Katholiek

Katholiek is a Dutch term that denotes relation to the Catholic Church or Catholicism. It can function as an adjective (katholiek) to describe things related to Catholicism, such as katholiek geloof (Catholic faith) or katholieke liturgie (Catholic liturgy), and as a noun (een katholiek) referring to a Catholic person. In ordinary usage the adjective is written lowercase, while capitalized forms appear in proper names or official titles, for example Rooms-Katholieke Kerk, the common Dutch designation of the Roman Catholic Church. The word can also be used in the broader sense of universality, reflecting its etymological roots.

Etymology and scope: Katholiek derives from the Greek katholikos 'universal' via Latin ecclesia catholica. In early Christianity it described the universal church as opposed to local or particular communities. In Dutch religious and cultural discourse, the term has been used since the Reformation to distinguish Catholics from Protestants; today it is generally neutral and descriptive. In contemporary usage, Rooms-Katholieke Kerk is the standard name for the Roman Catholic Church in Dutch, while 'katholiek' can refer to Catholic beliefs, rites, or adherents in a broad sense.