SPSA Church Giving (opens in a new tab)

Questions & Answers

Catholicism

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › Other Churches and Faiths › Catholicism

The question

Apart from the similarities, what are the major differences that exist between the Catholic Church and the Coptic Orthodox church?

The answer

Although there are many similarities between the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, there are also major differences.
To list a few:
  • The filioque:
    In the Creed we recite "We believe in the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father" The Roman Catholic Church adds "and the Son" making the Holy Spirit a lesser degree than the two Hypostases.


  • The Immaculate Conception:
    Roman Catholics believe that St. Mary was born without the original sin. This is not acceptable at all for St. Mary herself said "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior" (Luke 1:46-47). If she has been born without sin why does she need salvation!
There are other differences like the infallibility of the Pope, the purgatory and many others. You can read about them in details at this website: www.geocities.com/mgocsmbvli/orth_cath.htm.

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

Related questions

Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 36 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.