What we agree on
I think it is important and valuable to first list the things that Catholics and Protestants agree on
THERE WAS A LINK HERE TO ANOTHER NODE
The Holy Trinity and who Jesus Christ is
We worship God alone
Salvation is by grace
The Sacraments are necessary
Church history and tradition are very important
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. 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 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.
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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.
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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.
Relics
Important objects from the past that are still considered holy.
Monasticism
Monks and nuns living separate from the outside World.
Priestly Celibacy
Pretty self explanatory. Catholic priests can’t get married, but protestant pastors can. Just like orthodox priests.
The Virgin Mary
Catholic have four big things (dogmas) they are required to believe about Mary
Marian Dogmas
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She’s the Mother of God (Theotokos)
Denying this is the Nestorian heresy
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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.
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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.
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She was assumed into Heaven
Some protestants believe this. Not common.
The Saints
What catholics believe
The Catholic Churc 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.
What protestants believe
Protestants believe that all christians are “The Saints” but they don’t canonized 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
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
Justification
Why God lets 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.
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