7 Key Differences Between Protestant and Catholic Doctrine

According to a recent U.S. Religious Landscape Survey conducted by the Pew

Forum on Religion & Public Life, there are about half as many Catholics as
Protestants in America today. But why do so many make this distinction? Dont
both groups hold to essentials of the Christian faith, like the deity, death, and
resurrection of Jesus? Whats the difference between what Protestants believe
and what Catholics believe?
While both Protestants and Catholics agree on who Jesus is, there are seven key
issues which continue to distinguish their beliefs and practices. In a new Table
Podcast series, Dr. Darrell Bock, Dr. Scott Horrell, and Dr. Michael Svigel discuss
important distinctives of both traditions.
Here is a summary of the conversation:
1. The Magisterium
The term magisterium refers to the official teaching body of the Roman
Catholic Church. Dr. Horrell explains,
Usually, it's related to the large house of cardinals and the leading theologians
in the movement; but finally, that all comes under, of course, the pope himself.
Besides providing a trusted, unified voice to guide Catholics, this body also
allows the church to make official pronouncements on contemporary issues
which Scripture might not directly address.
Although there is no equivalent to the magisterium for Protestants, its possible
to compare Catholic and Protestant views of the role of tradition.
2. Tradition
While Protestants dont view tradition as equal in authority with the Scriptures,
the Roman Catholic Church has a different perspectiveone which clearly
distinguishes itself from Protestant churches. As Dr. Horrell notes:
The issue of Sola Scriptura...versus Scripture plus tradition is perhaps
the
fundamental
difference
between
Roman
Catholicism
and
Protestantism...(what) you're talking about it's a hermeneutic, a way of
doing theology.
While Protestants only view the Scriptures as authoritative, the Catholic
Catechism clearly states that Church:
does not derive her certainty about all revealed truths from the holy
Scriptures alone. Both Scripture and tradition must be accepted and
honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence.

3. Salvation and Grace

Protestants often express the idea that salvation is by faith alone, through grace
alone, in Christ alone. This assertion views justification as specific point upon
which God declares that you are righteousa point where you enter into the
Christian life.

In contrast, the Roman Catholic Church views justification as a process,

dependent on the grace you receive by participating in the Church---which is
seen as a repository of saving grace. Dr. Svigel explains the Catholic perspective:
Grace is treated almost as if it's a substance, something that can be
dispensed through various avenues of change and means... You're saved
by grace, but how you receive that grace and what that grace does and
whether it's a one-time entrance into the Christian life or if it's a constant
movement toward salvation---that's really the big difference between
Protestantism and the Roman Catholic Church.
4. The Eucharist
When it comes to the Eucharist, which most Protestants call The Lords Supper,
or Communion, the Roman Catholic Church holds to the doctrine of
transubstantiationthe idea that the edible ritual elements used during the
mass literally become the body and blood of Christ. Dr. Svigel explains:
At the moment that the priest says, This is my body, the invisible,
unperceivable essence thatyou couldn't see (with) an electron
microscope, (is) there in a miracle. It contains the body, blood, soul and
divinity of Christ. And that becomes the spiritual and physical
nourishment. As you partake of it, it becomes part of you, transforms you,
and makes you more and more righteous.
In contrast, some Protestants, like Lutherans, hold to perspective called
consubstantiation, where Jesus body and blood are seen as coexisting with the
bread and the wine. Martin Luther likened this to the idea of a red-hot iron in a
fireunited, but not changed. Dr. Bock says:
I like to call it the over, under, around and through view. Jesus Christ
surrounds the elements. He's spiritually present, but he's not in the
elements themselves; the elements dont become the body and blood of
Christ.
Still, other Protestants hold to the memorial viewthe idea that you're
commemorating Jesus death. In this understanding, the elements are symbols
which remain ontologically unaffected by the ritual.

5. Justification
As previously discussed, protestants view justification as the moment God
declares that a guilty person is righteous because of what Christ has done.
Sanctification, then, is the process of being made more righteous throughout
your life.
However, Dr. Horrell notes that Catholics view justification as both a point and a
process:
What the Roman Catholic rejects is that there is an imputed
righteousness of Christ to us at the moment of salvation, that we are
counted as fully righteous in the sight of God
6. Priesthood of All Believers
Rather than a vertical structure, Protestants see the church as having a
horizontal structure. Dr. Svigel contrasts the role of the Catholic priest with the
Protestant idea of the priesthood of all believers:
That which was reserved just for the magisterium, the ability to bind and
loose to forgive and withhold forgiveness through the sacraments and
through penance and such, that was just the role of the priest. From Luther
on, we have the ability to confess our sins to one another, pronounce
forgiveness
as
the
scripture says.

7. Veneration of the Saints and the Virgin Mary

Roman Catholics see veneration, not as praying to the Saints and the Virgin
Mary, but as praying through them. This is seen as similar to asking a brother or
sister in Christ to pray for you. Dr. Svigel adds that departed saints are also able
to spill over their overabundance of grace to us.
Furthermore, Dr. Horrell notes that the Virgin Mary is seen as the mother of our
Lord, and therefore she is the mother of his body, and his body is the church, so
she is the mother of the church. He is the creator of all things. So she is the
mother of angels. She is the mother of humanity, as is sometimes said.
Moreover, the Catholic Church has also called her the Queen of Heaven.
Historically, Mary was given a less prominent position in Protestantism as a
reaction to this emphasis in the Catholic Church. There is no equivalent to this
kind of veneration in Protestantism, as Protestants emphasize direct access to
God.
Conclusion
While both Protestants and Catholics agree on many essentials of the historic
Christian faith, there are key issues which continue to distinguish their beliefs
and practices. Get the full conversation by listening to the Table Podcast series:
Comparing Protestantism with Catholicism

The Difference between Protestantism and Catholicism

By: Norton Herbst
As Christians, Protestants and Catholics share different beliefs. Learn 5 key
differences.
Often you hear people say, Christians believe X, or Christianity says Y. Or
maybe youve heard something more specific, like, Catholics believe X, but
Baptists believe Y, and Methodists believe Z.
What does all that mean? Are there different kinds of Christians?
Different Strokes
There are many forms of Christianity, and though there are similarities between
them, there are also significant differences. Of the three main divisions
Orthodox, Catholic, and ProtestantProtestantism, Roman Catholicism, and the
relationship between the two seem to get the most attention in the West.
Cultural and geographical elements have played significant roles in the
development of Christianity, and as such, we should not discount ethnic and
cultural identities when comparing a Peruvian Catholic to an American
Protestant.1 But setting cultural factors aside for a moment, lets consider some
of the fundamental differences between Protestantism and Roman Catholicism.
Historical Background
In the centuries that followed Jesus death, most Christians promoted what was
called Catholic Christianitywhat the ancient Apostles Creed (circa 150 CE)
professed as the one holy, catholic church. 2
The term catholic comes from the Greek word katholik, which means literally
according to the whole or universal.The term came to designate the most
accepted form of faith passed down from the first followers of Jesus. It was not
about an institution: it was a spiritual vision, a conviction that all Christians
should be in one body.3
At that time, Roman culture and the Latin language dominated the West, so
Christianity in that region took on a decidedly Roman flavor. Consequently, the
term Roman Catholicism became synonymous with western Christianity. 4 From
the early centuries CE through the Middle Ages, Roman Catholic beliefs,
traditions, practices, and institutions were the normative form of Christianity.
In the sixteenth century, the Protestant Reformation began. Church leaders
Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, and others protested against some of the practices and
abuses of the Catholic Church.
Though the protestors wanted to reform the church from within, eventually it
became clear that their movement was incompatible with the mother church in

Rome. So they broke away and set up their own church structures and
organizationsushering in the birth of Protestantism.
Today, many different denominations and groups make up Protestantism
throughout the world. Anglican, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist,
Evangelical Free, Pentecostal, and many nondenominational churches now fall
under the umbrella category of Protestantism.
Key Differences
Though individuals can, of course, have their own specific beliefs, there are five
key differences between Protestants and Catholics.
The Authority of the Pope
Roman Catholics believe that the pope is the head of the worldwide Church. As
the vicar of Christ, the pope stands as the earthly representative of Christ in
the world and acts in his place to lead the Church in determining what is true,
right, and proper for all Catholics. According to church teaching, the pope is
preserved from any possibility of error when speaking on matters of faith and
morals to be held by the entire Church. 5
According to this tradition, the apostle Peter was ordained the first pope 6 when
Jesus declared, And I tell you that you are Peter,and on this rock I will build my
church, and the gates of Hadeswill not overcome it. 7 Tradition says that Peter
went on to become the bishop of Rome. Catholics believe that this office of
authority continues today.
Protestants, on the other hand, do not believe in a hierarchical structure that
culminates in one individual who could speak definitively and proclaim truth
without error.8
Mary, the Mother of Jesus
Mary plays a different role for Catholics than for most Protestants. Because Mary
was the instrument through whom God brought his Son into the world, Catholics
honor Mary with the titles Mother of God and Mother of the Church.
Catholics regard her as an example of faith and holiness. According to tradition,
Mary was conceived and born without the stain of original sin and remained
sinless throughout her life.
Though Catholics have a special devotion to Mary, they do not adore or worship
her as they do God and the Incarnate Word (a common misperception). They
pray to Maryas they pray to other saintsasking her to intercede or mediate
for them with her Son with whom she is in perfect communion. Put another way,
they ask Mary to pray for them in much the same way as all Christians ask each
other for prayer.9
For various reasons, though Protestants may have a high view of Mary, they do
not hold her in the same regard. As such, they typically do not pray to Mary or

make her a focal point of artwork or iconography in the same way Roman
Catholics do.10
The Doctrine of Justification
Both Protestants and Catholics agree that one is justifiedmade righteous or put
in right relationship with Godthrough grace. The differences in their beliefs are
a matter of degree.
Roman Catholics believe that a persons actions play a significant role in ones
standing with God because actions are external expressions of ones inner faith.
For Catholics, good deeds can achieve penance for sins or limit ones time in
Purgatory after death.
Protestants believe that justification by grace through faith is the only way for a
person to enjoy a righteous standing before God. In this view, good works are
done out of gratitude and are seen as a result of faith, but alone can earn no
merit with God.11 Catholics believe this as well but continue to emphasize works
as demonstrations of faith.
Worship
Roman Catholics embrace mystery, hierarchy, rituals, liturgy, structure, and
more symbolic actions in worship. Protestants, on the other hand, developed
worship services that are plain and straightforward, focusing on Scripture.
For Catholics, the focus of the Mass is the Eucharist or Holy Communion. For
Protestants, the central moment of worship comes with the sermonwhen the
minister stands to preach from the Bible.12
Admittedly, the above is a generalization for the sake of clarity and simplicity.
Nevertheless, a typical evangelical Protestant worship service today could
consist almost entirely of singing modern songs with modern instruments in an
auditorium with few religious symbols. But a Catholic service will likely contain
numerous elements that are complex, elaborate, and deeply meaningful to
participants.
The Role of Church Tradition
Most variations between Protestants and Roman Catholics are grounded in a
more foundational difference: the role of church tradition.
Protestants believe that the central authority for faith and practice is found in the
Scriptures.13 While tradition, reason, and experience are important, Protestants
tend to think they should all be measured againstand are ultimately
superseded bythe teachings of the Bible.
On the other hand, Roman Catholics adhere to many beliefs and practices that
are not explicitly stated in the Scriptures. These traditionsalong with the
Scripturesconstitute a deposit of faith that has been passed down from the first
apostles through the Magisterium of the Churchthat is, the Pope, the bishops,

and the Church Councils.14 Authority is found in the Bible, reason, and church
tradition togetherthese three are seen as complementary, not in tension. 15
Thus, Roman Catholics regard certain practices and beliefssuch as papal
infallibility, Marys Immaculate Conception, the doctrine of Purgatory, the
celibacy of priests, and the distinction between mortal and venial sinsas
important to their faith, while Protestants do not necessarily agree.
Many Denominations, One God
These differences are extremely important. They continue to be the source of
fruitfuland sometimes not-so-fruitfuldiscussions between Protestants and
Roman Catholics. However, one should not neglect the central beliefs upon which
virtually all Protestants and Catholics agree.
There is one God, the Creator, who sent his only Son, Jesus, into the world to live
as an example, to teach about the coming reign of God, to die on the cross, and
to rise from the dead. Through faith in Jesus, anyone can find hope, peace, and
restoration with God.16

What is the difference between Catholics and Protestants?

Question: "What is the difference between Catholics and Protestants?"
Answer: There are several important differences between Catholics and
Protestants. While there have been some attempts over the last several years to
find common ground between the two groups, the fact is that the differences
remain, and they are just as important today as they were at the beginning of
the Protestant Reformation. The following is brief summary of some of the more
important differences:
One of the first major differences between Catholicism and Protestantism is the
issue of the sufficiency and authority of Scripture. Protestants believe that the
Bible alone is the source of Gods special revelation to mankind and teaches us
all that is necessary for our salvation from sin. Protestants view the Bible as the
standard by which all Christian behavior must be measured. This belief is
commonly referred to as sola scriptura and is one of the five solas (sola is
Latin for alone) that came out of the Protestant Reformation as summaries of
some of the differences between Catholics and Protestants.
While there are many verses in the Bible that establish its authority and its
sufficiency for all matters of faith and practice, one of the clearest is 2 Timothy
3:16, where we see that all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for
teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of
God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. Catholics reject the
doctrine of sola scriptura and do not believe that the Bible alone is sufficient.
They believe that both the Bible and sacred Roman Catholic tradition are equally
binding upon the Christian. Many Roman Catholics doctrines, such as purgatory,
praying to the saints, worship or veneration of Mary, etc., have little or no basis
in Scripture but are based solely on Roman Catholic traditions. Essentially, the
Roman Catholic Churchs denial of sola scriptura and its insistence that both the
Bible and tradition are equal in authority undermine the sufficiency, authority,
and completeness of the Bible. The view of Scripture is at the root of many, if not
all, of the differences between Catholics and Protestants.
Another disagreement between Catholicism and Protestantism is over the office
and authority of the Pope. According to Catholicism the Pope is the Vicar of
Christ (a vicar is a substitute) and takes the place of Jesus as the visible head of
the Church. As such, the Pope has the ability to speak ex cathedra (with
authority on matters of faith and practice), making his teachings infallible and
binding upon all Christians. On the other hand, Protestants believe that no
human being is infallible and that Christ alone is the Head of the Church.
Catholics rely on apostolic succession as a way of trying to establish the Popes
authority. Protestants believe that the churchs authority comes not from
apostolic succession but from the Word of God. Spiritual power and authority do
not rest in the hands of a mere man but in the very Word of God. While
Catholicism teaches that only the Catholic Church can properly interpret the
Bible, Protestants believe that the Bible teaches God sent the Holy Spirit to

indwell all born-again believers, enabling all believers to understand the

message of the Bible.
Protestants point to passages such as John 14:1617: I will ask the Father, and
He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the
Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or
know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
(See also John 14:26 and 1 John 2:27.)
A third major difference between Catholicism and Protestantism is how one is
saved. Another of the five solas of the Reformation is sola fide (faith alone),
which affirms the biblical doctrine of justification by grace alone through faith
alone because of Christ alone (Ephesians 2:810). However, Catholics teach that
the Christian must rely on faith plus meritorious works in order to be saved.
Essential to the Roman Catholic doctrine of salvation are the Seven Sacraments,
which are baptism, confirmation, the Eucharist, penance, anointing of the sick,
holy orders, and matrimony. Protestants believe that, on the basis of faith in
Christ alone, believers are justified by God, as all their sins are paid for by Christ
on the cross and His righteousness is imputed to them. Catholics, on the other
hand, believe that Christs righteousness is imparted to the believer by grace
through faith, but in itself is not sufficient to justify the believer. The believer
must supplement the righteousness of Christ imparted to him with meritorious
works.
Catholics and Protestants also disagree on what it means to be justified before
God. To the Catholic, justification involves being made righteous and holy. He
believes that faith in Christ is only the beginning of salvation and that the
individual must build upon that with good works because Gods grace of eternal
salvation must be merited. This view of justification contradicts the clear
teaching of Scripture in passages such as Romans 4:112, Titus 3:37, and many
others. Protestants distinguish between the one-time act of justification (when
we are declared righteous by God based on our faith in Christs atonement on
the cross) and the process of sanctification (the development of righteousness
that continues throughout our lives on earth). While Protestants recognize that
works are important, they believe they are the result or fruit of salvation but
never the means to it. Catholics blend justification and sanctification together
into one ongoing process, which leads to confusion about how one is saved.
A fourth major difference between Catholics and Protestants has to do with what
happens after death. Both believe that unbelievers will spend eternity in hell, but
there are significant differences about what happens to believers. From their
church traditions and their reliance on non-canonical books, the Catholics have
developed the doctrine of purgatory. Purgatory, according to the Catholic
Encyclopedia, is a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who,
departing this life in Gods grace, are not entirely free from venial faults, or have
not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions. On the other hand,
Protestants believe that because we are justified by faith in Christ alone and that
Christs righteousness is imputed to uswhen we die, we will go straight to

heaven to be in the presence of the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:610 and Philippians

1:23).
One disturbing aspect about the Catholic doctrine of purgatory is the belief that
man can and must pay for his own sins. This results in a low view of the
sufficiency and efficiency of Christs atonement on the cross. Simply put, the
Roman Catholic view of salvation implies that Christs atonement on the cross
was insufficient payment for the sins of those who believe in Him and that even a
believer must pay for his own sins, either through acts of penance or time in
purgatory. Yet the Bible teaches that it is Christs death alone that can satisfy or
propitiate Gods wrath against sinners (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17; 1 John 2:2; 1
John 4:10). Our works of righteousness cannot add to what Christ has already
accomplished.
The differences between Catholicism and evangelical Protestants are important
and significant. Paul wrote Galatians to combat the Judaizers (Jews who said that
Gentile Christians had to obey the Old Testament Law to be saved). Like the
Judaizers, Catholics make human works necessary for one to be justified by God,
and
they
end
up
with
a
completely
different
gospel.
It is our prayer that God will open the eyes of those who are putting their faith in
the teachings of the Catholic Church. It is our hope that everyone will understand
that his works of righteousness cannot justify him or sanctify him (Isaiah 64:6).
We pray that all will instead put their faith solely in the fact that we are justified
freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25God
presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood
to be received by faith (Romans 3:2425). God saves us, not because of
righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the
washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us
generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his
grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:57).