Rounding out this series on Roman Catholicism (at least for the time-being) I would like to consider Rome’s claim to unity. A frequent apologetic argument used by Roman Catholics centers around the idea that the Roman Catholic Church represents unity and stability, while Protestantism represents division and instability. “After all,” the argument goes, “there is one Roman Catholic Church and hundreds of Protestant denominations!” But is the Roman Church really as unified and stable as its defenders claim? In reality, the Roman Church’s history is marked by all kinds of divisions and schisms, both external and internal.
We’ll begin at the year 1054 since by this time there is clearly an entity we would recognize as the Roman Catholic Church (just in an earlier form). It is in 1054 that the Roman Catholic Church becomes a distinct, independent organization due to what is called The Great Schism. At the Great Schism of 1054, the western Roman Catholic and eastern Orthodox churches mutually excommunicated each other over a variety of issues, including papal authority. From that point forward, Rome separated from everyone else and recognized only itself as the “true church.”
Between the Great Schism and the Protestant Reformation there were a number of divisions within the Roman Church. There were reform movements that led to schism, notable examples of which include John Wycliffe (14th century) and his followers in Britain and John Hus (15th century) and his followers in the Czech lands. There were also internal divisions, such as The Great Western Schism of 1378–1417. During these years there was first two, and then three different popes all claiming authority at the same time. The popes reigned from three different cities: Rome, Avignon, and Pisa. Eventually a council was convened which essentially wiped the slate clean and elected a new pope.
In the 16th century there was another major schism within the Roman Church: The Protestant Reformation. The original intention of Luther and others was not to separate from Rome, but to reform Rome, bringing it back toward Scriptural teachings. Unfortunately, Rome rejected reform and brought about yet another largescale division.
Finally, as mentioned in a previous article, Rome had another schism in 1870 after the council of Vatican I. After the council defined papal infallibility, there was a large minority of Roman Catholics who split from Rome and formed what is today called the Old Catholics.
So, is Rome the paradigm of unity and stability claimed by its apologists? No, Rome too is marked by division and schism, and the examples above are not exhaustive.
Having said all of this, are Roman apologists onto something when they point at divisions within Protestantism and say, “that’s a problem!” Yes, they absolutely are. The problem of division and sectarianism is very real, and is precisely the problem that the Restoration Movement hoped to remedy. Jesus desires unity within His Church (John 17), and therefore we all should. Rome has its share of disunity – don’t let anyone fool you otherwise – but at the end of the day we also have to look at ourselves. Do we strive for the unity of truth that Jesus desires? Is our prayer for unity within our local congregation and for Christian unity throughout the world? May it be so.
Studies in the Bible 