Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs, even if those beliefs are unpopular or uncommon.
However, some beliefs are far more controversial than others.
While you likely won’t receive much hate for saying you prefer chocolate over vanilla, admitting to certain religious beliefs can easily cost you your relationships, social status, or job opportunities.
Christianity may be the largest and most popular religion worldwide, but that doesn’t mean all of its commonly-held beliefs are widely accepted by society.
Catholic Christians in particular often face backlash for their more unpopular beliefs, despite the fact that the Catholic Church is the largest denomination within Christianity.
1. The Catholic Church is Firmly Pro-Life
Recently, on a popular social platform, someone asked,
“What Catholic stance/belief draws the most hatred from non-Catholics in your own personal experience?”
The most popular answer? The fact that the Catholic Church is very firmly and vocally pro-life.
Despite what some may believe, the Catholic pro-life stance isn’t an attempt for the Church to control women’s bodies or take away their freedoms (though it can certainly come across that way).
Rather, the Catholic Church believes that life begins at conception and that all life deserves to be protected.
While this can certainly lead to some very trouble discussion and outcomes, the official Catholic doctrine does originally come from a place of love and care for all human beings.
2. The Catholic Church Prohibits IVF and Surrogacy
Similarly, the Catholic Church isn’t strongly against the use of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or carrying a child using a surrogate.
There are several reasons for this, but perhaps the easiest to understand is that IVF typically leads to the loss of life.
When people want to create a child in this way, the doctors often have to prepare more eggs than the woman wants (or is able to safely) give birth to. As a result, many fertilized eggs (human children) end up stuck in a frozen state, lost naturally, or removed intentionally.
Since the Catholic church believes human life begins at conception, this leads to a great and unnecessary casual loss of human life.
3. The Catholic Church Doesn’t Support the LGBTQ+ Lifestyle
The second most popular answer by far? The fact that the Catholic Church is doesn’t support the LGBTQ+ lifestyle.
While other Protestant Churches have relaxed or changed their beliefs on this issue, the Catholic church isn’t budging from it’s belief that God intended marriage to be between one man and one woman for the purpose of procreation.
In theory, Catholics do not believe same-sex attraction or body dysmorphia are immoral. Any feelings, temptations, and medical conditions (of any kind) are not a sin themselves, and we all have different issues and temptations we struggle with.
The Catholic Church also does not teach hate and discrimination (though individual Catholics — and non-Catholics — can certainly be guilty of this from time to time).
However, the Catholic Church does remain adamant that God’s original design for marriage is what’s best for everyone, even if it makes some uncomfortable or inconvenienced.
4. Catholics Worship the Eucharist
Catholics believe the Eucharist is the real body and blood Jesus Christ, made present again on the altar, outside the confines of space and time.
For this reason, it makes sense that they would worship the Eucharist — they believe it’s their Savior (in wafer form).
For the majority of Protestants and non-Christians, however, the cracker is just a cracker. Worshipping it is just plain silly at best and idolatry at worst.
5. The Catholic Church Is Obsessed with the Virgin Mary
Ask a Catholic Christian what they believe about the Virgin Mary, and they’ll probably say they “venerate” her… a fancy word that means to show a great deal of respect and honor to something or someone. They will insist they do not worship her, however.
While this may be true for most Catholics, to non-Catholics, this Marian devotion can seem over-the-top, unnecessary, and strange.
If you appreciate that the Mary leads you to Jesus… why not go to Jesus in the first place?
6. The Catholic Church Prohibits Birth Control
Did you know that the Catholic Church teaches that if you use birth control, you can go straight to Hell for it?
It’s true.
While there many be some exceptions for medical reasons, the Catholic Church teaches that “grown-up time” is only allowed between two married adults and that it must always be open to the possibility of creating new life, if physically possible.
(If you ever wondered why Catholic families often have so many children, this is part of the reason why!)
While the Church does not teach that families should have more children than they can reasonably care for, the only “approved” ways of spacing out children include natural family planning and abstaining from intimacy all together.
7. The Catholic Church Teaches One Way to Heaven
Officially, Catholics believe that the Catholic Church is the only way to get to Heaven.
This belief isn’t particularly surprising, considering that most religions teach that their belief system is the only one that’s correct.
However, to non-Christians or members of a different Christian denomination, this belief can come across as incredibly arrogant, self-centered, or exclusive.
It’s important to understand what Catholics mean by this, though.
Catholics believe that Protestants and even non-Christians can still go to Heaven (they would never presume to know what God will decide) if they had no knowledge that the Catholic Church was right and true, through no fault of their own.
And when they say “through the Catholic Church,” they really mean “through Jesus, but using the Catholic Church as an instrument to get the word out.”
8. The Catholic Church Doesn’t Allow Women Priests
It is true that the Catholic Church doesn’t allow women to serve as priests. Because there are no female priests recorded in the Bible, the Catholic Church believes that God meant this role to be for men only.
This doesn’t mean that the Catholic church is anti-women by any means, though. If you look at the Church’s rate of women in non-priest leadership positions, it is way higher than average.
The Catholic church may not do things the “feminist” way, but they do hold women in very high esteem, even referring to them as the “crown of creation.”
9. The Catholic Church Has Lots of Minor Rules that Seem Unnecessary
The Catholic Church has been around for nearly 2,000 years, giving them plenty of time to come up with new rules and traditions. And to non-Catholics, some of these “rules” can seem very strange and unnecessary.
For example, Catholics are required to attend Mass every Sunday, go to Confession at least once per year, and give up meat (not including fish) every Friday throughout Lent, if not the entire year.
While most of these rules aren’t a deal-breaker for non-Catholics considering joining the Church, it’s not uncommon for people to get tripped up on one or two when considering converting.
10. The Catholic Church Doesn’t Teach “Faith Alone”
Some Christians churches teach the 5 Solas, which includes Sola Fide, or that faith alone is sufficient for salvation.
The Catholic church, however, doesn’t believe Christians are instantly saved upon saying a single prayer, however. They believe salvation is a lifelong process of improvement that culminates in Jesus making the final decision where we go.
This isn’t only a Catholic belief — some Protestants believe versions of it as well. However, it’s easy for non-Catholics to misinterpret this as Catholics believing in a works-based salvation (which they don’t).
15 Important Issues Catholics and Protestants Can’t Seem to Agree On
Have you ever wondered what Catholics or Protestants really believe?
Maybe you were taught that the “other side” is completely wrong, misguided, and sinful, but you’re not sure why (or if that’s even accurate).
As someone who grew up in a very Protestant home and culture (my grandpa was a pastor) before marrying into a very Catholic family (we attend mass every week), I’ve had a front row seat to see how these two major branches of Christianity compare.
In many ways, Catholics and Protestants really aren’t that different.
And, interestingly enough, some of the biggest differences between Catholic and Protestant Churches aren’t limited only to differences in belief. There are some pretty big cultural differences as well.
So, at the risk of oversimplifying (obviously, every individual church is different), here are the biggest differences between Catholic vs. Protestant worship and belief.
15 Important Issues Catholics and Protestants Can’t Seem to Agree On
These Catholics Won’t Be Walking Away from the Church. Here’s Why.
A recent survey from the PRRI shows that more and more Christians are walking away from their churches, their denominations, or their religion altogether.
This is especially true of Catholics, who are leaving the church in significantly larger numbers than members of other denominations.
Yet, while some people are choosing to walk away, others can’t imagine leaving.
When asked “What do you love about being Catholic?” some devoted Christians had lots of love for the Church they can’t imagine leaving. Here’s what they had to say.
These Catholics Won’t Be Walking Away from the Church. Here’s Why.
Brittany Ann is an ECPA bestselling author and founder of Equipping Godly Women and Monetize My Ministry. She’s also a Christian speaker, podcaster, and conference host. Her work has been featured on numerous TV, radio, and online ministries, including CBN, MSN, Christianity Today, Evangelical Alliance, Patheos, Crosswalk, and more.
