The errors of the Protestants

Many people seem offended, even Catholics, because I say that there are errors in Protestant theology.  ???  Really?

On Catholic365, I recently posted some articles which made a couple of Catholics upset.  I could hardly believe it.

I can see why Protestants might object.  But Catholics?

Um?  I don’t know what to say.  Should I make believe that Protestants have no errors in their theology?  Even if I would, the Church doesn’t.  

Protestants, how is their theology wrong?  Let me count the ways.

Every time the Catholic Church teaches one thing and the Protestants teach the exact opposite or simply reject the Teaching of the Catholic Church, they are wrong.  They are teaching error.  And folks, these errors are whoppers.  

Two contradicting statements cannot both be true at the same time.

They deny the authority of the Pope

That, is an error in their theology.  It is an innovation wherein they want to impose their will upon God.  It is God who said:

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

The Catholic Church says:

Vatican I

Chapter 2. 

On the permanence of the primacy of blessed Peter in the Roman pontiffs

5. Therefore, if anyone says that it is not by the institution of Christ the lord himself (that is to say, by divine law) that blessed Peter should have perpetual successors in the primacy over the whole Church; or that the Roman Pontiff is not the successor of blessed Peter in this primacy: let him be anathema.

Anathema

Do you know what that means?  The Church which binds and looses on earth and in heaven  has pronounced that all those who deny the authority of the Pope, are condemned by God.

Should we ignore that error?  

They deny the authority of the Church

Does anyone know any Protestants who do not deny the authority of the Catholic Church?

Matthew 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Canon 20.

If anyone says that a man who is justified and however perfect is not bound to observe the commandments of God and the Church, but only to believe, as if the Gospel were a bare and absolute promise of eternal life without the condition of observing the commandments, let him be anathema. (Council of Trent, Session VI)

Canon 33.

If anyone says that the Catholic doctrine of justification as set forth by the holy council in the present decree, derogates in some respect from the glory of God or the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, and does not rather illustrate the truth of our faith and no less the glory of God and of Christ Jesus, let him be anathema. (Council of Trent, Session VI)

Uh, yeah.  Anathema.  Again.

Do you know any Protestants who do not deny the Commandments of the Church and who do not reject the Infallible Teaching of the Council of Trent?

Should we ignore that error, as well? 

Thy preach Sola Scriptura

There are a few Protestants who give lip service to keeping tradition.  But for the most part, they eschew Sacred Tradition for their own interpretations of Scripture:

The Church anathematizes Sola Scriptura

2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

Council of Trent

Session IV

Following, then, the examples of the orthodox Fathers, it receives and venerates with a feeling of piety and reverence all the books both of the Old and New Testaments, since one God is the author of both; also the traditions, whether they relate to faith or to morals, as having been dictated either orally by Christ or by the Holy Ghost, and preserved in the Catholic Church in unbroken succession….If anyone does not accept as sacred and canonical the aforesaid books in their entirety and with all their parts, as they have been accustomed to be read in the Catholic Church and as they are contained in the old Latin Vulgate Edition, and knowingly and deliberately rejects the aforesaid traditions, let him be anathema.

They preach Sola Fide

Rather than understanding that those who do not do good works will not be saved, they claim that we are justified by faith alone.

The Church anathematizes Sola Fide

James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Council of Trent

Session VI

Canon 9.

If anyone says that the sinner is justified by faith alone, meaning that nothing else is required to cooperate in order to obtain the grace of justification, and that it is not in any way necessary that he be prepared and disposed by the action of his own will, let him be anathema.

They preach Once Saved Always Saved (aka Absolute Assurance of Salvation)

They claim that once one makes a proclamation of faith, they will no longer lose their salvation, no matter what they do.

The Church anathematizes that error as well

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Canon 16.

If anyone says that he will for certain, with an absolute and infallible certainty, have that great gift of perseverance even to the end, unless he shall have learned this by a special revelation,[120] let him be anathema.  (ibid Council of Trent, Session VI)

Anathema, anathema and more anathema.  Not to mention the fact that they also reject the Mass, the Sacraments and the Holy Eucharist.  The source and summit of our faith.

When ever Protestants contradict the Catholic Church, they contradict the Word of God

Folks, I didn’t even scratch the surface of how much Protestants despise Catholic Teaching.  And by despising Catholic Teaching they reject Christ who speaks through the Catholic Church.

Isn’t Christ enough?

I think so.  But they don’t really have Christ.  They reject Christ in the Holy Eucharist and they deny His Teachings as we have seen above. The Christ in whom they believe is not the True Jesus Christ presented in the Holy Bible.  

The Church Teaches that they can be saved

True.  But the Church does not guarantee their salvation.  The Church doesn’t even guarantee you and I’s salvation.  The Church Teaches that Catholics have the best shot at salvation because we have the fullness of Truth and the fullness of Grace, if we remain in a state of grace and charity towards our fellow man.  

But it will be very difficult for Catholics to be saved.  Do you remember the Teaching about the narrow gate?  It will be more difficult for Protestants to be saved if they remain in their errors.  Everyone of the errors they believe is anathematized by the Catholic Church.  Those anathemas have not been rescinded.  

The Church wants the reunification of the Church, but not at the expense of the Truth.

Summation:  Turning a blind eye to Protestant errors is not in their best interest.  

1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

True love does not consist in letting people destroy themselves when that is clearly, not what they intend.  Protestants say they want to be with God for eternity.  They claim they want to be saved.  Let’s help them achieve that goal.

James 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.