Formal unity is lacking
in other churches.
A. AMONG THE PROTESTANTS, unity is completely
lacking, for in Protestantism, there is no firm principle of unity. By
contrast, its fundamental principle is the spirit of private judgement,
which, excluding authority to subjectivism and individualism. In fact,
Protestantism is clearly divided in the profession of faith, in rue, and in
worship. (a) In the profession of faith, there has been a succession
from one variation to the next from the first pseudo-reformers up to this very
day. Lutherans, Calvinists, and Anglicans brought forth divisions among themselves,
dividing into many sects, not only concerned with accidental matters but, indeed,
with essentials as well (e.g., regarding the Trinity of persons in God, Christ’s
divinity, and the satisfaction he made for our sins). (b) Similarly, unity
of rule is rejected by Protestants. Their sects are independent and,
indeed, members of one and the same sect, if they belong to different kingdoms,
obey different heads. Often among Protestants we find the admission of the
principle “Cuius regio, eius religio”—the religion of a realm follows that of
its ruler. Episcopalian Anglicans believe that authority resides in validly consecrated
bishops, whereas others believe it resides in the presbyters. (c) In worship,
there is no agreement on the sacraments. Some hold that baptism and the Lord’s
Supper are sacraments, whereas others hold that only baptism is, and others
make use of no sacraments at all. The divisions forever grow, without any hope
for union. And since there are so many different Gospels preached, Protestants
gradually come to give up every form of religion, as is clear in liberal Protestantism,
whose number increases by the day. And for their part, they not only reject Christ’s
divinity but also his teaching authority. {{293}} Therefore, they [i.e., such very
liberal Protestants] cannot be legitimately called Christians. (Réginald
Garrigou-Lagrange, On Divine Revelation: The Teaching of the Catholic Faith,
2 vols. [trans. Matthew K. Minerd; Steubenville, Ohio: Emmaus Academic, 2022],
2:416-17)
