Expert: George A. Card,sfo, M.I - 5/3/2005

Question
The things you find out later in life.... In all my 30 years whenever the question of my practiced faith comes up on some hospital form or whatever else I have always put "Catholic" in the box.  A few months ago however, I was going through some old papers and found a form my mother had filled out for some school necessity and in the religion box was written "Roman Catholic". That would lead me to believe that there are other forms of Catholicism.. is that correct?  Could I change my faith and become a Florentine Catholic?  And if there are other forms of Catholicism do they have their own Pope or does Pope Benedict cover them too?

And while we are on the subject of religion here's another that stumped me.  During a Catholic Mass the congregation recites the Apostle's Creed (I think it's also called the Nicene Creed).  Part of the recited creed is "we believe in One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church...".  Fine by me.  But then I went to a Christmas service with a friend to her church.  An Episcopalian church.  And as sure as can be they recited the Apostles Creed and it was the same as the one the Catholic Church uses, right down to "One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church."  Did an entire Episcopalian congregation read the wrong prayer?  Was I hearing things?  If they believe in the "One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church" why aren't they Catholic?

What gives?


Answer
                      Peace

Dear Jason
 First the Apostle's Creed and the Nicene Creed are two different creeds. At Mass, the Nicene Creed it generally required to be said on Sundays and major Feast. The Apostles' Creed is general used if most attending are young childern, it shorter,simpler and less detailed.
  Second you heard right, but didnt understand context perhaps.

  The combination "the Catholic Church" (he katholike ekklesia) is found for the first time in the letter of St. Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans, written about the year 110. The words run: "Wheresoever the bishop shall appear, there let the people be, even as where Jesus may be, there is the universal [katholike] Church."

 When the creed was written in 381 AD it meant: A person who accepted the doctrine which we received in common by all parts of the body of Christ.
  Later when some eastern parts of the broke, they took the name Orthodox, those who remained in union with Rome's Bishop( who is also the Pope) are now refer to as Catholic.
   Still Later, when Protestants sects started forming,they began refering those in union with Rome as Romanist or Roman Catholics.
   In documents of the Church in union with Rome's Bishop, we general refer to ourselves as "the Church". We do use the term "Catholic Church" at times for clarity in relation to other Christian communities or bodies.
    
                      Your Servant But His First
                             george