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what’s the difference: Roman Catholic
October 30, 2022
This info comes from So What’s the difference by Fritz Ridenour
The One True Church?
~ Roman Catholics claim to be the one true church
~ retains the right that it – the church – has the right and power to interpret the Scriptures according to what they believe the Bible says
~ instead of Sola Scripture [Bible Alone], the Catholic Church assumed and claimed the correct approach to the Scriptures, plus tradition…faith plus works
~ read the scriptures, yes – interpret, no: …”All that has been said about the manner of interpreting Scripture is ultimately subject to the judgement of the Church which exercises the divinely conferred commission and ministry of watching over and interpreting the Word of God.”
~ building on its claim to be the only infallible authority as to what Scripture really means, the Catholic Church has been rather subjective in interpreting various passages of Scripture to make it fit/support its traditions.
~ dogmas such as the Immaculate Conception and papal infallibility are implied in Scripture and when viewed according to the teachings of the papacy, they make perfect sense.
~ apostolic succession: bishops became the most important officials in the Church, by the 2nd century were considered the supposed successors to the apostles, complete with powers, authority and wisdom. (Apostolic succession not found in the Bible)
(image from pinterest)
~ Baptism: for infants or adults imparts sanctifying grace and erases original sin; being baptized is a symbol of washing away the old and bringing forth the new
– Catholic believers keep sanctifying grace through “spiritual battle”, following the program of “good works”
Matthew 28: 19 (NKJV)
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
~ confirmation: the completion of baptism…children [babies] who have been baptized are confirmed at age 12
~ the Holy Eucharist: Holy Communion…the most important sacrament of the Catholic Church.
~ penance: is how Roman Catholics are forgiven by God…through the ministry of a priest, for the sins committed after baptism
~ anointing of the sick or extreme unction: the priest lays hands on the sick or dying believer, prays over him or her in the faith of the Church and anoints the believer with oil blessed by the bishop (if possible)
~ Holy Orders: the sacrament through which Catholic ministers are ordained at three levels – bishops, presbyters (priests), deacons. Only bishops can confer the sacrament of Holy Order
~ matrimony: sacrament in which Christ joins a Catholic man and a Catholic woman in a grace giving, lifelong union. Divorce and remarriage cut the Catholic off from communion but not from the church. I will add…marrying someone that isn’t Catholic is frowned upon.
~ Roman Catholics insist that faith in what Christ did on the cross [died] is not enough. Faith in Jesus is only the beginning of salvation.
~ Purgatory takes care of “unpaid for” sins. Even when Catholic believers do all the works required of them, they are still not assured the immediate entrance into heaven. Purgatory is a place where Catholic believers face punishment for sins. This is not hell or a torture chamber. Loved ones that have been left behind can pray for the deceased, offer Mass and do forms of good works – doing these things will help them get to heaven quicker.
~ the Virgin Mary: her role in redemption is of equal importance – as mediator – with Christ. “As no man goeth to the Father but by the Son, so no man goeth to Christ but by His mother.” (Pope Leo XIII in 1891)
– different levels of worship used in the Catholic church: latria – adoration for the triune God alone; dulia – veneration due to angels and canonized saints; hyperdulia – a category reserved for Mary alone.
In summary:
~ Catholics believe that Scriptures and “Sacred Tradition” are equal in authority.
~ Catholics believe that the teaching authority has been entrusted to the Roman Church, to interpret the Bible for Catholics. Catholics are not supposed to interpret the Bible for themselves.
~ Peter was the first Pope (there is no mention of the word ‘pope’ in the Bible/New Testament)
~ The pope is infallible when speaking “from the chair” or with authority, on matters of faith and morals (Christians believe only Christ is the head is the church/no man is infallible)
~ Catholics believe salvation is secured by faith and good works and grace (through the seven sacraments of the church – Britannica)
~ Catholics blend justification and sanctification into one process(Christians believe God justifies the believer and sanctification is a lifelong process – “once saved always saved”, unless faith is personally denounced)
~ Catholics believe they cannot pay for all their sins and must enter purgatory for a certain amount of time when they die, to be made fit for heaven. Christians believe Christ’s death on the cross saves us from eternal damnation, nothing else is really needed.
For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners
~ Matthew 9 :13
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (NKJV)
(pinterest)
hope you have a great day!
thanks for stopping by!!
…I personally don’t believe in religion, not as it has been defined in society. All it is, is a tool to divide us. I grew up a Baptist and went to a Christian school. To this day I have questions, but I still believe – and I keep looking for answers. Having faith that God is in control and believing that He sent His son to die for our sins is all that is needed to be saved. One doesn’t need to pray on the rosary, live a life of celibacy, or not eat certain foods to be saved. Jesus paid it all!
2 Comments on “what’s the difference: Roman Catholic”
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I grew up Catholic & was raised in this “one true church” business. But both my grandfathers were Protestant & my great-grandfathers were Protestant as well. My grandmother (who was a devout Catholic) went to the Lutheran church that her father attended & also to the Methodist Church that her other relatives attended. My father converted to Catholicism when he was 13 … this had a lot to do with a family crisis (I’m not going into this here) & my father … always close to his mother … sided with his mother & became a very devout Catholic. I’ve always said that converts are more devout than those of us who are born into the religion. But some of my sisters & brothers are total Catholics … politically so.
I read the Diary of Anne Frank when I was ten & I thought of the doctrine that if you weren’t Christian, indeed, if you weren’t Catholic, that you were condemned to hell & I thought … if this girl was going to hell, that there was something seriously wrong with all of their teachings. I started moving away from my Catholic teaching at that point.
That said, I think it’s good to bring a child up in a religion. You need to rebel against something. Catholicism is a good place to start your rebellion. Also, it has the Holy Mother … I was also devoted to Her.
Thank you for your comment.
I think faith is more important than religion, as it is a tool to divide…or can be. I think it’s important to know what you believe and why. It’s not my intention to condemn or judge anyone, just bring the differences to the forefront – so we can decide for ourselves what is what.
With One World Religion on the horizon and the Catholics and Muslims spearheading this – from what I’m seeing, we as believers need to know and understand to the best of our ability the differences and what could possibly be trouble.
I hope that makes sense.