Michael Brooks
The word Catholic is generally capitalized when referring to the Catholic Church or members of the Catholic faith. For example, one might say, John is Catholic or She attends Catholic mass every Sunday. In these sentences, Catholic is capitalized because it is being used as a proper noun—a formal name for the Catholic Church and belief system. However, when used in a historical or general religious sense, the word catholic is often lowercase. For instance, in the Apostles' Creed, the phrase one holy, catholic church refers to the universal nature of the Christian faith, and so catholic is used in the lowercase form as an adjective.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When to use a capital letter | When referring to the Catholic Church, the faith, or members of the faith |
| When to use a lowercase letter | When used in a historical or general religious sense, or to describe an attribute of the Church |
| Exceptions | "Catholic" is sometimes used with a capital letter in prayers and religious texts, even when referring to an attribute of the Church |
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What You'll Learn
- Capitalising 'Catholic' when referring to the religion or church
- Lowercasing 'catholic' when describing an attribute of the church
- Capitalising 'Catholic' when it comes before a proper noun
- Capitalising 'Church' when referring to the overall Catholic leadership
- Not capitalising 'church' when referring to a building or congregation
Capitalising 'Catholic' when referring to the religion or church
The word "Catholic" is derived from the Greek adjective "katholikos", which means universal. When used in the context of the Catholic Church, "Catholic" is typically capitalised as it is a proper noun referring specifically to the religion or church. For example, "I was raised Catholic" or "She is a devout Catholic".
However, when used in a general or historical religious sense, "catholic" is often written with a lowercase "c". For instance, "catholic" can be used to describe a broad range of Christian beliefs or practices that are universal among all denominations. In this context, it is not specific to the Catholic Church or its members.
Additionally, it is worth noting that the word "Church" is also capitalised when referring specifically to the Catholic Church or its leadership, even when the word "Catholic" does not precede it. For example, "He is obeying the doctrines of the Church". However, when referring to a specific church building or congregation, "church" should be lowercase. For instance, "We attend the Catholic church down the street".
Capitalisation rules can vary between different styles and publications, and writers may also choose to capitalise or lowercase words for stylistic or political reasons. However, the general rule is to capitalise "Catholic" when referring specifically to the Catholic Church, its members, or the Catholic faith as a whole.
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Lowercasing 'catholic' when describing an attribute of the church
The word "catholic" in lowercase is used to describe an attribute of the Catholic Church. This usage of the word is separate from its association with the Catholic Church or members of the Catholic faith. Before the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, the word "catholic" in lowercase meant "universal" or "general," referring to core Christian teachings that were universal for all believers. In this context, "catholic" is used as an adjective to describe the inclusive and all-embracing nature of the Church.
The Apostles' Creed, a statement of faith used by many Christian denominations, includes the phrase "I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints." In this phrase, "catholic" is used as an adjective to describe the universal nature of the Church, indicating that it is not limited to a specific denomination or belief system.
Lowercasing "catholic" in this context is also seen in the phrase "one holy, catholic church," which appears in some Anglican and non-Catholic church services. This usage emphasizes the unity and inclusiveness of the Christian faith, rather than specific denominational affiliations.
While the word "Catholic" with a capital "C" typically refers specifically to the Roman Catholic Church and its members, lowercasing the word helps to distinguish between the institutional Church and the broader attributes and values associated with it. This distinction is particularly relevant when referring to the historical or general religious sense of the word, as in "catholic taste in food," indicating a willingness to try various cuisines.
It is worth noting that the usage of "catholic" in lowercase is not as commonly encountered as its capitalized counterpart. However, it holds significance in understanding the evolution of language and the subtle nuances of religious terminology.
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Capitalising 'Catholic' when it comes before a proper noun
The word "Catholic" is generally capitalised when it comes before a proper noun. For example, "Cardinal Dolan is a Catholic priest" and "St. Mary's is a Catholic school in our neighbourhood". In these examples, "Catholic" is used as an adjective to describe the proper nouns "priest" and "school". By capitalising "Catholic", we are specifically referring to the Catholic Church or the faith and its members.
However, it is important to note that the capitalisation of "Catholic" can vary depending on the context and the writer's intention. When used in a historical or general religious sense, "Catholic" may be lowercase. For example, in the Apostles' Creed, the phrase "one holy, catholic church" uses a lowercase "c" for "catholic" because it is used as an adjective among other adjectives describing the church.
In some cases, "Catholic" may be capitalised when referring specifically to the Catholic Church or its members, even if it is not before a proper noun. For example, "John is Catholic" and "I was raised Catholic but no longer practice". Here, "Catholic" is capitalised because it is being used as a proper noun, representing the Catholic Church and its belief system.
Additionally, it is worth mentioning that the capitalisation of "Church" can also vary. When "Church" is used on its own to refer to the overall Catholic leadership and hierarchy, it is capitalised. However, when referring to a specific church building or congregation, it is lowercase. For example, "We go to the catholic church down the street" and "He is obeying the doctrines of the Church".
In summary, when it comes to capitalising "Catholic" before a proper noun, the general rule is to use a capital "C" when referring specifically to the Catholic Church, its members, or the faith. However, there may be exceptions depending on the context and the writer's intention, especially when using "catholic" in a historical or general religious sense.
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Capitalising 'Church' when referring to the overall Catholic leadership
When referring to the overall Catholic leadership, it is generally appropriate to capitalise both "Catholic" and "Church". This is because they refer to a specific proper noun—the Catholic Church—and its associated leadership and hierarchy. Capitalising these terms helps to distinguish between the specific institution and its generic counterparts. For example, one might say, "The Church does not approve of divorce", where "Church" acts as shorthand for the Catholic Church and its leadership.
However, it is important to note that "church" should not be capitalised when used in a generic sense to refer to individual buildings or congregations. For instance, "We attend the catholic church down the street" or "There are several catholic churches in the area". In these cases, "catholic" is used as an adjective to describe the church and is not part of the proper name.
The capitalisation of "Catholic Church" is supported by major style manuals, such as The Associated Press Stylebook and The Chicago Manual of Style. These manuals recommend capitalisation to reflect the proper name status of the institution. Additionally, capitalisation helps to reduce potential confusion between casual and established name references.
It is worth mentioning that there are counterarguments to capitalising religious institutions. From a secular perspective, some argue that religious institutions should not be afforded deference in writing styles over other uncapitalised concepts, such as social movements or schools of philosophy. Nonetheless, capitalising "Catholic" and "Church" when referring to the overall Catholic leadership remains the prevailing convention in most writing situations.
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Not capitalising 'church' when referring to a building or congregation
When referring to a specific Catholic church building or congregation, it is not necessary to capitalise the word "church." The capital letter "C" in "Church" is generally used when referring to the collective global community of Catholic believers or the institutional organisation of the Catholic Church.
For example, one might say, "I attend the Catholic church down the street," where "church" is not capitalised because it is being used as a common noun to describe a specific physical building or local congregation. In this context, "church" is similar to words like "school" or "hospital," which are not capitalised when referring to specific instances or locations.
However, one might capitalise "Church" when referring to the Catholic Church as a whole, especially in a religious or ecclesiastical context. For example, "The teachings of the Catholic Church guide over a billion people worldwide." Here, "Church" is capitalised because it represents the entire institutional structure and global community of Catholic believers, similar to how one might capitalise "Government" when referring to a specific nation's governing body.
The capitalisation of "Church" in this context also helps distinguish between the religious institution and the broader term for a group of people who hold common beliefs or practices. For example, one could differentiate between "the Catholic Church" as an organisation and "the early Christian church" as a historical movement. Capitalisation helps provide clarity and specificity in such cases.
So, in summary, when referring to a specific Catholic church building or congregation, it is generally not necessary to capitalise "church." However, when referring to the Catholic Church as a global institution or community of believers, capitalising "Church" can be appropriate and helpful for providing context and specificity.
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Frequently asked questions
"Catholic" should be capitalized when referring specifically to the Catholic Church or members of the Catholic faith.
"Catholic" should not be capitalized when used in a historical or general religious sense.
"Church" should be capitalized when referring to the overall Catholic leadership and hierarchy, even when \"Catholic\" doesn't come before it. It should not be capitalized when used in a generic way, such as referring to an individual building or congregation.
Yes, before the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, "catholic" with a lowercase 'c' meant universal or general, referring to core Christian teachings that were universal for all believers at the time.
Yes, "catholic" with a lowercase 'c' is used in one of the prayers in the Catholic mass each week.
