Joshua Bennett
Catholicism is a denomination of Christianity, and all Catholics are Christians, but not all Christians are Catholics. Catholicism is the largest of the three major branches of Christianity, with about 1.3 billion followers out of an estimated 2.5 billion Christians worldwide. Catholics and standard Christians share many core beliefs, including the belief in the Holy Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that Jesus is God and the savior of humanity. However, there are some key distinctions between the two groups. One of the most significant differences is their view of the Bible. Catholics view the Bible as having equal authority with the Church and tradition, while standard Christians view the Bible as the supreme authority for faith and practice. Another difference lies in their understanding of salvation. Catholics view salvation as a process that must be maintained through good works and participation in the Sacraments, while standard Christians see it as both a completed status and a process. Other variations include their beliefs about the sacraments, the importance of the Virgin Mary and the saints, and the role of the Pope.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Beliefs about salvation | Catholics view salvation as a process, while Christians view it as both a completed status and a process |
| Beliefs about the Bible | Catholics believe the Bible is the inspired word of God and that the Catholic Church defined the canon of Scripture |
| Beliefs about the sacraments | Catholics believe in the importance of the sacraments and that salvation must be "maintained" through participation in them |
| Beliefs about the Virgin Mary and the saints | Catholics place importance on the Virgin Mary and the saints |
| Beliefs about the papacy | Catholics believe in the papacy, while some Christians believe that Catholics should stray far from it |
| Beliefs about works-based righteousness | Catholics believe that someone is not saved by grace through faith alone |
| Beliefs about the origin of Catholicism | Catholics believe that Catholicism is derived from the Jewish faith |
| Beliefs about the Mass | Catholics believe that the Mass is a Eucharistic celebration and a celebration of God's word in Scriptures |
| Beliefs about what defines a Catholic | Catholics believe that if you were baptized into the Catholic Church or received any of the sacraments when you were younger, you are still a Catholic |
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What You'll Learn
Salvation
The concept of salvation is a confusing topic, and the Catholic Church does not endorse one particular understanding of it. However, the Bible is clear that salvation is not achieved by faith alone. Catholics believe that good works are required by God because he requires obedience to his commands. Even our obedience is impossible without God's grace; even our good works are God's gift. This is the biblical plan of salvation.
Catholics do not live lives of mortal terror concerning salvation. While salvation can be lost through mortal sin, such sins are grave and not committed on a whim. Catholics teach baptismal regeneration, and one cannot be regenerated without being baptized. Baptism removes the guilt of original sin and is equated with being born again. However, committing any of the mortal sins kills the soul, and one must regain salvation before death or go to hell.
The official teaching of Roman Catholicism is that salvation is not by faith alone, through grace alone, in Christ alone. Instead, one must have good works and observe the rituals of Roman Catholicism to be saved. This includes being baptized in the Trinitarian formula and being infused with additional grace by observing the Catholic sacraments, especially the Eucharist.
The central dogmatic truth of salvation upheld by the Church is the rejection of Pelagianism, a 5th-century heresy from the theologian Pelagius. Pelagius stressed the essential goodness of human nature and the freedom of the will, but the Church rejected this view.
In summary, Catholics believe that salvation comes through Jesus Christ alone, who has paid the price for our sins and is the one mediator between God and man.
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The Bible and tradition
Catholicism is the largest denomination of Christianity. All Catholics are Christians, but not all Christians are Catholics. A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ, who may be a Catholic, Protestant, Gnostic, Mormon, Evangelical, Anglican, or Orthodox, among others.
Catholicism is derived from the Jewish faith. The Catholic Church claims to be the original Christian Church, which began when Jesus said to the Apostle Peter, "You are the rock on which I will build my church." Catholics believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God. From the beginning of Christianity, the Catholic Church defined the canon of Scripture – the books found in every Christian Bible – and defined what it meant to be a follower of Jesus Christ.
The Catholic viewpoint is that salvation is received by faith but must be "maintained" by good works and participation in the Sacraments. Bible Christians view salvation as both a completed status and a process, whereas Catholics view it almost entirely as a process. Catholics do not believe that someone is saved by grace through faith alone. Protestants are Christians who subscribe to the core Catholic teachings (Trinity, Incarnation, Bible, etc.) but reject many of the Catholic Church's other teachings (Pope, Hierarchy, Mary, Saints, Sacraments, Purgatory, etc.).
There is a saying, "Once a Catholic, always a Catholic." If you were baptized into the Catholic Church or received any of the sacraments when you were younger, you are still considered Catholic, even if you no longer practice the faith.
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The importance of the Virgin Mary and the saints
Catholics are Christians, but not all Christians are Catholics. Catholicism is the largest denomination of Christianity. Catholics view salvation as a process, while Bible Christians view salvation as both a completed status and a process. The Catholic viewpoint is that salvation is received by faith and then "maintained" by good works and participation in the Sacraments.
Catholics hold the Virgin Mary in high regard. Devotion to and veneration of the Virgin Mary is based on the belief that she was the mother of Jesus and the "God-bearer". The dogma of Mary's Perpetual Virginity maintains that Mary was a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Jesus. The earliest Christians believed in the virgin birth, and this has been professed throughout the centuries in the various creeds of the Church. The veneration of the Virgin Mary takes place in various ways, from simple Rosary recitations to the wearing of scapulars.
The Virgin Mary is also important to Catholics because of her participation in the processes of salvation and redemption. The Franciscan Duns Scotus developed the concept that Mary was preserved from sin by the redemptive virtue of Jesus. Mary's suffering at Calvary united her heart with that of Jesus, and she suffered each torment along with him.
Catholics treasure their saints. Saints are ordinary people who lived holy lives in obedience to God's will and are now in heaven for eternity. Saints are born sinners, but what separates them from others is that they never gave up and never stopped trying to be better. Catholics honour saints just as a society honours its dead who helped make the world a better place while they were alive.
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The role of the Pope
Catholicism is the largest denomination of Christianity, with around 1.3 billion followers out of an estimated 2.5 billion Christians worldwide. All Catholics are Christians, but not all Christians are Catholics.
The Catholic Church is the original Christian Church, dating back to Jesus himself, who said to the Apostle Peter, "You are the rock on which I will build my church". Catholics believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God and that the Catholic Church defined the canon of Scripture and what it meant to be a follower of Jesus Christ.
A key distinction between Catholics and other Christians is their view of salvation. Catholics view salvation as a process, while other Christians see it as both a completed status and a process. Catholics believe that salvation is received by faith but must then be "maintained" through good works and participation in the sacraments.
Now, onto the role of the Pope:
The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church and is considered the successor to Saint Peter, one of Jesus's Twelve Apostles, who was made the first Bishop of Rome by Jesus himself, according to Catholic doctrine. The Pope is the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church and is believed to have the power to define dogma, or official doctrine, of the Church. He is also the head of state of Vatican City, a small, independent city-state within Rome, Italy, which is the headquarters of the Catholic Church.
The Pope's primary role is to teach and spread the Catholic faith and to guide and govern the Catholic Church. He is responsible for appointing bishops, who are the leaders of dioceses (regional areas of the Church), and plays a key role in the selection of cardinals, the most senior officials of the Catholic Church. The Pope also has the power to excommunicate, or remove someone from the Church, and to grant annuls of marriages, among other things.
The Pope is a highly influential figure in the Catholic Church and is considered the earthly representative of Jesus Christ. He is believed to have a direct line of communication with God and is often seen as the ultimate moral authority for Catholics. The Pope's teachings and interpretations of Scripture are highly regarded, and his guidance is sought by Catholics worldwide.
In addition to his spiritual duties, the Pope also has diplomatic and administrative responsibilities as the head of Vatican City. He is responsible for the governance and administration of the city-state and plays a key role in the Church's relations with other countries and international organizations. The Pope is also the head of various departments, or dicasteries, of the Roman Curia, which is the central governing body of the Catholic Church.
The Pope is elected by the College of Cardinals and serves for life. He is typically chosen from among the cardinals and is usually an elderly and highly respected member of the Church. The current Pope, Pope Francis, was elected in 2013 and is the first Pope from the Americas.
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Grace and faith
The concept of grace is integral to both Catholic and Protestant Christians, though there are some differences in their interpretations. For Catholics, grace is a gift of God's love that invites humans into a relationship with him. It is received through the sacraments, making salvation possible.
The Catholic Church holds that "by grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works". This is affirmed by the Council of Orange (529) and the Council of Trent, which stated that "none of the things that precede justification, whether faith or works, merit the grace of justification".
However, Protestants interpret this differently. For them, salvation is achieved by grace alone through faith alone. They believe that good works may play a role in identifying a true believer but not in their salvation. Thus, Protestants view Catholic emphasis on works as suggesting that one can be saved by their own works apart from God's grace.
The Catholic view, on the other hand, necessitates the undeserved help of God in salvation. Sanctifying grace implies a real transformation of the soul, which most Protestant Reformers deny. They argue that God does not actually wipe away sins but merely covers them up. Catholics, however, believe that if one sins grievously, the supernatural life in the soul disappears, and one must respond to God's actual graces to become rejustified.
In conclusion, while both Catholics and Protestants agree on the importance of grace, they differ on its role in salvation. For Catholics, grace is essential but must be accompanied by faith and works, while Protestants believe in salvation by grace through faith alone.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Catholics are Christians, but not all Christians are Catholics. Catholicism is one of the three major branches of Christianity, along with Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism.
Standard Christians may view Catholics as having differing interpretations of the Bible and its authority, as well as distinct beliefs about salvation, the sacraments, the importance of the Virgin Mary and the saints, and the role of the Pope.
Catholics believe in one God, the Father almighty, and in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. They also believe in the Eucharist, the real presence of Jesus in the form of bread and wine, and in the sacrament of reconciliation or confession.
