Margarett wrote: Doesn't "catholic" in the Nicene Creed mean world-wide, rather than "Catholic" as in of the Catholic Church? My goodness this discussion is getting deep! If my Dad was still alive he would soon clear that one up!!!
I think that catholic means the same in both cases, it's just that Roman catholic means one accepts the jurisdiction of the Pope in Rome rather than from anywhere else.
Popes were a major factor in the political upheavals of Europe with different factions getting their own man installed in the position and bringing pressure on the incumbent (on at least one occasion kidnapping him) through all the ways that those who seek power will do on those who have influence.
Don't forget that Henry VIII had received the title Fidei Defensor from the Pope for his attack on the Protestant Reformation. When Henry wanted to get rid of Catharine of Aragon because she failed to provide him with an heir she and her family (Spanish) brought much pressure on the Pope to prevent the divorce (basically her nephew was The Holy Roman Emperor)
http://tudorhistory.org/aragon/. The English political classes then came up with the idea of denying the legitimacy of the Pope and transferring English allegiance to the Archbishop of Canterbury who granted the divorce (it's like Britain not liking the decisions of the EU so deciding to repatriate powers from Brussels to London whilst still remaining a part of Europe). Apart from this change of allegiance the religion remained almost exactly the same, indeed Henry demanded that this should be so, and so the Anglican Church was born.
Currently investigating the Hillmans of Sussex.