On Amy Coney Barrett, the Pope, and Same-Sex Unions

Amy Coney Barrett, The Pope, and Joe Biden have something in common–they are all Roman Catholic.

There was news this week about Pope Francis endorsing same-sex unions. I do think, in our discussion, it is important to be clear regarding what he actually said. Colleen Dulle does a fair job of summarizing what he said and did not say.

The pope’s words in the film are an endorsement of civil union protections for same-sex couples, in that the pope publicly expressed support for them.

But as the pope has often said, this does not mean that he believes that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry. On a number of occasions, Francis has warned against threats to the institution of marriage and described marriage as “between a man and a woman.” Accepting gay family members or accommodating same-sex partnerships in civil law, he said, “does not mean approving of homosexual acts.”

This is not a new position for Pope Francis. He has held this position for years. It made news this week likely because of the Supreme Court nomination of Amy Coney Barrett. Maybe it was intended to soften the opposition to her nomination. For us, as Bible-believing Baptists it reminds of an important fact that we seem to have forgotten lately.

Roman Catholicism (RCC) does not represent Bible-believing Christianity. There is a stark difference between how the two groups approach the authority of scripture and the doctrine of salvation itself. While we often find ourselves on the same side of moral battles in the public square, the paths we trace to arrive at our public positions are quite different.

Catholicism is an institution, Bible-believing Baptists (and many other Bible-believing groups) are a movement.

This is based upon the form of Church government. The Episcopalian form of Church government that rules Roman Catholicism, the Orthodox Churches, the Church of England, Methodism, and even Mormonism (and other groups) is a top-down power structure in which decisions are handed down to local congregations from above. s

Baptists hold to congregational government that allows the ultimate earthly decision-making to lie in the local congregations as they claim the Bible itself as the authority. The local Church articulates its own understanding of biblical doctrine, calls its own pastor, and makes its own ministry and financial choices. Even the FBFI, as dear as our fellowship is, is not a denominational structure where we control Churches or one another. We are a strictly voluntary fellowship of individuals and we do not meddle in one another’s Church business.

In Catholicism, everything rises and falls on the institutional church.  Doctrine is affirmed by the Church, practices are approved by the Church, and salvation is determined based upon an individual’s relationship to the Church. The institution is everything.

For Bible-believers, individual congregations seek to align themselves with the truth of scripture and errant congregations move away from it. It’s the word that is the final rule for faith and practice.

For Catholicism, doctrinal truth is fluid.

While the RCC appears to be unchanging over time, there is still a fluidity to its positions based upon its own traditions. The Church as an institution persecuted and murdered millions in the Inquisitions—a practice it today condemns. It is tradition that drives the decisions of the Church (along with the leadership in Rome and the Bible) and while tradition is, by its definition incredibly static, it does change over time. The Pope’s endorsement of same-sex unions is a case in point. While his opinion does not immediately constitute Church dogma, it does reflect a transition among the most influential leaders of the Church. For Catholicism, the Bible is one authority, not the sole authority.

Their gospel is still a false gospel.

We love Catholics and want to share the true gospel with them, but to treat the Church dogma, especially regarding salvation, as an acceptable view would do violence to the clear teaching of scripture. Their gospel of works is the same that Paul battled in Acts 15 and Galatians 1. We are saved by faith and not by our religious behavior.

There are saved people in the RCC, but this is in spite of the RCC teachings, not because of it. The RCC is much more willing to tolerate nominal membership and unwilling to hold its membership or even its leadership to any sort of consistent doctrinal position. It is shocking that Amy Comey Barrett is held in great suspicion for her faith while Joe Biden, who claims the same Catholic Church, is unproblematic. This stems from the willingness to hold millions of in-name-only types as members in good standing. The RCC is not the only religious institution to do this. It is common in many corners of professing evangelicalism where the gospel itself has ignored or twisted. Well-ordered Church membership is more the exception than the rule.

Amy Comey Barrett seems to be a quality person with a wonderful family. She is extremely well-qualified to serve the nation’s highest court. Personally think that she will be a fine Supreme Court justice. Of course, we never know for sure until we actually see her opinions come down. It is not necessary for someone to be an evangelical believer to be an excellent justice. I fully endorse her nomination and pray for God to use her for His good. We can admire the RCC and those in it for taking a stand for abortion and other moral issues (to a lesser extent biblical marriage), but we must be careful to remember that the morality that stems from that form of legalism is no true morality before God at all. Our civic goals might coincide at times, but they are not our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Entrance into the true family of God begins with true conversion and true conversion does not happen without a true gospel.