What are the main differences between the Catholic and Presbyterian Religion?

Answer 1

Looks like you already have some good answers as far as history goes, but I'm wondering if maybe your question was geared more towards the actual modern practices? I know more about Presbyterianism because that's what I am, but part of our confirmation is learning more about other religions.. Here are a few highlights of differences:

- In the Catholic church, you must be a baptized member to take communion. In the Presbyterian church, you can be baptized in a variety of denominations and still take communion.

- Catholicism includes the belief that the communion elements are actually Christ's body. In the Presbyterian church, the elements are a symbol of Christ's body. This difference is mainly represented by how the leftover elements be disposed of.

- Catholicism calls for confession through a priest. Presbyterianism allows for silent confession and a prayer of confession in unison.

In general, the Presbyterian church is more progressive than the Catholics. I do not know exacts about all the Catholic beliefs, so I will just highlight the PC-USA's position on some issues:

- drinking alcohol is okay, in moderation, though abstaining from drinking should be encouraged.

- being gay is a sin, but we all sin. Gay people are welcomed into congregations (this is the official position, this obviously might not be in the case in every congregation), but may not be ordained as ministers, elders or deacons if they are practicing homosexuals. They can lead committees, teach Sunday school and serve the church in other appropriate ways.

- Abortion should only be used as a last resort. Women should be encouraged to have an abortion only under extreme circumstances, never for reasons of convenience or to preserve an image.

- Lent is celebrated like in the Catholic church, but church members may choose to either give something or take something on - whatever will improve their relationship with God.

Another major difference, though I am weak in the polity of the Catholic church, is the way the churchs are governed. From what I know, it seems that there is not much leadership from within the church itself. I believe the Cardinals and other leaders above the priests assign the priests to the churchs they serve. In the Presbyterian church, each church is governed by a group called the Session. The session is composed of members of that congregation, and they actually form a committee to choose the churchs minister. The Presbytery coordinates interim ministers and events for many churchs, but the decisions for each individual church are made by that churchs member. This is one way the Presbyterian church is different from even other similar denominations, like the Methodists.

I hope this was helpful and along the lines of what you wanted to know!

Answer 2

im catholic and from what i be attentive to so a techniques..presbyterians have self belief in predesination which skill god comes to a decision climate your going to circulate to heaven or hell good while your born. yet another subject thats distinctive in cathoics and all different Christians is that catholics have self belief that they wine and bread is acctually switched over into the physique and blood of Christ and yet different only think of that it symbolizes the physique and blood of christ. i'm hoping all of it is acceptable and useful.

Answer 3

"What separates us as believers in Christ is much less than what unites us." (Pope John XXIII)

Almost all important doctrine is completely agreed upon between Catholic Christians and other Christians.

Here is the joint declaration of justification by Catholics (1999), Lutherans (1999), and Methodists (2006):

By grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping us and calling us to good works.

There are many minor doctrine issues and some major cultural traditional differences which, I believe, do not matter that much.

A Catholic worships and follows Christ in the tradition of Catholicism which, among other things, recognizes that Christ made Peter the leader of His new Church and Pope Benedict XVI is Peter's direct successor.

With love in Christ.

Answer 4

Do either follow Scripture? The Almighty's name is YHVH. He sent a Savior, who's name was YHVH is my Savior (YAHOSHUA). Scripture teaches that man who has sinned cannot make himself whole, so the Almighty sent the Savior to make man whole so he COULD obey. In the end sin will be burned in the lake of fire, along with those people who are attached to it. Sin will be destroyed (Not tortured for eternity) so the Almighty can make the world over and perfect.

Answer 5

Presbytrians are protestants.
The Protestant Churches teach Scripture, with no traditions added to it.
The Bible teaches that Scripture alone is the supreme and infallible authority for the church and the individual believer. This is not to say that creeds and tradition are unimportant, but the Bible alone is our final authority. Creeds and tradition are man made.
Jesus said, "Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:35). He said "I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished" (Matthew 5:18). He said, "It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the law" (Luke 16:17).
Jesus used Scripture as the final court of appeal in every matter under dispute. He said to some Pharisees, "You nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down" (Mark 7:13). To the Sadducee's He said, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God". (Mat 22:29). To the devil, Jesus consistently responded, "It is written..." (Mat 4:4-10). So following Jesus' lead, the Scriptures alone are our supreme and final authority.
The Protestants broke from the Catholic church because they did not agree with the traditions that were being held as the authority, rather than God's word the Bible.

Dr. Boettner then gives us "Some Roman Catholic Heresies And Inventions" and the dates that these alleged "Apostolic" traditions were added to Roman Catholic theology &endash;
* Prayers for the dead, began about A.D. 300
* Making the sign of the cross 300
* Veneration of angels and dead saints, and use of images 375
* The Mass, as a daily celebration 394
* Beginning of the exaltation of Mary, the term "Mother of God" first applied to her by the Council of Ephesus 431
* Priests began to dress differently from laymen 500
* Extreme Unction 526
* The doctrine of Purgatory, established by Gregory I 593
* Latin used in prayer and worship, imposed by Gregory I 600
* Prayer directed to Mary, dead saints and angels, about 600
* Title of pope, or universal bishop, given to Boniface III 607
* Kissing the pope's foot, began with pope Constantine 709
* Worship of the cross, images and relics, authorized in 786
* Holy water, mixed with a pinch of salt and blessed by a priest 850
* Canonization of dead saints, first by pope John XV 995
* The Mass, developed gradually as a sacrifice, attendance made obligatory in the 11th century
* Celibacy of the priesthood, decreed by pope Gregory VII (Hildebrand) 1079
* The Rosary, mechanical praying with beads, invented by Peter the Hermit 1090
* Sale of Indulgences 1190
* Transubstantiation, proclaimed by pope Innocent III 1215
* Auricular Confession of sins to a priest instead of to
God, instituted by pope Innocent III, in Lateran Council 1215
* Bible forbidden to laymen, placed on the Index of Forbidden Books by the Council of Valencia 1229
* Purgatory proclaimed a dogma by Council of Florence 1439
* The doctrine of Seven Sacraments affirmed 1439
* Tradition declared of equal authority with the Bible by the Council of Trent 1545
* Apocryphal books added to the Bible by the Council of Trent 1546
* Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, proclaimed by pope Pius IX 1854
* Syllabus of Errors, proclaimed by pope Pitts IX, and ratified by the Vatican Council; condemned freedom of religion,conscience, speech, press, and scientific discoveries which are disapproved by the Roman Church; asserted the pope's temporal authority over all civil rulers 1864
* Infallibility of the pope in matters of faith and morals, proclaimed by the Vatican Council 1870
* Public Schools condemned by pope Pius XI 1930
* Assumption of the Virgin Mary (bodily ascension into heaven shortly after her death), proclaimed by pope Pius XII 1950
* Mary proclaimed Mother of the Church, by pope Paul VI 1965

And then Dr. Boettner concludes:
Add to these many others: monks - nuns -monasteries - convents - forty days Lent - holy week - Palm Sunday - Ash Wednesday - All Saints day - Candlemas day - fish day - meat days - incense - holy oil - holy palms - Christopher medals - charms - novenas - and still others.
There you have it - the melancholy evidence of Rome's steadily increasing departure from the simplicity of the Gospel, a departure so radical and far-reaching at the present time (1965) that it has produced a drastically anti-evangelical church. It is clear beyond possibility of doubt that the Roman Catholic religion as now practiced is the outgrowth of centuries of error. Human inventions have been substituted for Bible truth and practice. Intolerance and arrogance have replaced the love and kindness and tolerance that were the distinguishing qualities of the first century Christians, so that now in Roman Catholic countries Protestants and others who are sincere believers in Christ but who do not acknowledge the authority of the pope are subject to all kinds of restrictions and in some cases even forbidden to practice their religion. The distinctive attitude of the present day Roman Church was fixed largely by the Council of Trent (1545-1563), with its more than 100 anathemas or curses pronounced against all who then or in the future would dare to differ with its decisions.