend Mass on Sundays. However, he is Catholic. So as our debate goes on, he accuses me of not being able to differentiate Roman Catholic from Catholic.

Really, is there any difference? If so, what are they different in?

And what's the similarity(if any)?

Bryan X said:

I was debating with a Catholic who kept telling me not to confuse him with the Roman Catholic Church. He says he does not pray to the Saints and he does pray to Mary, and he also does not attend Mass on Sundays. However, he is Catholic. So as our debate goes on, he accuses me of not being able to differentiate Roman Catholic from Catholic.

Really, is there any difference? If so, what are they different in?

And what's the similarity(if any)?

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There are a few groups that call themselves catholic. First of all, although the word catholic is often associated with the Roman Catholic Church, it actually means something more like universal. Now there are a few groups who call them selves catholic, one is the Roman Catholic Church, another is the Old American catholic church, another is the ancient catholic church, old catholic church, and I am sure there are 50 more that I do not know about.

The main difference is that the Roman Catholic Church is traced back to Jesus Christ though the apostils and many many others. Other catholic churchs also go back to Jesus Christ, but at one point in history split from Rome because of one reason or another. This gets confused with protestant churchs, but they are not, they call themselves catholic. They usually split because some pope said something that upset them.

Brian,

I would have to say that your friend is not Catholic by my definition of the word. He might be a Christian or "catholic" (with a little "c") which some Protestant groups use because they don't like to recognize the primacy of the Catholic Church they split from.

I would also like to point out that most Protestants left the Church because of a bit more than a disagreement with the Papacy.... it was much deeper than that and there was fault on BOTH sides.

Peace,
Scott

SOGFPP said:

Brian,

I would have to say that your friend is not Catholic by my definition of the word. He might be a Christian or "catholic" (with a little "c") which some Protestant groups use because they don't like to recognize the primacy of the Catholic Church they split from.

I would also like to point out that most Protestants left the Church because of a bit more than a disagreement with the Papacy.... it was much deeper than that and there was fault on BOTH sides.

Peace,
Scott

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You are absolutely right, I was just giving a preliminary answer to begin some discussion.

Thanks for the reply. I'll let him know what I learned(from you guys) and see what he can come up with.

Also, in my first post, I made a mistake. What I meant to say was that he does NOT pray to Mary. (I will EDIT it)

One more thing - so, when I bring up anything related to Roman Catholics, does that also include him(who claims to be Catholic)?

Bryan X said:

One more thing - so, when I bring up anything related to Roman Catholics, does that also include him(who claims to be Catholic)?

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It does not sound like your friend is Roman Catholic. Although, we don't pray to any saints or Mary either. We pray to Jesus, through the saints. I know what many people will say, bla bla bla, what is the difference.

The difference is humility. I know I am a sinner. I know this everytime I try to do something good and wind up being lazy or make fun of someone without even thinking about. Humility comes in when we realize other people have lived, and maybe they have found a better road.