Theoretically, an enmity towards Catholicism was inevitable for the Fundamentalist Christian Movement. After all, the emphasis of Holy Scripture above all human authority, including a magisterium or tradition, does contradict the very nature of the Church of Rome. Protestantism in general gains its name from its protests against Catholic doctrine. Today, the majority of those who oppose Rome oppose it in more ecumenical terms, disagreeing with some of their positions yet also conceding their status as being in the faith.

Even now, despite the release of the successful film Passion of the Christ, which was a favorite among Evangelicals and produced by a traditionalist Roman Catholic, and despite new agreements signed between various Lutheran and Catholic clergy, there remains a wing of Protestantism in general and fundamentalism in particular that does not acknowledge Catholicism’s place in Christendom.

To stress this is a minority, for major figures such as Jerry Falwell, Billy Sunday, Pat Robertson, and Billy Graham have expressed support for the Roman Catholic Church and often involved them in their respective religio-political endeavors. This has led to that one wing referring to them by a variety of names, including betrayers of the Reformation and “Bapticatholics.”

Important to remember is what many liberals want us to forget: with very few exceptions, this enmity is directed not at Catholics but Catholicism. This is not hatred towards people, it is strong disagreement with beliefs people hold. Nevertheless, there are plenty of statements in the Catechism of the Catholic Church that are definitely Christian in nature:

“Christ, the Son of God made man, is the Father’s one, perfect, and unsurpassable Word. In him he has said everything; there will be no other word than this one.” (CCC, Part One, Chapter Two Article 1, III:65)

“Christ the Lord, in whom the entire Revelation of the most high God is summed up, commanded the apostles to preach the Gospel, which had been promised beforehand by the prophets, and which he fulfilled in his own person and promulgated with his own lips.” (CCC, Part One, Chapter Two, Article 2, I:75)

“The Old Testament is an indispensable part of Sacred Scripture. Its books are divinely inspired and retain a permanent value…” (CCC, Part One, Chapter Two, Article 3, IV: 121)

“The Gospels are the heart of all the Scriptures ‘because they are our principal source for the life and teaching of the Incarnate Word, our Savior.”(CCC, Part One, Chapter Two , Article 3, IV: 125)

“Christians are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: not in their names, for there is only one God, the almighty Father, his only Son, and the Holy Spirit: the Most Holy Trinity.” (CCC, Part One, Chapter One, Section Two, Paragraph 2, I:233)

“Our profession of faith begins with God, for God is the First and the Last, the beginning and the end of everything.”(CCC, Part One, Chapter One, Article 1, Section Two:198)

These and other statements abound from Catholic writers, clergy, and figures through the many centuries the bishopric of Rome has held sway. Many of the great Catholic thinkers of history, (Augustine of Hippo, Thomas Aquinas, Tertullian and Francis of Assisi to name examples) are pivotal to even Protestant’s spiritual understanding. If their works and the quotations mentioned above are not considered Christian, then I fear for my soul.

There are issues with the Roman Catholic Church, with that there is no question. Ideas like the Immaculate Conception, intercessory prayers, and clerical celibacy are matters of concern. In addition to that, one can also note the Church’s recent endorsement of the General Theory of Evolution, its continual sex scandals, and the refusal found in the typical Catholic Church of allowing Christians from different sects to celebrate Holy Communion in the Mass.

Be that as it may, the fundamentals of Christianity, so fiercely defended by Protestants, are upheld by Catholics also. So whatever disparities may exist, none are sufficient to exclude them from the Kingdom of Heaven.