Catholicism Vs Protestantism
|
|
Catholic |
Protestant |
| Authority | Scripture and tradition | Sola Scriptura - Scripture alone |
| Bible | Includes apocrypha | Excludes apocrypha |
| Results of Fall | Corruption and tendency to sin | Total depravity and guilt |
| Free will | Free to do good or evil | Free only to do evil |
| Predestination | Related to God's foreknowledge | Related to God's decrees |
| Atonement | Death of Christ created merit that is shared with sinners through sacraments | Death of Christ was a substitutionary sacrifice that satisfied God's justice |
| Divine grace | Prevenient grace helps one believe; efficacious grace cooperates with the human will to do good | Common grace enabling good works given to all; sufficient grace for salvation given to elect only |
| Good works | Meritorious | Results of divine grace and unworthy of merit |
| Salvation | Received at baptism; may be lost by mortal sin; regained by penance. Those who have never heard of Christ may be saved. (Catech 847) | Result of divine grace; unconditional. Those who have never heard of Christ may be saved. |
| The Church | The Catholic Church is "the place where humanity must rediscover its unity and salvation" (Catech 845) but those baptized in other Christian denominations are in communion with the Church (Catech 838). | There is a distinction between the visible and invisible church. God saves anyone he chooses, or anyone with proper faith, regardless of church membership. |
| Sacraments | Convey grace by their operation (ex opere operato). | Means of grace only if received with faith. |
| Priests | A special vocation for some believers; mediators between God and man | Priesthood of all believers. |
| Transubstantiation | Affirmed | Rejected - "Real Presence" instead. |
| Purgatory | Affirmed | Denied |
| Prayer to saints | Accepted | Rejected |