Doctrinal
Comparison
The following is a comparison of doctrine between
the times of the apostles and early Church Fathers (Apostolic
Teaching), the teachings of the Catholic Church (Catholicism),
some Scriptural references, and the general understanding of this
same doctrine by most Protestant denominations (Protestantism).
The Apostolic Teachings preceded the formation of the New Testament
canon, which was not formally recognized until after the Councils
of Hippo (393 a.d.) and Carthage (397 a.d.).
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- Eucharist
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- Apostolic Teaching True Body and Blood of Christ under
the appearance of bread and wine.
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- Catholicism True Body and Blood of Christ under the
appearance of bread and wine.
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- Biblical References Mat 26:26; Mark 14:22; Luke 22:19; John 6:35,41,51-58; 1Cor 11:27-29.
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- Protestantism Christ present only as symbol.
Some Anglicans (Episcopals) hold Catholic position (transubstantiation);
Lutherans approach Catholic teaching (consubstantiation).
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- Penance
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- Apostolic Teaching Christ gave Apostles and successors
power to forgive and retain sins.
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- Catholicism Christ gave Apostles and successors power
to forgive and retain sins.
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- Biblical References John 20:23; 2Cor 5:18.
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- Protestantism Rejection of Catholic claim.
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- Marriage
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- Apostolic Teaching Valid marriage indissoluble.
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- Catholicism Valid marriage indissoluble.
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- Biblical References Mat 5:32, 19:9; Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18; 1Cor 7:10.
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- Protestantism Divorce permitted.
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- Biblical
Interpretation
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- Apostolic Teaching Interpreted by Church.
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- Catholic Interpreted by Church.
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- Biblical References Acts 8:30-31; 2Pet 1:20-21, 3:16.
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- Protestantism Private Interpretation.
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- Papacy
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- Apostolic Teaching Christ chose Peter and meant for
him to have successors.
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- Catholicism Pope successor of Peter.
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- Biblical References Mat 16:18-19. St. Irenaeus
of Lyons, who lived around 140-202 a.d., wrote, "The blessed
Apostles (Peter and Paul), having founded and built up the Church
(of Rome), handed over the office of the episcopate to Linus.
Paul makes mention of this Linus in the Epistle to Timothy (2Tim 4:21). To him succeeded Anacletus; and after him, in
the third place from the apostles, Clement was chosen for the
episcopate. He had seen the blessed Apostles and was acquainted
with them. It might be said that He still heard the echoes of
the preaching of the Apostles, and had their traditions before
his eyes. And not only he, for there were many still remaining
who had been instructed by the Apostles." St. Irenaeus then
goes on to list eight more Popes in the line of succession from
Peter and ends with: "In this order, and by the teaching
of the Apostles handed down in the Church, the preaching of the
truth has come down to us."
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- Protestantism Catholic claim denied.
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- Infallibility
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- Apostolic Teaching Christ grants to Church.
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- Catholicism Pope and bishops infallible in matters
of faith and morals when specific conditions have been met.
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- Biblical References Mat 16:18, 28:20; Mark 16:15; Luke 10:16; 1Tim 3:15.
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- Protestantism Catholic claim denied.
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- Abortion
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- Apostolic Teaching "Do not kill a fetus by abortion
or commit infanticide" (Didache).
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- Catholicism Absolutely forbidden, no exceptions.
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- Biblical References Exod 20:13; Deut 5:17.
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- Protestantism Until August 14, 1930, all Christian
churches were unanimous in their opposition to artificial means
of birth prevention. However, the first crack in the dam was
Resolution 15 of the Anglican Bishop's Lambeth Conference of
August 15, 1930. The National Council of Churches (NCC) proclaimed
on 23 February 1961 that "Most of the Protestant churches
hold contraception and periodic abstinence to be morally right
when the motives are right ... Protestant Christians are agreed
in condemning abortion or any method which destroys human life,
except when the health or life of the mother is at stake."
As the 20th Century draws to a close, almost all of the mainline
Protestant denominations (to include Methodist, Church of Christ,
Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Lutheran) accept not only contraception,
but abortion for almost all reasons. There are some exceptions.
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- Tradition
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- Apostolic Teaching Cited as rule by Apostles.
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- Catholicism Source of faith with Scripture.
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- Biblical References 1Cor 11:2, 15:3,11; 2Tim 2:2. The word "tradition" comes
from the Latin meaning "handing over". Catholics believe
that Sacred Scripture is "the speech of God as it is put
down in writing under the breath of the Holy Spirit." We
further believe that Holy Tradition "transmits in its entirety
the Word of God which has been entrusted to the apostles by Christ
the Lord and the Holy Spirit. It transmits it to the successors
of the apostles so that, enlightened by the Spirit of truth,
they may faithfully preserve, expound, and spread it abroad by
their preaching." As a result the Church, to whom the transmission
and interpretation of Revelation is entrusted, "does not
derive her certainty about all revealed truths from the holy
Scriptures alone. Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted
and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence."
Catechism of the Catholic Church, para 81-82.
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- Protestantism Generally denied.
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Conclusion: The Catholic Church
teachings today are the same as they were during the time of the
apostles and early Church Fathers and are consistent with Holy
Scripture.
"He
who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and
he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." (Luke 10:16)
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