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Roman Catholicism. Theologically, the Roman Catholic church has consistently held to the historical and biblical view of God as Trinity–Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Equally, the Church has defended the deity of Jesus Christ and His virgin birth.  However, there are several areas where Catholics and Protestants have differed:

1.  Scripture. The official position of the Roman Catholic church is that ?Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture? are equal sources of authority for the Christian.  The Church is entrusted with the transmission and interpretation of these two Traditions and it declares what that Revelation from God says and means.  Tradition for the Roman Catholic refers to the external dogmatic authority that resides in the teaching ?magisterium of the church? as expressed in the primacy and infallibility of the papacy.  ?Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence.? [Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger.  Catechism of the Catholic Church (Liguori, MO: Liguori Press, 1994), p.26]

2.  Mary. The Church teaches that Mary is the ?mother of God,? was immaculately conceived, that is born without original sin, and was bodily taken to heaven (the Assumption of Mary), thereby not dying.  Therefore, the Church teaches that ?the Holy Mother of God, the new Eve, Mother of the Church, continues in heaven to exercise her maternal role on behalf of the members of Christ.? [Ratzinger, pp. 251-252, 254] PRINT PDF