[f. CATHOLIC + -ISM. Cf. F. catholicisme.]
1. The system, faith and practice of the Catholic Church; adherence to the Catholic Church.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Catholicisme … the orthodox Faith of the Catholick Church.
1685. Baxter, Paraphr. N. T., Rom. xi. Annot. Much less will God ever confine the Church and Covenant of Peculiarity to the Jewish Nation, and take it from the Gentiles, and cease Catholicism.
b. usually of the Roman Catholic Church.
1613–7. Purchas, Pilgr., Descr. India (1864), 131. Thomæan Christians. These Thomæans are now, as the Iesuites report, reduced to their Catholicisme.
1779. Swinburne, Trav. Spain, xxix. 230 (T.). All the gipsies that I have conversed with, assured me of their sound catholicism.
1871. Morley, Voltaire (1886), 1. We may think of Voltairism in France somewhat as we think of Catholicism or the Renaissance or Calvinism.
c. so Roman Catholicism.
1870. Daily News, 5 Dec., 2/1. Though a thorough Protestant, Mrs. Craik can do justice to the earnest and beautiful side of Roman Catholicism.
1876. Grant, Burgh Sch. Scotl., II. xiii. 412. The object of the performance being no doubt to ridicule Roman Catholicism.
d. A trait, note or act of a good Catholic.
1609. T. Morton, Answ. Higgons, 2. I find by your practise how now adhering vnto them, who hold it a Catholicisme to brand me with only an imaginarie imputation, you haue honoured your noble Author by your imitation of him: and yet proceede, and challenge beliefe.
1842. G. S. Faber, Provinc. Lett. (1844), II. 286. Censure of what … we have been led to deem genuine Catholicisms.
† 2. = CATHOLICITY 4. Obs.
1647. Jer. Taylor, Dissuas. Popery, II. ii. Introd. (R.). This broken consent is not an infallible testimony of the Catholicism of the doctrine.
3. = CATHOLICITY 1. rare.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 454. All religions … are tolerated and a spirit of liberality and catholicism is increasing.
