Different "denominations" among Catholics

[TLEtweety]

I am in the process of converting from a protestant to Catholicism, my husband is remaining a protestant. He met with his pastor last week and asked him why there were so many denominations among protestants and no division among Catholics. His pastor said that there was a lot of divsion among catholics and led him to believe that just as there are different denominations among protestants, there also is among Catholics. Is this true? I didn’t know how to respond, I can’t find anything about it, except for maybe pre vatican 2. He said that some catholics don’t even answer to the pope. I just didn’t know what to say.

 

[Roman_Catholic_1]

Could he be talking about different rites in the Catholic Church?

 

[AquinasXVI]

TLE:

First off, WELCOME!!! Great question.

The mechanics are very different. In the CC there are ORDERS—which the Holy Spirit has inspired and have been included in the different expressions of Catholicism(Franciscan, Dominican, Benedictine, etc. etc.) Although they focus on a different aspect of Christ, they are all under the CREED and in obedience to the POPE. All in one family.

For the most part, in Protestantism…there’s no unifying creed nor theology and they go at it without the safeguard of the church…

As for dissenting Catholics, well that’s not the same. Dissenting Catholics are like children who run away or stay home but always fighting with the parents and other children. So we cannot apply it as the same as the protestant splitting.

I hope this helps a bit.

There’s a book, When Only One Converts. I have heard it mentioned that it’s been helpful for couples who come to this junction. Get a hold of Scott and Kimberly Hahn’s book or cd’s regarding their journey into the CC, it will comfort you that many have been through what you’re experiencing and came out more solid than before their trip to Rome.

God bless and keep posting.

in XT.

 

[Ghosty]

A little more information on what the pastor meant by this statement would help us answer. As other posters said, we have different Orders, different theological approaches (Augustinian, Thomistic, Palamite), and even different Churches within the Catholic Church, but all hold to the same Faith, and all are in union with the Pope. There’s no division among true Catholics, even where there are disagreements over non-essentials. Those who disagree over essentials are quite simply not Catholic in their beliefs.

Peace and God bless!

 

[BrianH]

It would depend on perspective.Undoubtedly groups of Catholics have broken off and formed groups. Like Ghosty said, they are not “true Catholics” from a certain perspective. But any denomination can make that claim, that any group that formed from a dissident group is not a true representative of the group.
BH

 

[Leon_Miguel]

TLEtweety:

His pastor said that there was a lot of divsion among catholics and led him to believe that just as there are different denominations among protestants, there also is among Catholics. Is this true?

I think the pastor is just being defensive of the divisions with protestantism.

As listed above, their are a range of rites which have cultural and historical origins but are always the same faith. The religious orders mentioned are mainly different ways people approach and live out their faith.

The church does allow theological speculation in some areas but this is very minor compared with the theological differences that different protestant denominations hold as being definitive.

Sure some individual catholics may loudly disagree with the church but this just a personal opinion and does not alter the fact that the church officially proclaims a single faith.

 

[Hesychios]

First, congratulations to you on a great decision, may God bless and keep you through this time of adjustment. Welcome to Apostolic Christianity!

I think it is disingenious of the pastor to misrepresent Catholicism in the way he did. It seems like he is just relativizing the issue, like “they are no better, so why don’t you just stay” and not really addressing the facts. The following is supposed to be a saying of Augustine, I am not sure it is but I think it fits:

In necessariis unitas,
In dubiis libertas,
In omnibus autem caritas

In essentials unity,
In doubtful things liberty,
But in all things love

The explanations in the above posts are all pretty good, Ghosty is an old hand shedding light in dark corners and the others are correct as well. While the church may have a variety of expressions of the Faith, on all critical theological points the church is ONE.

Protestantism differs in that it is not one Faith but many. Theologically Protestantism has diverged greatly from it’s own Apostolic roots in many and often contradictory ways and we can no longer recognize it as a conduit of Truth. In other words, in Protestantism there is no unity in essentials.

It’s not all bad news though, Protestants are noted for their devotion and enthusiasm for God, they still have that love. When we match that kind of enthusiasm for God with Truth there is a joyful explosion of Faith.

I pray for you that you never lose the special feeling of wonderment and joy that comes from finding this Truth in the Spirit of Love.

+T+
Michael

 

[1ke]

TLEtweety:

I am in the process of converting from a protestant to Catholicism, my husband is remaining a protestant. He met with his pastor last week and asked him why there were so many denominations among protestants and no division among Catholics. His pastor said that there was a lot of divsion among catholics and led him to believe that just as there are different denominations among protestants, there also is among Catholics.

His pastor is making misleading statements.

TLEtweety:

Is this true?

No

TLEtweety:

I didn’t know how to respond, I can’t find anything about it, except for maybe pre vatican 2.

All Catholics are under the authority of the Pope, and adhere to the identical doctrine. There are many traditions called Rites, which all have to do with the liturgy they use and the language they speak. Look up Maronite Rite Catholic, Byzantine Rite Catholic, etc. All are in union with the Pope and are all members of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic church.

TLEtweety:

He said that some catholics don’t even answer to the pope. I just didn’t know what to say.

If you don’t answer to the pope, you aren’t Catholic.

The pastor could have been talking about heretical and schismatic groups. These groups are not union with the pope and are not Catholic. They may call themselves Catholic but that doesn’t make it so.

To be Catholic is to be under the authority of the Pope and in union with him.

Do not be troubled, your husband’s pastor doesn’t understand the Catholic church so he sees from the outside only.

 

[awalt]

That is correct, the pastor is misleading.

There are about 6 rites, and about 24 Churches that follow the different rites of the Church. Deacon Ed gave an excellent description in another thread, that you can probably find by searching for it.

Anyway - all rites and all Churches within the Catholic Church believe in the three important things: Apostolic succession and the primacy (authority) of the Pope, the 7 and only 7 sacraments, and the teaching authority/content (Magisterium) of the Church. These are actually the same 3 we are asked to believe to become Catholic - we believe in the authority and power of the Pope, what the Church teaches, and the 7 sacraments.

Where the rites/Churches vary is in rubrics, customs for their liturgy, minor variations in canon law, etc. Nothing that violates the “big 3” areas though.