Catholic–Protestant relations
Catholic–Protestant relations refers to the social, political and theological relations and dialogue between Roman Catholic Christians and Protestant Christians.
This relationship began in the 16th century with the beginning of the Reformation and thereby Protestantism. A number of factors contributed to the Protestant Reformation – namely, disagreement on the nature of salvation and by extension a number of doctrines including the sale of indulgences and more. These disputes led to a schism whereby Protestants chose to split from the Roman Catholic Church, though often still defining themselves as catholic churches, and resulted in the Council of Trent which clarified the Catholic approach to Protestantism from then on, declaring all forms of Protestantism heretical. A series of significant events followed which divided Europe and culminated in a number of states transitioning from Catholicism to Protestantism as their state religion. However, many remained Catholic, and some areas reverted to the Catholic religion as a result of the Counter-Reformation. Much of the schism and the events it caused can be categorised as violent and tumultuous. The work of the Second Vatican Council in the early 1960s recommended terms such as separated brethren to foster a greater emphasis on Christian unity.
Theological disputes
Catholic–Protestant theological dissent was birthed in 1517 with the posting of Martin Luther's Ninety-five Theses which outline ninety-five objections against Catholic doctrine. These included distinction between clergy and laity, the Catholic Church's monopoly on scriptural interpretation, the sale of indulgences, the nature of salvation, and more.Salvation
Luther's understanding of salvation was one of the radical departures from Catholic dogma. Luther highlighted that Christian salvation was a free gift from God which led him to criticise the sale of indulgences as a means by which one can attain heaven. He stressed the importance of a faith-oriented process of salvation, distinct from his view of the Catholic works-oriented salvation. This also led to a shift in the understanding of grace. This Protestant doctrine is known as sola fide.French attorney John Calvin developed the Reformed theology of salvation. While Luther maintained that salvation was available to all, Calvin introduced the doctrine of predestination. Based on the idea of human's sin-enslaved will, and salvation being the sole work of God, Calvin insisted that certain individuals were predestined for heaven and others were not.
Authority
A significant foundation for both parties' doctrines is the nature of their authority. The Protestant positions consists in either holding scripture to be the sole foundation of Christian doctrine, or holding that scripture is the primary source of Christian doctrine. This has led to heavy criticism of the Catholic Church's position which places scripture on par with Sacred Tradition, with Catholics considering both as divinely revealed and binding.History
16th century – The Reformation
The 16th century began the Reformation which resulted in the formation of Protestantism as a distinct entity to Catholicism. In response, the Catholic Church began its own reformation process known as the "Counter-Reformation" which culminated in the Council of Trent. This council was responsible for several practical changes and doctrinal clarifications. In spite of this, the two parties remained notably dissimilar.After years of the spread of Martin Luther's ideas, Protestants submitted their statement of belief at the Diet of Augsburg.
In 1540 Pope Paul III approved the order of the Society of Jesus which was created largely to combat Protestantism.
The Regensburg Reconciliation was a failed attempt by Catholics and Lutheran Protestants to reunite.
The "traditionally Roman" nations of France, Spain and Italy endured the Roman Inquisitions as of 1542. The inquisitions were aimed at all those considered heretical by the Catholic Church but predominately targeted Protestants as it was the most prominent. Technically the Church itself never executed heretics. Rather, heretics were handed over to civil authorities for punishment.
Disputes between the Catholic Emperor of Germany and the princes thereof resulted in the Schmalkaldic War. Protestants were defeated, but later on Protestantism became legally recognised as a valid religion.
In 1555 the Peace of Augsburg allowed Catholics and Lutherans to follow the faith of their ruler – regardless of what that may be – within Germany.
France
The Reformation in France took on a unique flavour which lacked the public, State and church support found elsewhere in Europe. The first French Protestants were subject to persecution in the form of death or exile. From 1562 conflict raged between the Protestant Huguenots and Catholics. In 1589, Protestant Henry IV succeeded the throne raising the hopes of French Protestants. However, any reforms he may have intended to make were shattered by an alliance between French Catholics and the king of Spain who forced him to convert. The 1598 Edict of Nantes gave Huguenots the right to practice freely while retaining Catholicism as the nation's official religion.Netherlands
was quick to embrace the Reformation and soon assumed a Protestant identity. Though it faced opposition by its ruling power, Spain, the Dutch independence movement dispelled with Spanish imposition and allowed for Protestant development.Nordic countries
All of Scandinavia ultimately adopted Lutheranism over the course of the 16th century, as the monarchs of Denmark and Sweden converted to that faith.Sweden
In Sweden, the Reformation was spearheaded by Gustav Vasa, elected king in 1523, with major contributions by Olaus Petri, a Swedish clergyman. Friction with the pope over the latter's interference in Swedish ecclesiastical affairs led to the discontinuance of any official connection between Sweden and the papacy since 1523. Four years later, at the Diet of Västerås, the king succeeded in forcing the diet to accept his dominion over the national church. The king was given possession of all church property, church appointments required royal approval, the clergy were subject to the civil law, and the "pure Word of God" was to be preached in the churches and taught in the schools—effectively granting official sanction to Lutheran ideas. The apostolic succession was retained in Sweden during the Reformation. The adoption of Lutheranism was also one of the main reasons for the eruption of the Dacke War, a peasants uprising in Småland.In 2016, Pope Francis traveled to Lund, Sweden, where he took part in the celebration given for the upcoming of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. The next year, the press of the Vatican released a stamp to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation; the stamp depicts Luther and Melanchton kneeling before a crucified Jesus.
Denmark
Under the reign of Frederick I, Denmark remained officially Catholic. Frederick initially pledged to persecute Lutherans, yet he quickly adopted a policy of protecting Lutheran preachers and reformers, of whom the most famous was Hans Tausen. During his reign, Lutheranism made significant inroads among the Danish population. In 1526, Frederick forbade papal investiture of bishops in Denmark and in 1527 ordered fees from new bishops be paid to the crown, making Frederick the head of the church of Denmark. Frederick's son, Christian, was openly Lutheran, which prevented his election to the throne upon his father's death. In 1536, following his victory in the Count's War, he became king as Christian III and continued the Reformation of the state church with assistance from Johannes Bugenhagen. By the Copenhagen recess of October 1536, the authority of the Catholic bishops was terminated.Iceland
's influence had already reached Iceland before King Christian's decree. The Germans fished near Iceland's coast, and the Hanseatic League engaged in commerce with the Icelanders. These Germans raised a Lutheran church in Hafnarfjörður as early as 1533. Through German trade connections, many young Icelanders studied in Hamburg. In 1538, when the kingly decree of the new Church ordinance reached Iceland, bishop Ögmundur Pálsson and his clergy denounced it, threatening excommunication for anyone subscribing to the German "heresy". In 1539, the King sent a new governor to Iceland, Klaus von Mervitz, with a mandate to introduce reform and take possession of church property. Von Mervitz seized a monastery in Viðey with the help of his sheriff, Dietrich of Minden, and his soldiers. They drove the monks out and seized all their possessions, for which they were promptly excommunicated by Ögmundur.United Kingdom
and Scotland endured the longest of the European transformations in response to the Reformation. Henry VIII declared himself Head of the Church of England in response to Rome's refusal to sanction the annulment of his marriage to Queen Catherine. He still, however, died a Catholic. Officially, the English Reformation began under Edward VI led by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer of Canterbury. Queen Mary persecuted Protestants in an attempt to restore Catholicism to England. Ironically, this only served to enhance Protestant determination. Following this trend, Elizabeth solidified Protestantism as the state religion of England permanently. Overall, the Reformation led to the seizing of all Catholic Church assets in Britain, persecution of clergy, and the virtual destruction of Catholicism as a significant socio-political force in the region.17th century
In 1618 the Dutch War of Independence ended and Catholic Spain ceased to rule over the region. Much of this war is considered to be on religious grounds.The 17th century saw Protestant-Catholic tensions rise particularly in Germany leading to the Thirty Years War from 1618 to 1648. This war saw the destruction of much of Central Europe and divided much of the continent along Catholic-Protestant lines. Swedes, Danes, and French were all involved. The war culminated in the Treaty of Westphalia which granted Calvinists and Lutherans equal rights to Catholics.
New Englanders were deeply suspicious of Catholicism and in 1647 banished all Catholic clergymen by law. In 1689 the Maryland Assembly forbade Catholic baptism outside of already Catholic households, the practicing of Catholic mass, and more.
In 1685 king Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes leading to the prosecution of Protestants in France.