For hundreds of years, Protestants and Catholics have agreed on many important beliefs—like that Jesus is God’s Son, that He died for our sins, and that He rose again. But they’ve also disagreed on some big topics. These differences are part of why the Protestant Reformation happened in the 1500s, when leaders like Martin Luther broke away from the Catholic Church.

Here’s a look at some of the main things many Protestants believe the Catholic Church gets wrong—explained simply.

1. How We’re Saved

• Catholic view: Salvation (being made right with God) comes through faith in Jesus plus good works, receiving the sacraments, and being part of the Church.

• Protestant view: Salvation comes by faith alone in Jesus Christ. Good works are important, but they are a result of being saved—not a requirement to earn it.

• Key verse Protestants point to: Ephesians 2:8-9 — “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith… not by works, so that no one can boast.”

2. The Authority of the Pope

• Catholic view: The Pope is the spiritual head of the whole Church on earth and has special authority given by God.

• Protestant view: No person has that kind of ultimate authority—only Jesus does. The Bible is the highest authority for what Christians believe and how they live.

• Why Protestants disagree: They believe the Pope sometimes teaches things not found in the Bible, which can lead people away from God’s truth.

3. Tradition vs. the Bible

• Catholic view: The Bible and Church traditions are both important sources of God’s truth.

• Protestant view: The Bible alone is the final authority (“Sola Scriptura” means “Scripture alone” in Latin). Traditions can be helpful, but if they go against the Bible, they should be rejected.

4. Mary and the Saints

• Catholic view: Mary (the mother of Jesus) and other saints are honored, prayed to for help, and sometimes seen as mediators between people and God.

• Protestant view: We can respect Mary and the saints for their faith, but we should only pray to God—through Jesus. The Bible says there is “one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

5. The Sacraments

• Catholic view: There are seven sacraments (like baptism, communion, confession, marriage, etc.) that give special grace from God.

• Protestant view: Most Protestants only recognize two sacraments—baptism and communion—and see them as symbols of faith, not requirements for receiving God’s grace.

6. Communion (The Lord’s Supper)

• Catholic view: In Mass, the bread and wine become the actual body and blood of Jesus (a belief called “transubstantiation”).

• Protestant view: Communion is a special way to remember Jesus’ sacrifice, but the bread and wine stay bread and wine—they represent His body and blood.

7. Purgatory

• Catholic view: After death, some people go to purgatory to be purified from sin before entering heaven.

• Protestant view: The Bible doesn’t teach purgatory. They believe believers go straight to be with Jesus when they die, and non-believers face judgment.

8. Confession to a Priest

• Catholic view: Believers confess sins to a priest, who gives forgiveness in Jesus’ name.

• Protestant view: We can confess directly to God through Jesus. Only God can forgive sins.

Why This Matters

Protestants aren’t just disagreeing for the sake of arguing. They believe that getting these truths right is important because it affects how people understand God, salvation, and the Christian life.

Even though the differences are real, Protestants and Catholics can still work together on many good things—helping the poor, protecting life, and sharing the message of Jesus.

Bottom line:
Protestants believe the Catholic Church has added extra rules, traditions, and teachings that go beyond (and sometimes against) what the Bible says. They want faith to stay centered on Jesus alone, the Bible alone, and salvation by grace through faith alone.