Evangelicals and Catholics: Divided in Doctrine, United in Christ?
By Chris M. Forte
1. Introduction: Brothers in a Divided House
Few divisions in Christianity are as deep — and yet as strangely close — as the one between Catholics and Evangelicals.
Both proclaim the name of Jesus Christ. Both uphold Scripture as the Word of God. Both preach conversion, prayer, and moral renewal.
Yet for centuries, Catholics and Evangelicals have stood on opposite sides of the Reformation’s divide — divided not by disbelief in Christ, but by disagreement over how salvation works, what the Church is, and who has authority to interpret the Bible.
Still, a new era of dialogue has begun. Documents like Evangelicals and Catholics Together (1994) have helped build bridges. And while those bridges are far from complete, they show that unity — even imperfect unity — remains a shared Christian goal.
As a Catholic, I have seen both the sincere faith and the misunderstandings that often exist between our traditions. Some of my own family members are Evangelicals — people I love deeply — and many of them are fiercely critical of Catholicism. I understand why. They’ve been taught that the Church is man-made, ritualistic, even idolatrous.
But I’ve also seen that those criticisms come more from misinformation than malice.
2. The Catholic Church’s Official View of Evangelicals
The Catholic Church does not view Evangelicals as outsiders to the Christian faith.
Instead, the Church calls them “separated brethren” — Christians who share genuine faith in Christ, baptism, and Scripture, but who remain separated from the Church’s fullness.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (§818–819) says:
“One cannot charge with the sin of the separation those who at present are born into these communities and in them are brought up in the faith of Christ… All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians.”
This is grounded in Vatican II’s decree Unitatis Redintegratio (1964):
“The children who are born into these Communities and who grow up believing in Christ cannot be accused of the sin involved in the separation… The Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers.” — §3
The Church recognizes that the Holy Spirit is at work in Evangelical communities — in their Scripture reading, prayer, and commitment to moral life — but maintains that they lack the sacramental fullness of faith found in the Catholic Church.
In short, Evangelicals are brothers and sisters in Christ, but our unity is partial, not yet perfect.
3. The Evangelicals and Catholics Together (ECT) Movement
In the 1990s, prominent Catholic and Evangelical leaders launched a groundbreaking dialogue to foster cooperation and understanding.
The resulting document — Evangelicals and Catholics Together: The Christian Mission in the Third Millennium (1994) — was co-authored by Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, a Catholic priest, and Charles Colson, a leading Evangelical figure.
The ECT’s Core Message:
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Shared Faith in Christ:
Both Catholics and Evangelicals affirm salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. -
Shared Mission:
Both are called to witness to Christ in public life and defend moral truth in an increasingly secular society. -
Need for Repentance and Understanding:
Both sides confessed to misrepresenting the other’s beliefs. -
Unity Without Uniformity:
The ECT recognized “serious differences” — especially over justification, authority, and sacraments — but called for cooperation wherever conscience allows.
Subsequent documents such as The Gift of Salvation (1997) deepened this discussion, clarifying that while both sides agree salvation comes through grace, Catholics affirm that grace transforms the soul — not merely declares it righteous.
4. Points of Agreement and Division
Where We Agree:
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Jesus Christ is Lord, Savior, and Son of God.
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The Bible is the inspired Word of God.
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The call to evangelize and live moral lives.
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The sanctity of life, family, and religious liberty.
Where We Differ:
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Authority: Evangelicals hold to sola scriptura (“Scripture alone”), while Catholics uphold Scripture and Apostolic Tradition interpreted by the Magisterium.
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Justification: Evangelicals emphasize “faith alone”; Catholics teach “faith working through love” (James 2:24).
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The Sacraments: Evangelicals view them as symbols; Catholics see them as means of grace instituted by Christ.
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The Church: Evangelicals see the Church as invisible and spiritual; Catholics as visible and sacramental, with apostolic succession.
5. My Personal Perspective
Many of my Evangelical relatives are passionate believers. They read the Bible daily, pray constantly, and take moral stands that put many Catholics to shame. I admire that.
But I also see how much misunderstanding shapes their view of Catholicism. I’ve heard the familiar accusations:
“Catholics worship Mary.”
“Catholics think the Pope replaces Jesus.”
“Catholicism is just empty ritual.”
None of that is true. But it shows how deeply our separation runs — not just theologically, but culturally.
I respect Evangelicals for their sincerity. I’ve met many who love Jesus profoundly. But I also believe their faith is, in a sense, incomplete — built on Scripture but cut off from the Church that wrote and preserved it.
The Bible never says “Bible alone.”
The early Church Fathers never practiced solo fide.
And Scripture itself says plainly:
“You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” — James 2:24
Faith and obedience, grace and cooperation — these are not contradictions, but complements.
To me, Catholicism is not opposed to Evangelical fervor; it fulfills it.
6. The Church’s Current Relationship with Evangelicals
Relations between Catholics and Evangelicals today are warmer than they’ve been in centuries.
In America, we often find ourselves fighting side-by-side on moral and cultural issues — defending the unborn, marriage, and religious freedom.
The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity encourages collaboration “in the service of humanity and the Gospel,” even while maintaining theological clarity.
Pope Francis has called for unity among Christians “not as uniformity, but as reconciled diversity.”
As the Catechism reminds us (§820):
“Christ always gives His Church the gift of unity, but the Church must always pray and work to maintain, reinforce, and perfect that unity which Christ wills for her.”
7. Conclusion: Truth and Charity
Evangelicals and Catholics disagree on many things — and those differences matter.
But beneath the divisions, there is a shared recognition that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of the world.
I will always stand for Catholic truth — the Church, the sacraments, and the visible unity Christ prayed for.
But I also see God’s grace working in Evangelical hearts.
They have fire; we have fullness.
And perhaps the Holy Spirit is using both to draw His people home.
As St. Augustine once said:
“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”
May that spirit guide all who call upon the name of Jesus.
Key Sources & References
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Unitatis Redintegratio (Decree on Ecumenism, Vatican II, 1964)
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Catechism of the Catholic Church, §§817–822
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Evangelicals and Catholics Together: The Christian Mission in the Third Millennium (1994)
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The Gift of Salvation (1997)
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Ut Unum Sint (Pope John Paul II, 1995)
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Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism (1993)
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Fr. Richard John Neuhaus & Charles Colson, Evangelicals and Catholics Together
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Avery Dulles, The Catholicity of the Church
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