Catholic vs. Anabaptist / Mennonite
A side-by-side comparison of Catholic and Anabaptist / Mennonite teaching on 16 questions, from Scripture and salvation to baptism, communion and church government.
Catholic
The Catholic Church is the largest Christian body, led by the pope as bishop of Rome and organized around the seven sacraments. It traces its line of bishops to the apostles and teaches that Scripture and Sacred Tradition together carry God’s revelation.
Anabaptist / Mennonite
The Anabaptists began in Zurich in 1525 and spread to Germany and the Netherlands as the “radical” wing of the Reformation. Mennonites, the Amish and the Hutterites descend from them. They stress adult baptism, following the Sermon on the Mount, and separation of church and state.
At a glance
Where they differ: Authority: Scripture and tradition; Books of the Bible; How a person is saved; Baptism; Communion (the Lord’s Supper); Sacraments or ordinances; Church government; Mary and the saints; Death, purgatory and hell; Style of worship.
Varies within one or both: Clergy and women in ministry.
Where they agree: The Trinity; Can a saved person fall away?; Predestination and free will; The Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts; Day of worship.
Side by side
| Question | Catholic | Anabaptist / Mennonite |
|---|---|---|
| Authority: Scripture and traditionDiffer | Scripture and Sacred Tradition together form one deposit of faith. The Magisterium, the teaching office of the pope and bishops, interprets both authoritatively. | Scripture is the authority, read together by the congregation with special weight on the teaching of Jesus in the Gospels, especially the Sermon on the Mount. |
| Books of the BibleDiffer | 73 books: the 66 Protestant books plus seven deuterocanonical books (Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, and 1 and 2 Maccabees) and additions to Esther and Daniel. | 66 books. |
| The TrinityAgree | One God in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Spirit is said to proceed from the Father and the Son (the filioque clause added to the Nicene Creed in the West). | One God in three persons. Early Anabaptists were not uniform, but the Mennonite confessions are Trinitarian. |
| How a person is savedDiffer | Salvation is God’s gift, received through faith and baptism. The believer cooperates with grace through works of love, and the sacraments are the ordinary channels of that grace. Justification is understood as a real inner renewal, not only a declaration. | Saved by grace through faith. Faith is expected to show itself in obedience and discipleship, and baptism marks a conscious commitment to follow Christ. |
| Can a saved person fall away?Agree | Yes. A person can lose the grace of God through mortal sin, and it is restored through repentance and the sacrament of reconciliation (confession). | Generally yes. Mennonite teaching holds that faith must be lived out and that a person can turn away, though God is patient with those who return. |
| Predestination and free willAgree | God knows and wills the salvation of the elect, and human free will genuinely cooperates with grace. The church condemns the view that God predestines anyone to damnation. | Emphasizes free will and a personal decision to follow Christ. Anabaptists rejected Calvinist predestination from the start. |
| BaptismDiffer | A sacrament that cleanses original sin and begins new life in Christ. Infants are baptized, usually by pouring water, and adults are baptized after instruction. | Baptism is given only to those who make a mature confession of faith. The mode varies (pouring or immersion), and infant baptism is rejected. The name “Anabaptist” means “rebaptizer.” |
| Communion (the Lord’s Supper)Differ | The Eucharist. Bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ (transubstantiation), and the whole Christ is truly present under their appearance. | A memorial meal and a sign of the unity of the congregation. Some groups pair it with foot washing. |
| Sacraments or ordinancesDiffer | Seven sacraments: baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, penance, anointing of the sick, holy orders and marriage. | Two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Many groups also practice foot washing. |
| Church governmentDiffer | Governed by bishops in communion with the pope, who is the successor of Peter and holds universal authority. Priests serve under bishops. | Local congregations decide matters together and select their own ministers. Some groups have regional conferences and bishops with a limited role. |
| Clergy and women in ministryVaries | Priests and bishops must be men, and priests in the Latin Church are celibate. Women serve as religious sisters, teachers and lay leaders, but not as ordained clergy. | Varies. Conservative groups reserve ministry for men, and more progressive Mennonite conferences ordain women. |
| Mary and the saintsDiffer | Mary is honored as Mother of God, and Catholics pray to her and the saints to intercede. Catholic teaching includes the Immaculate Conception, the Assumption and Mary’s perpetual virginity. | Mary is respected as Jesus’ mother, and the church emphasizes following Christ. There is no prayer to saints. |
| Death, purgatory and hellDiffer | Those who die in grace but are not fully purified go through purgatory before heaven. The living pray for the dead. Hell is eternal separation from God. | Purgatory is rejected. Believers rest in Christ awaiting the resurrection, and the final judgment decides eternal destiny. |
| Style of worshipDiffer | Highly liturgical. The Mass follows a set order, with readings, a homily and the Eucharist at the center. Worship uses vestments, incense and candles on many occasions. | Simple worship centered on singing, Scripture and preaching. Many groups sing without instruments. |
| The Holy Spirit and spiritual giftsAgree | The Spirit works through the sacraments, and the church recognizes gifts (charisms) of healing and prophecy. The Catholic Charismatic Renewal, begun in 1967, welcomes tongues, but it is not the norm. | The Spirit is understood to guide the congregation in discernment and daily life. Miraculous gifts are not emphasized. |
| Day of worshipAgree | Sunday, the day of the resurrection. Catholics are obliged to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days. | Sunday. |
| Best known for | Papal authority, the seven sacraments, the Mass, Marian devotion and a worldwide network of schools, hospitals and charities. | Peace witness and refusal of violence, adult baptism, simple living, mutual aid and service through relief organizations. |
“Agree” means the two traditions take the same broad position, although the wording above may still note finer differences. “Varies” means at least one of the two is itself divided on the question, so no single position can be given. These summaries describe typical teaching, and individual churches may vary. For an authoritative statement, consult each denomination’s own confessions.
Learn more on this site
- The Inspiration and Inerrancy of Scripture
- The Reliability of Scripture
- The Canon
- Textual Variants and "Lost Books" (Gnostic Gospels, Apocrypha)
- What Does the Bible Say About Salvation?
- Grace
- Justification
- Baptism
- Catholic Church
- Eastern Orthodox Church
- What Does the Bible Say About Heaven?
- What Does the Bible Say About Hell?
- What Does the Bible Say About Judgment Day?
- What Does the Bible Say About Worship?
- The Trinity
- The Deity of Christ
- Free Will, Predestination, and Divine Sovereignty
- What Does the Bible Say About Spiritual Gifts?
- Sabbath
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