What would you call me? I am a Presbyterian. However, I ascribe to the Apostles Creed which says I am part of the "Holy Catholic Church." I am a protestant, but one of my own confessions says that I am part of the Catholic church so in that sense by the looses terms of Catholic I am a Catholic. However, I am not a Roman Catholic or an Anglo-Catholic. I am mere a part of the Catholic church in so far as it refers to the Church Universal.

The fact is that the word [catholic][1] is actually an adjective meaning

1. broad or wide-ranging in tastes, interests, or the like; having sympathies with all; broad-minded; liberal.
2. universal in extent; involving all; of interest to all.
3. pertaining to the whole Christian body or church.

Its hardly fair not to allow us to modify it in some way so that we can differentiate you from the Church Universal.

The second definition is much clearer:

1. of or pertaining to a Catholic church, especially the Roman Catholic Church.
2. Theology .

a. (among Roman Catholics) claiming to possess exclusively the notes or characteristics of the one, only, true, and universal church having unity, visibility, indefectibility, apostolic succession, universality, and sanctity: used in this sense, with these qualifications, only by the Church of Rome, as applicable only to itself and its adherents and to their faith and organization; often qualified, especially by those not acknowledging these claims, by prefixing the word Roman.

b. (among Anglo-Catholics) noting or pertaining to the conception of the church as the body representing the ancient undivided Christian witness, comprising all the orthodox churches that have kept the apostolic succession of bishops, and including the Anglican Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, Church of Sweden, the Old Catholic Church (in the Netherlands and elsewhere), etc.

3. pertaining to the Western Church.

However, it still lacks some clarity because of the 3rd part of the definition. [1]: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Catholic

What would you call me? I am a Presbyterian. However, I ascribe to the Apostles Creed which says I am part of the "Holy Catholic Church." I am a protestant, but one of my own confessions says that I am part of the Catholic church, so in that sense, by the looses terms of Catholic, I am a Catholic. However, I am not a Roman Catholic or an Anglo-Catholic. I am mere a part of the Catholic church in so far as it refers to the Church Universal.

The fact is that the word [catholic][1] is actually an adjective meaning

1. broad or wide-ranging in tastes, interests, or the like; having sympathies with all; broad-minded; liberal.
2. universal in extent; involving all; of interest to all.
3. pertaining to the whole Christian body or church.

Its hardly fair not to allow us to modify it in some way so that we can differentiate you from the Church Universal.

The second definition is much clearer:

1. of or pertaining to a Catholic church, especially the Roman Catholic Church.
2. Theology .

a. (among Roman Catholics) claiming to possess exclusively the notes or characteristics of the one, only, true, and universal church having unity, visibility, indefectibility, apostolic succession, universality, and sanctity: used in this sense, with these qualifications, only by the Church of Rome, as applicable only to itself and its adherents and to their faith and organization; often qualified, especially by those not acknowledging these claims, by prefixing the word Roman.

b. (among Anglo-Catholics) noting or pertaining to the conception of the church as the body representing the ancient undivided Christian witness, comprising all the orthodox churches that have kept the apostolic succession of bishops, and including the Anglican Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, Church of Sweden, the Old Catholic Church (in the Netherlands and elsewhere), etc.

3. pertaining to the Western Church.

However, it still lacks some clarity because of the 3rd part of the definition. [1]: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Catholic