This paper explores the concept "Catholic" in an attempt to see how this term was first
used and how it has developed today.
It explains that as
used in the Nicene Creed, Catholic means 'universal' or 'all-embracing,' thus, Jesus Christ intended his
church to embrace all people. It then shows how a century later that the term 'Catholic church' was used to distinguish a certain body of Christians from other groups that had broken away from the original church.