Ethan Walker
Presbyterianism and Catholicism are two distinct Christian denominations with their own unique beliefs and practices. While they share a common foundation in Christianity and have some similarities, there are also significant differences between the two traditions. The core distinction between the two denominations lies in their understanding of spiritual authority and fulfillment. Presbyterians believe that the Bible is the sole source of spiritual authority and God's grace, while Catholics hold that the Church and its traditions are equally important to scripture. This fundamental divergence has led to variations in worship practices, organizational structures, and interpretations of sacraments and saints. Despite these differences, Christians from both denominations can attend church together, and interdenominational dialogue is encouraged to foster mutual understanding and respect.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Beliefs | Presbyterians believe that God's Word is a sufficient revelation of His will for their lives. Catholics believe in intercession, meaning that a priest facilitates communication between the individual and God. |
| Worship | Presbyterians and Catholics both agree that Christ ordained the observance of communion by his church and that this involves bread and wine. Catholics have closed communion, while Presbyterians have open communion. |
| Leadership | Catholics have a hierarchy of priests who are in charge, one per church, that go up in rank until you get to the Pope. Presbyterians are led by a local council of elders at each individual church. |
| Calendar | Every Sunday, every Catholic church preaches on a topic set by the Pope in the Ecumenical Calendar. Presbyterians do not necessarily follow such a calendar. |
| Saints | Catholics pray to saints, while some Presbyterians consider this idolatry. |
| Mary | Catholics venerate Mary and hold her in high regard. Presbyterians do not view her as a unique or special figure. |
| Predestination | Some Presbyterian sects believe in predestination, while Catholics do not. |
| Priesthood | Catholic priests are required to take vows of celibacy. Presbyterians do not practice this. |
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What You'll Learn
The Lord's Supper
In terms of belief, both Catholics and Presbyterians view the Lord's Supper as a means of grace and a memorial of Christ's sacrifice. They hold that this ordinance is instituted by Jesus Christ himself during the Last Supper, as recounted in the Gospels and Paul's First Corinthians 11:23-26. However, they differ in their interpretation of the nature of the sacrament. Catholics hold to the doctrine of transubstantiation, which asserts that the bread and wine used in the ritual literally become the body and blood of Christ. In contrast, Presbyterians, along with other Reformed traditions, believe in the spiritual presence of Christ in the sacrament. This means that they understand the bread and wine to be symbolic of Christ's body and blood, but that Christ is truly present in a spiritual sense during the observance of the Lord's Supper.
Regarding the frequency of observance, Catholics typically celebrate the Mass, which includes the Eucharist, daily, while Presbyterians generally practice Communion less frequently, often once a month or quarterly, during their regular worship services. The Mass is celebrated by a priest, who leads the congregation in a liturgical service, whereas in Presbyterian churches, the minister or teaching elder typically leads a less formalized service. During the Catholic Mass, the consecrated bread (called the host) is placed on the tongue or in the hand of each communicant by the priest, while the consecrated wine is usually received only by the priest. In Presbyterian Communion, the elements of bread and wine/grape juice are passed to the congregation seated in their pews, and they partake of both elements.
Another difference lies in who may receive Communion. In the Catholic Church, only baptized Catholics in a state of grace are permitted to receive the Eucharist, and it is typically only received by confirmation candidates and adults. Presbyterians, on the other hand, practice open communion, meaning that all believers in Christ, regardless of denominational affiliation, are welcome to participate.
Finally, the settings and aesthetics of the Lord's Supper differ between the two traditions. Catholic Masses often take place in ornate churches with elaborate vestments, incense, and sacred music, creating a solemn and sacred atmosphere. Presbyterian Communion services tend to be simpler and more subdued, reflecting the Reformed emphasis on the simplicity and accessibility of worship.
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Worship practices
Worship is a key area in which the Presbyterian and Catholic Churches differ. The Catholic Church is known for its elaborate liturgies and rituals, such as the Eucharist (or Communion), the sacrament of confession, and the veneration of relics. In contrast, Presbyterian worship services are generally simpler, focusing on preaching, communal prayer, and the Word of God, with an emphasis on the Bible as the ultimate authority. Presbyterians do not recognise the authority of the Pope or certain Catholic doctrines and practices. Instead, they follow the principles of the Protestant Reformation, such as salvation by grace through faith alone.
Presbyterian services typically follow a liturgical order that includes prayers, hymns, Scripture readings, and a sermon. This structured approach sets them apart from other Protestant denominations, which may have more informal or spontaneous styles of worship. Communion, while deeply valued, may be celebrated less frequently than in the weekly Catholic Mass.
The Catholic Church's worship practices are centred around the Eucharist, also known as the Sacrament of Communion. Catholics believe that during Mass, the priest offers Christ as a sacrifice to God, and that through the power of his ordination, the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ. Presbyterians, on the other hand, believe that Christ's sacrifice was offered once and for all and cannot be repeated. Therefore, they view the Lord's Supper as taking place at a table rather than an altar, and while they treat the elements with respect, they do not adore or keep them in the same way as Catholics.
Another significant difference is the Catholic devotion to saints and Mary, the mother of Jesus. Catholics actively pray to saints and hold practices such as praying the Rosary, a special prayer to Mary. While some Presbyterian sects may honour certain saints, they do not pray to them, believing that only God is worthy of worship.
The two denominations also differ in their understanding of salvation. Presbyterians believe in justification by faith alone, while Catholics hold that salvation comes through a combination of faith and good works.
Despite these theological differences, there have been recent efforts towards dialogue and cooperation between the Presbyterian and Catholic Churches, with interfaith initiatives and ecumenical discussions seeking to find common ground and promote understanding.
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Church organisation
Presbyterianism is a system of church government by representative assemblies called presbyteries, in contrast to government by bishops (episcopal system) or by congregations (congregationalism). Presbyterian churches are typically run by local councils of elders, with each church having a plurality of elders. The elders form a session that supervises the spiritual affairs of the congregation. The deacons are responsible for certain temporalities and report to the session.
The constitutions of most Presbyterian churches provide for four grades of administrative courts: the Session, the Presbytery, the Synod, and the General Assembly. The Session governs the congregation, the Presbytery governs multiple congregations within a limited territory, the Synod governs congregations within a larger territory, and the General Assembly is the highest court. Church officers, including the pastor, ruling elders, and deacons, are elected by the congregation, although the election of the pastor is subject to the approval of the presbytery.
Presbyterianism holds a middle position between the episcopal and congregational systems of church government, declaring against hierarchical government. It asserts the lawful authority of the larger church over congregational independency. Presbyterianism is often viewed as more individualistic, while Catholicism is seen as more communal.
Catholicism, on the other hand, is a hierarchical faith organized under the Pope, who is considered the supreme authority. Beneath the Pope are cardinals, archbishops, bishops, vicars, and priests. The Catholic Church traces its lineage back to the apostle Peter, whom Catholics view as the first pope, and believes in the importance of both the Church and scripture in spiritual fulfillment and authority.
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Priesthood and celibacy
Presbyterianism and Catholicism differ in their requirements for leadership, with celibacy being a requirement for Roman Catholic priests but not for Presbyterian ministers.
The Catholic Church considers the law of clerical celibacy to be not a doctrine, but a discipline. Theologically, the Catholic Church teaches that priesthood is a ministry conformed to the life and work of Jesus Christ. Priests, as sacramental ministers, act in persona Christi ('in the mask of Christ'), and thus the life of the priest conforms to the chastity of Christ himself. The sacrifice of married life is for the “sake of the Kingdom” (Luke 18:28–30, Matthew 19:27–30), and to follow the example of Jesus Christ in being "married" to the church, viewed by Catholicism and many Christian traditions as the "Bride of Christ".
The Catholic Church forbids no one to marry, and no one is required to take a vow of celibacy. Rather, those who do so do so voluntarily. They “renounce marriage” (Matthew 19:12); no one forbids it to them. The Church simply elects candidates for the priesthood from among those who voluntarily renounce marriage.
In the Latin (Western) Catholic Church, married men may be ordained as deacons and are referred to as "permanent deacons", but married men may not be ordained as priests or bishops. In the Eastern Catholic Churches, the rules are the same as in the Latin Church, or they require celibacy for bishops while allowing married men to be ordained as priests.
Exceptions are sometimes made, especially in the case of married male Lutheran, Anglican, and other Protestant clergy who convert to the Catholic Church. The discipline could, in theory, be changed for all ordinations to the priesthood. Since the start of the pontificate of Pope Pius XII (1939–1958), exceptions have been allowed for married Protestant ministers, including Lutheran or Anglican clergy, who convert to Catholicism and wish to become priests, provided their wives consent.
In October 2019, many of the bishops at the Amazon Synod in Rome said that married priests should be allowed in the Roman Catholic Church.
The tradition in the Western or Latin-Rite Church has been for priests as well as bishops to take vows of celibacy, a rule that has been firmly in place since the early Middle Ages. Even today, exceptions are made for married Latin-Rite priests who are converts from Lutheranism and Episcopalianism. As these variations and exceptions indicate, priestly celibacy is not an unchangeable dogma but a disciplinary rule.
The First Lateran Council (1123–1153) forbade those in orders to marry and ordered all those already married to renounce their wives and do penance. Later legislation declared the marriages of clerics not only illegal but also invalid. Widespread disregard of these laws continued until a reorganization of preparation for priesthood following the Protestant Reformation and the Council of Trent in the 1500s.
One of the main reasons for the imposition of celibacy on priests was to prevent nepotism and the loss of church property. Priests were favouring family in appointments, which was tied to the priesthood turning into a family business instead of a calling, meaning corruption and “bad” priests.
However, the religious arguments are mostly irrelevant as most institutions use such arguments to justify decisions after they have already been made, not as an original motivation for making a decision.
Because of the significant political and bureaucratic power that priests could wield in these newly converted principalities, it was critical that they not be seen as threats to the Germanic dynasties. Thus, the Church enforced celibacy to prevent any children that a priest might father from being legitimized, and thus unable to inherit property or title.
Presbyterians and Catholics
Presbyterians and Catholics have different requirements for leadership, with celibacy being a requirement for Roman Catholic priests but not for Presbyterian ministers. Presbyterians also have a different form of church organization and a different understanding of the sacraments.
John Calvin, the original founder of Presbyterianism, threw out every practice of the Roman Catholic Church that he found to be unjustified in scripture, so that Presbyterian worship and form of church government are quite different.
The split that involved Presbyterians happened in the mid-16th century and began with Martin Luther, who led a protest movement against many of the abusive and non-biblical practices of the Roman Catholic Church. Luther’s goal was not to start a new church but to reform the original one. However, it became evident that this would be impossible. Thinkers like Luther and Calvin read the Bible and came to understand the church in a different way.
The church is not to be identified with a human institution (the Roman Catholic Church), and a human practice, like the succession of Popes whose office is decided by that institution. Human institutions become tainted with human sin, and power (which the church had in abundance in the 16th century) can easily corrupt human institutions, as clearly happened in the 16th century.
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Predestination
Presbyterianism and Catholicism are two distinct branches of Christianity, with several differences in their beliefs and practices. One key difference lies in their understanding of predestination and free will. While Presbyterians are often associated with the doctrine of predestination, suggesting that God has determined everything in advance, this belief is not as prevalent among contemporary Presbyterians. On the other hand, Catholics, along with other denominations, hold varying views on salvation and free will.
Presbyterians hold a unique perspective on salvation, believing that God's love and grace are freely given and cannot be earned or controlled by human actions. They emphasize that faith is a gift from God, and this doctrine provides assurance of God's love and forgiveness. This understanding of predestination, also known as Reformed predestination, suggests that God has taken the initiative to offer these gifts. It serves as a source of confidence for believers, who stand before God as forgiven sinners.
In contrast, Catholics, along with other denominations like Baptists, generally emphasize the role of human choice in salvation. They believe that individuals choose God out of their own free will and confess Jesus as their Lord and Savior. This perspective differs from the Presbyterian view, which challenges the notion that people can choose God on their own.
The differences between Presbyterianism and Catholicism extend beyond their views on predestination and free will. Historically, Presbyterianism emerged during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation as a direct breakaway from the Roman Catholic Church. Thinkers like Martin Luther and John Calvin played a pivotal role in shaping Presbyterian theology by challenging the practices and authority of the Catholic Church. Presbyterians reject the idea of papal infallibility and the addition of traditions and decrees to the authority of the Bible. They also differ in their understanding of the Lord's Supper, the role of priests, and the requirement of celibacy for clergy.
In summary, while predestination is often associated with Presbyterianism, contemporary Presbyterians have nuanced views on this doctrine. They emphasize God's initiative in offering salvation and grace, while Catholics and other denominations highlight human choice in the salvation process. The differences between Presbyterianism and Catholicism encompass various theological, historical, and liturgical aspects, shaping the distinct identities of these Christian traditions.
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Frequently asked questions
The core difference between the two denominations is where spiritual fulfilment and authority come from. Presbyterians believe the Bible alone is enough to receive God’s grace, while Catholics believe the Church is equally important to scripture. Catholics have 7 sacraments, while Presbyterians have 2. Catholics believe in intercession, meaning a priest facilitates communication between the individual and God, while Presbyterians believe that individuals communicate directly with God without the need for a priest.
The split that involved Presbyterians began in the 16th century with Martin Luther, who led a protest movement against the abusive and non-biblical practices of the Roman Catholic Church. Luther's goal was to reform the original church, but it became evident that this would be impossible. John Calvin, the founder of Presbyterianism, also read the Bible and came to understand the church differently. He rejected many practices of the Catholic Church that he found to be unjustified in scripture.
Yes, Christians are Christians. While there are some differences between the two denominations, they are not that different.
