Defending the Faith Series: The 3 Worst Arguments Protestants Make Against Catholics
If you’ve ever spoken with anti-Catholic Protestants, you’ve likely heard their favorite talking points: “You worship Mary,” “Catholics aren’t even Christian,” or “You added books to the Bible.” These arguments may sound convincing to someone unfamiliar with Catholic teaching, but they quickly fall apart under scrutiny.
Not all Protestant objections are this shallow—some raise serious theological concerns worthy of discussion. Issues like justification, the role of Scripture and Tradition, and the nature of authority in the Church deserve careful and respectful dialogue. But others are so historically, biblically, and logically flawed that they do more to reveal the speaker’s misunderstanding than offer any real challenge to Catholic doctrine.
Thankfully, in recent years, many well-formed Protestant clergy and theologians have begun to recognize just how weak these particular arguments are. For example, Baptist author and apologist Gavin Ortlund said, “We should criticize Catholicism as it actually is, not as we imagine it to be. Repeating tired claims like ‘Catholics worship Mary’ undermines our credibility.” Many others have echoed this sentiment, such as Francis Beckwith a prominent and once-evangelical scholar who came back to the Catholic Church once said, “Many Evangelicals, to their credit, have begun to seriously study Catholic theology and history, and as a result, they’re no longer repeating the same old strawman arguments about Mary, the saints, or salvation.”
As ecumenical dialogue and historical literacy have increased, these voices have wisely moved away from the more sensational and inaccurate claims—like “Catholics worship Mary” or “Catholics added books to the Bible”—and have begun focusing on the deeper theological issues that truly divide us. This has opened the door to more fruitful conversations rooted in mutual respect and shared desire for truth.
Today, we begin a series unpacking the three worst arguments Protestants make against Catholics, not to mock our separated brethren, but to equip Catholics with clarity, charity, and confidence—so that we may speak the truth in love and defend the faith with understanding.
Let’s take a look at the top offenders.
1. “Catholics Aren’t Christians”
This is arguably the most dishonest and damaging argument Protestants make. It completely ignores the historical reality that the Catholic Church is the original Christian Church, founded by Christ, built on the apostles, and responsible for compiling the very Bible Protestants use.
To claim Catholics “aren’t Christians” is to erase 1,500 years of Church history and the lives of saints and martyrs who confessed Christ with their blood. It’s an accusation even most thoughtful Protestants reject. We’ll address this dangerous myth in an upcoming article.
2. “Catholics Worship Mary”
This is perhaps the most widespread falsehood and certainly the most emotionally charged. Protestants often confuse veneration with worship, assuming that prayers, statues, and titles like “Mother of God” equate to idolatry.
In truth, Catholics distinguish between latria (worship due to God alone) and hyperdulia (special honor given to Mary). Mary is honored, not worshiped. And devotion to her always leads us to her Son.
This argument is so persistent that we’re devoting a two-part series to it. In this very article, we’ll start by unpacking the claim. Then, in the follow-up piece, we’ll show what the earliest Christians and even Protestant Reformers actually believed about Mary.
3. “The Catholic Church Added Books to the Bible”
This is a historical reversal of what really happened. The Catholic Church defined the canon of Scripture in the 4th century—including the Deuterocanonical books (which Protestants call the Apocrypha). It was Martin Luther, over 1,000 years later, who removed them because they conflicted with his theology.
This argument is especially ironic, considering the Catholic Church preserved and transmitted the Bible through the centuries, often at great cost. We’ll expose this myth in its own article and walk through the real story of the Bible’s canon.
Honorable Mentions (Which We’ll Also Cover Soon):
- “Call no man Father” – a blatant misreading of Matthew 23:9.
- “Catholics believe in works-based salvation” – a false portrayal of the Catholic understanding of grace, faith, and merit.
- “The Pope is the Antichrist” – a sensationalist claim with no serious biblical or theological grounding.
- “Statues are graven images” – ignores both biblical nuance and Temple history.
- “Praying to saints is necromancy” – a misunderstanding of the Communion of Saints.
Each of these deserves a thoughtful response, and we’ll take the time to provide one in the weeks ahead.
