Differences between Catholics and Protestants

What we agree on

I think it is important to first list the things that Catholics and Protestants agree on. This helps us christians find a common ground and identify that there’s more things that bind us together than things to argue about. Not to be confused with blind ecumenism; I am a Catholic and I believe in the Catholic Church being the one church established by Jesus Christ, but I also like to believe that we as christians all have a chance at Salvation. So the following are the things Christians of all (proper) denominations agree on.

The Holy Trinity and who Jesus Christ is

This is how we understand the nature of God. We believe God is three, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit, three disctinct persons (hypostases) sharing one essence/substance/nature (homoousion). This doctrine is called Trinitarianism.

We worship God alone

Worship is to God alone, pretty self explanatory. Muslims usually argue that we worship three different gods and thus Christianity is a polytheist religion. This is just a misconception or lack of understanding of Trinitarianism.

Salvation is by grace

Although many protestants belive there is valid debate regarding Salvation, because it would seem like catholics belive Salvation is obtained by works, a deeper dive into catholic doctrine reveals that Salvation is still ultimately obtained by grace, thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ in the Cross. There are more things to be said for the catholic side, but for now it is true that this is a common Christian ground.

The Sacraments are necessary

Most importantly, the Sacrament of Communion, in which we receive the Body of Christ. Although there are some differences, historic Protestant Churches and the Catholic Church all believe that we receive the Body of Christ through the Bread and Wine. Other than that, not all of the Sacraments that the Catholic Church provides are also provided in Protestant Churches, but they still practice them in a way or another, and recognize their importance.

Church history and tradition are very important

Tradition and history teach us how The Church has evolved and how its doctrines have been formed. This is important because both protestants and catholics believe the church’s tradition also holds authority over The Church and our doctrines.

Things we do not agree on

The Pope

Is the Pope in charge of all of Christianity?

What catholics believe

Jesus gave Saint Peter the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, thus becoming the first Pope. Since Peter was the Pope, meaning, the Bishop of Rome, which was the capital of The Universe, he was the Bishop of the entire Church. When Peter died, a new pope was elected amongst other bishops, this is valid Apostolic Succession because all the Bishop had the hands imposed on them.

Catholics believe that the pope is infallible on very specific situations:

• When speaking Ex Cathedra on faith or morals

• When confirming Ecumenical Councils

• When canonizing saints

What protestants believe

One single man can not be in charge of all the churches in the World. Jesus did not give the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven only to Peter, but to all of the Apostles. And even though Peter was first among equals, it is not like he was the boss of the rest of the disciples. Protestants believe that after the Apostles died, their successors are all the bishops and elders of The Church collectively. This is where the name protestant came from. The original Church reformers were not protesting The Church, but the Pope’s authority. The Church reformers were catholics protesting the Papacy.

Ecumenical Councils

All denominations agree we should have councils and agree on certain councils. Except the denominations do not agree on which councils to accept.

What catholics believe

Catholics have 21 Ecumenical Councils, and big decisions were made on all of them.

• Magisterial authority

  Councils, when approved by the pope, have magisterial authority. Meaning it is the final decision that can never be changed.

What protestants believe

Protestants usually accept the first six councils, but they do not believe they’re infallible.

• Ministerial authority

  Councils help us understand The Bible and The Church can enforce them, but they can also be revised because they’re not infallible. This is kind of how Science works.

Sacraments

Church rituals that give us special grace. As mentioned above, not all denominations practice all of the same Sacraments.

Relics

Important objects from the past that are still considered holy. Protestants are usually very skeptical about relics, while catholics seem to give a lot of importance to them, even making pilgrimages to see them. Some catholics believe they can obtain miracles or healing by contact with relics, which unfortunately, contributes to the (wrong) idea that catholics are idolaters.

Monasticism

Monks and nuns living separate from the outside World. The Catholic Church tries actively to ensure the existence of places (monasteries) in which monks or nuns can give their entire lives to Jesus Christ. The monks or catholics deliberately choose to ignore wordly goods and/or activities in order to focus fully in their religious activities. Monks or nuns usually work hard in the common maintenance of the monastery, they collaborate and live in a happy community. They also take part in activities like studying the Bible or the Church fathers, and of course, lots and lots of prayer and meditation. This is what we can call a monastic life. Like this, they are pretty much dedicating their entire lives to Jesus Christ.

On the other side, Protestant Churches do not offer this kind of lifestyle to their pastors or laypeople. They believe this kind of super christianity could inflect division or certain types of gaps between believers. At the end of the day, we are all believers and we all partake in God’s blessings.

Priestly Celibacy

Pretty self explanatory. Catholic priests can’t get married, but protestant pastors can. Just like orthodox priests.

The Virgin Mary

Catholics have four big things (dogmas) they are required to believe about Mary

Marian Dogmas

• She’s the Mother of God (Theotokos)

  Denying this is the Nestorian heresy.

• She was a virgin her whole life, even after Jesus was born

  Protestants don’t really care about this that much, but the vast majority of protestant theologians have affirmed it.

• She was conceived without sin

  Protestants don’t take this claim too seriously. The idea that every single human, other than Jesus, is dead in sin is very important to them.

• She was assumed into Heaven

  Some protestants believe this.

Modern Evangelicals

Unfortunately, the Virgin Mary is a big topic of debate amongst modern evangelicals. They reject almost if not all the Marian Dogmas and most of them just straight out avoid talking about the Virgin Mary.

The Saints

What catholics believe

The Catholic Church canonizes saints. Where they say specific people (the canonized) are definitively in Heaven. They also believe they can pray for intercession (not worship), because the saints can watch us from Heaven. There’s a lot to say about this but I’ll keep it short here.

What protestants believe

Protestants believe that all christians are “The Saints” but they don’t canonize individuals as saints. That’s up to God alone. They also don’t pray to saints because saints can’t see what is going on on Earth.

Holy Images / Icons

Ugh. The greatest misconception from protestants (especially modern evangelicals) to attack the Catholic Church.

What catholics believe

Most if not all catholic churches (as in temples or actual buildings) have many images in them. Mainly images portraying Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary and some other saints. Most of those churches are consagrated to a specific Saint. Likewise, a catholic can have in their house images of Christ or the saints, in the same way we can have pictures of ourselves or family or friends. We can use them to direct our prayers. Yes, we can even kneel in front of them while praying. Despite what the most radical attackers of the Catholic Church believe, this is not idolatry, because catholics are aware that the image is just a way to focus our attention of the prayer, it is just a reminder of sorts.

Wat protestants believe

Some Protestant Churches have images of Jesus, although minimal. So it is not entirely forbidden. You could even find some churches with images of the Evangelists. Although it is true that Protestant Churches and protestants in general reduce their use of images by a lot, compared to catholics or even orthodox laypeople. Again, modern evangelicals straight up refuse to have any kind of images in their churches or houses, with the exception of the occassional simple image of Jesus or a Cross on the wall.

Intermarriage

Marriage between Christians and non-Christians.

What catholics believe

It’s acceptable in some cases.

What protestants believe

It is not correct in any case.

Purgatory

This is too complicated.

Justification

Why does God let us into Heaven? Both Catholics and Protestants believe we are saved by what Christ did on the Cross. But there is still a nuanced difference.

What catholics believe

Catholics do NOT believe Salvation is “faith plus works”.

We are justified by Infused righteousness, where God makes us more righteous by making us more like Christ.

What protestants believe

Protestants do NOT believe we can be saved without good works.

We are justified by Imputed righteousness, where God declares us righteous despite us not being actually made more righteous yet. God does make us more righteous, but this is called santification, not justification.

Protestants still think that if we don’t have santification, then we don’t have justification either.

Wrapping up

I respect and love protestants but I pray for them to come to the Catholic Church. Still, we should all strive to overcome our differences and focus on what makes us Christian, and spread the Word of God.

This article was inspired, and mostly a copy of Redeemed Zoomer’s fantastic video. although I modified chunks of the content with my own thoughts or my own words. Go check Redeemed Zoomer’s channel out. He is great.

Christ is King.