The Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches were the only established churches prior to all other Christian denominations. For comparison purposes, we will look at the main differences between the beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic faith and most other Protestant denominations:
- Authority Within the Church - Catholics believe the authority of the church lies within the hierarchy of the church; Protestants believe the authority of the church lies within the believer.
- Baptism - Catholics (as well as Lutherans, Episcopalians/Anglicans and some other Protestants) believe that Baptism is a sacrament that regenerates and justifies, and is usually done in infancy; Most Protestants believe Baptism is an outward testimony of a prior inward regeneration, usually done after a person confesses Jesus as Savior and obtains an understanding of the significance of Baptism. Visit About.com's Catholicism site to understand more about the Catholic Sacrament of Baptism.
- The Bible - Catholics believe that truth is found mainly in the Bible, as interpreted by the church, but also found in church tradition. The Catholic Church historically teaches that the original writings by Bible authors are inerrant. Protestants believe that truth is found in Scripture, as interpreted by the individual, and that the original writings of the authors of the Bible are without error.
- Books of the Bible - The Catholic Church includes the same 66 books of the Bible as do Protestants, but adds the books of the Apocrypha. Protestants accept only the 66 books of the Old and New Testament. Protestants rejected the Apocrypha books during the Reformation as lacking divine authority.
- Clergy Selection - The Roman Catholic Church appoints all male, and almost all unmarried clergy. Protestants elect mostly male, single or married clergy.
- Forgiveness of Sin - Catholics believe forgiveness of sin is achieved through church ritual, with the assistance of a priest in confession. Protestants believe forgiveness of sin is received through repentance and confession to God directly without any human intercessor.
- Hell - Catholics believe hell is more than a physical place, it is state of being involving "the pain, frustration, and emptiness of life without God." Protestants believe hell is a real physical place of unbearable torture which lasts for all eternity with no hope of relief or cessation.
- Homosexuality - The Catholic Church believes that a homosexual orientation is unchosen and thus is not, in itself, sinful. Protestants typically reject the concept of sexual orientation, and concentrate on homosexual behavior which they consider to be a sin.
