Expert: Edward Bode - 1/20/2010

Question
Hello.  I have a lot of questions regarding Catholicism and I'm grateful for the opportunity to ask someone such as yourself for some answers.  So to begin, thank you for your help.  I am not Catholic and I am not familiar with many of the Catholic beliefs.  I am a Christian and have grown up in nondenominational churches.  My boyfriend grew up in the Catholic Church but does not agree with some of its teachings.  We were friends before we dated and talked about our faiths. We went to the same youth group at a nondenominational church and agreed on what was being taught.  He has told me that he was not a Christian throughout his childhood, but was saved when he heard and accepted the truth that Jesus died to save us.  I'm confused because it's so easy for him to go to both churches.  I don't understand many of the differences in our belief systems, but there are some areas of Catholicism that I just can't find biblical support for.  I have heard from other Catholics that my boyfriend and I could get married so long as he promises to raise our children Catholic.  When talked about in passing, my boyfriend said that we could go to both churches.  I don't know if this is possible, as I don't believe in some of the foundational teachings of Catholicism and I don't want to confuse the children I hope to have in the future.  I'm sorry if this question has been more rambling than anything, but I'm really seeking answers to the questions that others haven't been able to answer clearly. Really, I would like to know what the major differences are between Catholicism and Protestantism and I would like to see the biblical support for Catholicism.  Thank you so much for your time.  

Answer
I appreciate your seeking to undestand better what the Catholic Church teaches.
While there are many differences between Catholicism and Protestantism, the basic issue is whether God's message is contained completely in divinely inspired revelation [scripture], the Protestant position, or also in oral divine tradition, the Catholic position.
The Catholic position was held by all Christians until the so-called Protestant revolt of the 16th century in Europe.
The Catholic position is based on the New Testatment teaching that Jesus, the Savior of all, handed over to His followers the teaching on what we must believe [faith] and what we must do [morals].  He handed over that teaching authority to His church, to whic He promised His support -- see, for example, Mt 16:13-19,28:16-20.
A logical basis for the Catholic position is that if God wants us to believe and do certain things, then He owes it to Himself to provide a sure way to ensure that the teaching is not corrupted or changed.  That is the role of divine tradition.
Also, the only way to know for sure what are the inspired scriptures is from tradition.  The bible does not tell us what books are such.  As a matter of fact, that decision was reached only in the fourth century AD [trqdition].
What I have written is a start.  I am willing to add more to any more specific questions that you care to ask.  I hope to hear from you again.
Also, you might look online at The Catechism of the Catholic Church -- availabe at www.usccb.org/catechism/text/index.htm   Paragraphs that speak to what I have written are: 74-100, 113, 120.
Best wishes, Kelley.