Two religions

The Catholic Catechism teaches a final purification, called purgatory, for those who die in God's grace but are "still imperfectly purified" and who "after death... undergo purification" (Catechism of the Catholic Church §1030, "The Final Purification, or Purgatory"). Scripture says Christ's one offering has already "perfected for all time those who are being sanctified" (Hebrews 10:14 ESV), and that a believer who leaves the body is "at home with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8 ESV).

Source: www.vatican.va

The Catechism teaches that the Eucharist is a sacrifice because it "re-presents (makes present) the sacrifice of the cross" (Catechism of the Catholic Church §1366), and that "The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single sacrifice." In the Mass, it says, "the same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross is contained and is offered in an unbloody manner" (§1367).

Scripture says Christ's offering was once for all, and that it is finished. He has no need to offer Himself again and again:

"He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself."

Hebrews 7:27 ESV

"so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him."

Hebrews 9:28 ESV

"And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." "For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." (Hebrews 10:10, 14 ESV). The Lord's Supper remembers that finished work. It does not repeat it or add to it.

Source: www.vatican.va (CCC §1366-1367, checked Nov 10, 2026, ET).

The Catechism teaches that the churches "developed their prayer to the holy Mother of God" (§2675), and that "When we pray to her, we are adhering with her to the plan of the Father" (§2679). Of the saints in heaven it says they "do not cease to intercede with the Father for us" (§956), and that "We can and should ask them to intercede for us and for the whole world" (§2683).

Scripture gives us one go-between, and it is Christ alone:

"For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,"

1 Timothy 2:5 ESV

We may ask living brothers and sisters to pray for us. We are not taught to pray to those who have died, or to ask Mary or the saints to stand between us and God.

Sources: CCC §956, §2675, 2679, and §2683 on www.vatican.va (checked Nov 10, 2026, ET).

The Catechism teaches that the Pope, Bishop of Rome and Peter's successor, "is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful." It continues, "For the Roman Pontiff, by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, and as pastor of the entire Church has full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered" (§882).

Scripture gives that place to Christ alone:

"And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent."

Colossians 1:18 ESV

"And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all." (Ephesians 1:22-23 ESV). No pastor or apostle is given unhindered rule over the whole church. Christ is its head.

Source: www.vatican.va (CCC §882, checked Nov 10, 2026, ET).

The Catechism affirms that "for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation" (§1129). It also teaches that no one can merit "the initial grace of forgiveness and justification," but that, moved by the Holy Spirit, "we can then merit for ourselves and for others the graces needed for our sanctification, for the increase of grace and charity, and for the attainment of eternal life" (§2010). Justification, it says, "is conferred in Baptism, the sacrament of faith" (§1992).

Scripture says salvation is a gift, not something we merit, and not something the sacraments add to Christ's finished work:

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

"he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,"

Titus 3:5 ESV

"For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law." (Romans 3:28 ESV). Good works follow as the fruit of salvation, not as the price of it (Ephesians 2:10).

Sources: CCC §1129, §2010, and §1992 on www.vatican.va (checked Nov 10, 2026, ET).

The Catechism teaches that Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture "are bound closely together, and communicate one with the other" (§80). As a result, it says, the Church "does not derive her certainty about all revealed truths from the holy Scriptures alone. Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honoured with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence" (§82).

Scripture presents itself as enough to make the believer complete for every good work, and it warns us not to let tradition stand beside the Word of God as an equal authority:

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."

2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV

"in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men."

Mark 7:7-8 ESV

Source: www.vatican.va (CCC §80, 82, checked Nov 10, 2026, ET).