The Glade 4.0

"Catholic" refers specifically to the Roman Catholic Church, of course. "catholic" can take on several meanings depending on its context. Some take it as a claim that a church descends directly from the 1st-century church -- usually with the implication of some kind of chain of authority. This is at least partly the sense in which the Roman Catholic Church takes its name. In the broader theological context, "catholic" usually just denotes a belief that all Christians are part of a single body of Christ (whether they like it or not). It was in this sense that I meant that many "protestant" denominations are quite catholic. I personally find claims of the other sense of catholic (continuity with the "first" church) to be, well ... dubious and unprovable at best, and just plain specious at worst -- whether coming from the Roman Catholic Church or from any non-RCC denomination/movement. But then, I also find such claims entirely irrelevant.

Edit: confusing pronouns

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Sail forth! steer for the deep waters only!
Reckless, O soul, exploring, I with thee, and thou with me;
For we are bound where mariner has not yet dared to go,
And we will risk the ship, ourselves and all.