Popery

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This article is about the religious term "popery." For info on the plant mixture with a similar pronunciation, see potpourri.

Historically, the words "popery", "papistry" and "popish" have been used as derogatory terms for Roman Catholicism and a Roman Catholic, respectively. They were often used by Puritans to denote the idea that the Pope is a tyrant and that his servants, Roman Catholics, worship him. They also refer to the ritual of the Church, such as baroque vestments and decoration, that some Protestants view as excessive and not warranted by Scripture. The term is used instead of Catholic to assert that followers of Rome are not part of the Catholic Church.