Expert: Sal - 6/2/2005

Question
I'm a Roman Catholic in a primarily Protestant bible study. I am hard pressed to come up with a simple answer to explain our differences. (Other than the Holy Eucharist, our rites and sacraments) i.e. the external. Could you please tell me what the main difference is in the catholic vs.  protestant beliefs .  I know I ask a lot. Perhaps there is a book you could recommend.

Answer
Dear Bill:

Protestantism is not one church. It has some 20,000 denominations that teach different things. Therefore, I will only be able to answer your question in a general sense. The major differences between Catholicism and Protestantism are:

1.   The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus.
2.   The Catholic Church possesses infallibility.
3.   The Catholic Church has a Pope who is the successor of St. Peter.
4.   The Catholic Church possesses unity.
5.   The True Church is a visible body.
6.   The Catholic Church believes that God's revelation comes to us through the written word, the apostolic tradition, and the magisterium.
7.   Jesus is really present in Communion.
8.   Catholics believe in the communion of Saints.

Some books that I have found helpful are: Catholicism and Fundamentalism by Karl Keating, A Biblical Defense of Catholicism By Dave Armstrong, and Catholic and Christian by Alan Schreck.

I pray that this was helpful to you.

God Bless You,
Sal

P.S. Be careful as a Catholic in a Protestant Bible Study. Feel free to ask me about anything that may come up in the Bible study.