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CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT

The chart below provides a quick-reference guide to the major differences between Catholic and Protestant theology,

especially at the time of the Reformation. As is always true with charts and other summaries, the information is

oversimplified for the sake of brevity and should be used alongside more complete explanations.

The Protestant positions listed here are based primarily on the historical Lutheran and Reformed perspectives. The

beliefs listed for both Catholics and Protestants by no means represent those of all churches or individuals within that

tradition.

For more detailed comparisons that take into account differences within Protestantism, see the comparison charts on

Facts and Stats, Beliefs, Practices, and Social and Ethical Views of Christian Denominations.

Catholic  Protestant 

Authority  Scripture and tradition Sola Scriptura - Scripture alone

Bible  Includes apocrypha Excludes apocrypha

Results of FallCorruption and tendency tosin

Total depravity and guilt

Free will Free to do good or evil Free only to do evil

Predestination Related to God'sforeknowledge

Related to God's decrees

Atonement Death of Christ createdmerit that is shared with

sinners through sacraments

Death of Christ was asubstitutionary sacrifice that

satisfied God's justice

Divine grace

Prevenient grace helps onebelieve; efficacious gracecooperates with the humanwill to do good

Common grace enabling goodworks given to all; sufficient gracefor salvation given to elect only

Good works MeritoriousResults of divine grace andunworthy of merit

Salvation 

Received at baptism; maybe lost by mortal sin;

regained by penance. Thosewho have never heard of Christ may be saved.(Catech 847)

Result of divine grace;

unconditional. Those who havenever heard of Christ may besaved.

The ChurchThe Catholic Church is "theplace where humanity mustrediscover its unity and

There is a distinction between thevisible and invisible church. Godsaves anyone he chooses, or 

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salvation" (Catech 845) butthose baptized in other Christian denominations arein communion with theChurch (Catech 838).

anyone with proper faith,regardless of churchmembership.

Sacraments Convey grace by their operation (ex oper e operato).

Means of grace only if receivedwith faith.

Priests  A special vocation for somebelievers; mediatorsbetween God and man

Priesthood of all believers.

Transubstantiation    Affirmed Rejected

Purgatory    Affirmed Denied

Prayer to saints   Accepted Rejected