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 decades, Catholics and Evangelicals have stood on opposite sides of the Reformation divide — divided not by disbelief in Christ, but by disagreement over what salvation actually is, how God transforms the soul, and who has the authority to interpret Scripture.
And while many Evangelicals today sincerely desire unity, there is also a darker side — groups and personalities who remain openly hostile toward Catholicism, spreading half-truths and outright falsehoods online and in street preaching.
As a Catholic, I see both sides clearly: genuine Christian faith on one hand, and deeply ingrained misunderstandings — sometimes even bigotry — on the other.
Some of my own relatives are Evangelicals. I love them dearly. Many of them criticize the Catholic Church harshly, and I understand why — they’ve been taught since childhood that the Church is corrupt, idolatrous, or even “Babylon.”
But almost always, their criticisms come from misinformation, not malice.
2. The Catholic Church’s Official View of Evangelicals
The Catholic Church does not see Evangelicals as pagans or outsiders to Christianity.
Instead, the Church calls them “separated brethren” — Christians who genuinely love Christ and believe in the Gospel, but who are separated from the fullness of the faith preserved in the Catholic Church.
Catechism of the Catholic Church (§818–819):
“All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians…”
Unitatis Redintegratio (1964), §3:
“The Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers.”
Evangelicals possess real gifts of the Holy Spirit — their devotion to Scripture, zeal for evangelization, and fervent personal faith.
But the Church maintains that they lack the sacramental fullness passed down through apostolic succession.
We are family — separated, divided, but still family.
3. The Rise of Modern Anti-Catholic Fundamentalism
Unfortunately, not all Evangelicals approach Catholicism with charity or understanding.
Some modern ministries actively attack, misrepresent, and demonize the Church.
I’m not talking about honest theological disagreement — I respect that.
I’m talking about open hostility, often spread through social media, YouTube, and street preaching.
Names that frequently appear include:
-
Living Waters / Ray Comfort (street ministry built on Catholic-bashing)
-
Mike Gendron (Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries, aggressively anti-Catholic)
-
James White (Alpha & Omega Ministries, Catholicism as “false gospel”)
-
Justin Peters (calls Catholicism a cult)
-
John MacArthur (claims Catholics are not Christians)
-
Todd Friel (Wretched Radio, routine anti-Catholic mockery)
And countless smaller groups on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, often repeating outdated misconceptions or the same misinformation that Jack Chick popularized decades ago.
I’ve personally seen these “evangelists” preaching on street corners, aggressively telling Catholics they’re damned, waving Chick-style tracts, and spreading claims that have been refuted for centuries.
It’s bigotry — religious bigotry — wrapped in a thin veneer of zeal.
Not all Evangelicals act this way.
But far too many do, and their hatred is loud.
4. Evangelicals and Catholics Together (ECT): A Different Path
In the 1990s, Catholic and Evangelical leaders formed a remarkable coalition to counter this culture of hostility and foster cooperation.
The document Evangelicals and Catholics Together (1994), written by Fr. Richard John Neuhaus and Charles Colson, emphasized:
-
Shared faith in Jesus Christ
-
Shared commitment to Scripture
-
Shared mission in culture
-
Honest acknowledgement of real differences
ECT called for unity where possible, without watering down either Catholic or Evangelical identity.
Later documents — especially The Gift of Salvation (1997) — clarified that salvation is by grace, but this grace transforms, not merely declares.
This already nudges Evangelicals closer to the Catholic understanding of sanctification.
5. Points of Agreement and Division
Agreement:
-
Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior.
-
The Bible is the inspired Word of God.
-
Christians must evangelize, pray, and pursue holiness.
-
We must defend the unborn, the family, and religious liberty.
Division:
-
Authority: sola scriptura vs. Scripture + Tradition + Magisterium.
-
Justification: “faith alone” vs. “faith working through love.”
-
Sacraments: symbolic vs. channels of grace.
-
Church: invisible fellowship vs. visible, apostolic, sacramental Body of Christ.
6. What Evangelicals Often Misunderstand About Salvation
One of the most serious misunderstandings I see among many Evangelicals — including street preachers and online ministries — is the idea that Christianity is merely:
“Accept Jesus → Be saved → Go to Heaven.”
But the Gospel is far deeper.
Catholicism teaches:
We are not merely saved — we are transformed.
We do not merely go to Heaven — we are meant to become like Christ (theosis).
We do not merely worship God — we are destined to rule with Him.
“He has granted us to become partakers of the divine nature.” — 2 Peter 1:4
“We shall reign with Him.” — 2 Timothy 2:12
“We shall judge angels.” — 1 Corinthians 6:3
Most evangelistic street ministries never preach this.
Their gospel is truncated — salvation reduced to a legal transaction:
“Jesus paid your fine; accept Him and you’re in.”
But historic Christianity — Catholic, Orthodox, and the early Church Fathers — preached something richer, more cosmic, more glorious:
God became man so that man might become like God (Athanasius).
That is the Gospel I believe in — the Gospel the Catholic Church still proclaims.
7. My Personal Perspective
I admire the fire of many Evangelicals.
I know Evangelicals who pray more fervently than many Catholics.
And when they reject what they think Catholicism is, I don’t blame them — I would reject that too.
But most of their criticisms come from not understanding what the Church actually teaches.
They say:
“Catholics worship Mary.”
“Catholics think the Pope replaces Jesus.”
“Catholics practice works-based salvation.”
None of this is true.
Catholicism does not diminish Jesus — it magnifies Him.
Catholic doctrines about Mary, the sacraments, and the Church all protect the truths of the Incarnation and salvation.
I don’t hate Evangelicals — I love them.
But I cannot deny that some of them hate Catholicism.
And yet, despite the hostility, despite the misinformation, I still believe unity is possible — because unity is Christ’s will, not ours.
8. The Church’s Current Relationship with Evangelicals
Relations are improving.
Catholics and Evangelicals frequently find themselves on the same side of major moral issues.
Pope Francis calls for “reconciled diversity.”
John Paul II devoted much of his papacy to Christian unity.
The Church encourages cooperation without doctrinal compromise.
Catechism §820:
“Christ always gives His Church the gift of unity…”
We are called to seek unity — not by pretending differences don’t exist, but by speaking truth in charity.
9. Conclusion: Truth and Charity
Evangelicals and Catholics disagree on core doctrines, especially salvation and authority.
Those disagreements matter — deeply.
But in a secular age, we face common enemies: relativism, atheism, moral collapse, and cultural hostility toward Christianity.
I will always defend Catholic doctrine.
I will always correct misunderstandings about the faith I love.
But I also acknowledge the sincere love of Christ found among many Evangelicals.
Some have fire.
We have fullness.
Perhaps the Holy Spirit is using both — fire and fullness — to lead Christ’s people home.
As St. Augustine famously said:
“In essentials, unity;
in non-essentials, liberty;
in all things, charity.”
Key Sources & References
-
Unitatis Redintegratio (Decree on Ecumenism, Vatican II, 1964)
-
Catechism of the Catholic Church, §§817–822
-
Evangelicals and Catholics Together: The Christian Mission in the Third Millennium (1994)
-
The Gift of Salvation (1997)
-
Ut Unum Sint (Pope John Paul II, 1995)
-
Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism (1993)
-
Fr. Richard John Neuhaus & Charles Colson, Evangelicals and Catholics Together
-
Avery Dulles, The Catholicity of the Church
No comments:
Post a Comment