Who (or What) is a Catholic (or a catholic)? - Part 1

Many automatically link the word Catholic with the Roman Catholic Church (often known as the Catholic Church), or a Roman Catholic (often simply referred to as a Catholic).  However, while such an association is often automatically assumed, it may be problematic at best.  This is because many churches (denominations) have the word "Catholic" in their name, so that a reference to a Catholic may just as easily refer to one of those churches, since its members tend to also use the term Catholic to refer to themselves and their church.  These churches, which are not in full communion with the Holy See, but which view themselves as Catholics, include:

• American Catholic Church in the United States (formed in 1999)
• Apostolic Catholic Church (in the Philippines)
• Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church (founded in 1997)
• Antiochian Catholic Church in America
• Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church (established in 1945)
• The Catholic Charismatic Rite of Canada (founded in 1968)
• Catholic Mariavite Church (begun in 1935)
• Celtic Catholic Church (incorporated in 1974)
• Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (established in 1957)
• Christ Catholic Church (founded in 1937)
• Ecumenical Catholic Church (begun in 1987)
• Free Catholic Church (Registered in 1949)
• Liberal Catholic Church (begun near start of 20th Century.)
• Imani Temple African-American Catholic Congregation (founded 1989)
• Liberal Catholic Church (begun around the 1920s)
• National Catholic Church of American (established in 1998)
• Old Catholic Church (with many churches in various countries)
• Old Roman Catholic Church (founded in 1910)
• Orthodox Catholic Church of America (established in 1892)
• Palmarian Catholic Church (begun in 1976)
• Philippine Independent Catholic Church (separated in 1902)
• Polish National Catholic Church (founded in 1897)
• Ukrainian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church (established in 2009)

In addition, there are more churches (not listed here) that view themselves as Catholic, though they do not use the word Catholic in the name of their church.

On to Part 2
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