Western Church

The Western Church refers to the Latin-rite Christian communion centered in Rome (Roman Catholicism, historically contrasted with the Eastern Orthodox and other Eastern Christian churches). The term is used in historical/religious contexts to distinguish the Roman Catholic tradition and its institutional hierarchy from Eastern Christian sects.

Claims that use this term

• Eastern Christian sects retained full hierarchical churches larger than the Western Church
• Wycliffe saw Islam as a mirror of Western Church corruption