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“You Catholics are divided, too!”
It’s a common objection from Protestants when confronted with a certain Catholic critique that Protestantism, in its emphasis on the individual’s ability to properly interpret Scripture for himself, and its fundamental opposition to any kind of magisterial authority, necessarily results in an ever-increasing diversity of ecclesial communities and theologies. Yes, the Protestant apologist acknowledges, there are Lutherans, Presbyterians, Anglicans, Wesleyans, Baptists, and a wide assortment of other branches and sub-branches of Protestantism. But self-identifying Catholics disagree about abortion, contraception, homosexuality, female ordination, and even whether Pope Francis is a legitimate pope!
Not so fast. As I explain in my book The Obscurity of Scripture, relying on the excellent work of Catholic philosopher (and former Protestant seminarian) Bryan Cross, we need to first understand what the Church means by disagreements of faith and disagreements not of faith. Disagreements of faith are concerned with what has been divinely revealed either in Scripture or Tradition. The Catholic Church, either by solemn judgment or by the ordinary and universal Magisterium, has promulgated teachings from Scripture or Tradition that must be believed because:
Continued below.
www.catholic.com
There's an important difference between Catholic 'disunity' and thousands of Protestant denominations.
“You Catholics are divided, too!”
It’s a common objection from Protestants when confronted with a certain Catholic critique that Protestantism, in its emphasis on the individual’s ability to properly interpret Scripture for himself, and its fundamental opposition to any kind of magisterial authority, necessarily results in an ever-increasing diversity of ecclesial communities and theologies. Yes, the Protestant apologist acknowledges, there are Lutherans, Presbyterians, Anglicans, Wesleyans, Baptists, and a wide assortment of other branches and sub-branches of Protestantism. But self-identifying Catholics disagree about abortion, contraception, homosexuality, female ordination, and even whether Pope Francis is a legitimate pope!
Not so fast. As I explain in my book The Obscurity of Scripture, relying on the excellent work of Catholic philosopher (and former Protestant seminarian) Bryan Cross, we need to first understand what the Church means by disagreements of faith and disagreements not of faith. Disagreements of faith are concerned with what has been divinely revealed either in Scripture or Tradition. The Catholic Church, either by solemn judgment or by the ordinary and universal Magisterium, has promulgated teachings from Scripture or Tradition that must be believed because:
Continued below.
‘You Catholics Are Divided, Too!’
Protestants consider this the ultimate argument against Catholics who notice the extreme disunity of Protestantism. But here's why the rejoinder fails.
