Catholic vs. Protestant Theology - Comparison Chart: ReligionFacts

Comparison Chart: Catholic vs. Protestant Theology - ReligionFacts

	Catholic	Protestant
Authority	Scripture and tradition	Sola Scriptura - Scripture alone
Bible	Includes apocrypha	Excludes apocrypha
Results of Fall	Corruption and tendency to sin	Total depravity and guilt
Free will	Free to do good or evil	Free only to do evil
Predestination	Related to God's foreknowledge	Related to God's decrees
Atonement	Death of Christ created merit that is shared with sinners through sacraments	Death of Christ was a substitutionary sacrifice that satisfied God's justice
Divine grace	Prevenient grace helps one believe; efficacious grace cooperates with the human will to do good	Common grace enabling good works given to all; sufficient grace for salvation given to elect only
Good works	Meritorious	Results of divine grace and unworthy of merit
Salvation	Received at baptism; may be lost by mortal sin; regained by penance. Those who have never heard of Christ may be saved. (Catech 847)	Result of divine grace; unconditional. Those who have never heard of Christ may be saved.
The Church	The Catholic Church is "the place where humanity must rediscover its unity and salvation" (Catech 845) but those baptized in other Christian denominations are in communion with the Church (Catech 838).	There is a distinction between the visible and invisible church. God saves anyone he chooses, or anyone with proper faith, regardless of church membership.
Sacraments	Convey grace by their operation (ex opere operato).	Means of grace only if received with faith.
Priests	A special vocation for some believers; mediators between God and man	Priesthood of all believers.
Transubstantiation	Affirmed	Rejected
Purgatory	Affirmed	Denied
Prayer to saints	Accepted	Rejected