Volume > Issue > How Catholicism Is Different

How Catholicism Is Different

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ISN'T JUST ANOTHER 'DENOMINATION'

By Bobby Jindal | December 1996
Bobby Jindal recently received his M.Litt. in Politics from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. He is currently working for a management consulting firm in Washington, D.C. A convert to Catholicism, he was raised in the Hindu tradition.

Just as C.S. Lewis removed any room for comfortable opposition to Jesus by identifying Him as either “Lord, liar, or lunatic,” so the Catholic Church leaves little room for complacent opposition to her doctrines. Without inflating the issues that separate Catholics from Protestants, for we do worship the same Trinitarian God who died for our sins, I want to refute the notion that Catholicism is merely another denomination with no more merit than any other.

The Reformers who left the Catholic Church rejected, to varying degrees, five beliefs which continue to be upheld by the Catholic Church. The Church claims that these points are found in Scripture, and they have been consistently and clearly taught throughout the Church’s history. I will support the Church’s claims here.

(1) SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION: Is sola scriptura (the Bible alone) a sufficient basis for the modern Christian to understand God’s will?

The Bible does not contain either the claim that it is comprehensive or a listing of its contents, but does describe how it should be used. Scripture and Tradition, not the Bible alone, transmit God’s revelation. Tradition is reflected in the Church’s authority to interpret Scripture.

Enjoyed reading this?

READ MORE! REGISTER TODAY

SUBSCRIBE

You May Also Enjoy

Anglicanism, Catholicism & The Significance of the "Anglican Use" in The Catholic Church

To Anglicans, healthy Anglican Use parishes offer an appropriation of all that is best in the Catholic patrimony of Anglicanism.

The Great Awokening: The Puritan Roots of the Social Justice Warrior

Social Justice Warriors behave like cult members. They are little Cromwells who demand Robespierre-level ideological purity of every single person.

Marian Devotion as a Way of Life

I came to love Mary over thousands of evening Rosaries by candlelight and scores of Marian feast days observed in the liturgical cycle year after year.