Ask The Pastor

Monday, September 9, 2002

> Question:
>
> What is the difference between Catholics and protestants?

Kelly,

There are three major divisions in the Christianity, Roman Catholic,
Greek Orthodox, and Protestant. The term Protestant is sort of a
generic term for denominations who are neither Roman Catholic nor
Greek Orthodox. (Greek Orthodox has a number of branches who are
in communion with one another.)

As for the the difference between Catholics and Protestants, here are
a few:

(1) Rule of faith: Protestants accept the Bible alone as their main rule
of faith. Roman Catholic place the Bible as one among several
authorities.

(2) Head of the Church: Protestants do not accept any man on earth
as being head of the Church. Catholics look to the Pope as having that
role.

(3) Mary: Protestants do not accept Mary or the saints as having a
special intercessory role for believers. Catholic believe just opposite
and place great value upon the intercessions of Mary and the saints.

(4) Communion: Protestants believe that the Lord's Supper is primarily
a memorial meal. Catholics believe the bread and wine actually turn
into the body and blood of Jesus. (Transubstantiation.)

(5) Sacraments: Catholics have a number of sacraments that will not
be found in Protestant Churches. Protestants generally hold to two
rituals to be observed, which are water baptism for believers, and the
Lord's Supper

(6) Auricular Confession: Catholics believe that priests have the power
to remit sins through the priestly confessions. As a rule Protestants
believe in the priesthood of all believers.

(7) Church: Roman Catholicism teaches that they alone are the true
Church. Protestants believe that all Christian believers make up the
true Church.

(8) Purgatory: Catholics believe the soul enters purgatory upon death,
for a time of purging or cleansing. Protestants believe the soul goes
directly to heaven at death.

(9) Immaculate Conception: Catholics teach that Mary was born
without sin. Protestants do not believe this.

(10) Infallibility of the Pope: Catholics believe that when the Pope
speaks ex-Cathedra (Officially, or 'from the chair.') that his words are
infallible, or the same as God speaking. Protestants allow this for no
man.

Hope this helps,

Blessings,

Buddy
Bro. Buddy Martin - Ask the Pastor

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Lawrence "Buddy" Martin
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org

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