3 myths attributed to the Catholic Church

Misunderstandings arise from assumptions rather than authentic teaching. Three misconceptions in particular persist across time:

• the belief that Catholics worship Mary and the saints,
• the confusion surrounding papal infallibility and
• the idea that Catholics believe salvation is earned only through good works.

Each of these can be clarified by examining Catholic doctrine alongside Scripture from the USCCB’s New American Bible Revised Edition.

1. Myth: Catholics worship Mary and the saints.

False. Catholics honor Mary and the saints. Worship is reserved for God alone. Scripture demonstrates that honoring holy people and seeking their intercession is consistent with biblical faith.

• The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful. James 5:16
• The bowls were filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones. Revelation 5:8
• Keep such people in honor. Philippians 2:29

Catholic devotion to Mary and the saints reflects a biblical pattern of honoring God’s faithful servants and seeking their prayers, not worshiping them.

2. Myth: Papal Infallibility means the pope is always right.

False. Only God is perfect. According to the Lutheran–Catholic dialogue c.1150-1350 AD summarized in The Historical Origins of Papal Infallibility; the term infallible was originally used to describe God’s truth, divine revelation and the Church’s normative teaching; not the pope himself. It refers to the Holy Spirit protecting the Church from error in solemn teachings on faith and morals i.e. the gates of hell shall not prevail against her. 

• You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church. Matthew 16:1
• I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 16:19
• He will guide you to all truth. John 16:13

These passages form the biblical foundation for the Church’s belief that only Christ protects His forever Bride.

3. Myth: Catholics believe salvation is earned through works.

False. We believe we are judged by our love, from the combined teachings of 1 John 4:17–21 and Matthew 25:44–46. Salvation is a gift of grace offered, that through free will and a soul’s cooperation; transforms a person’s life. Consider potential responses to these bullets. Is love a noun or verb? Or both?

• "This is the commandment we have from Him: whoever loves God must also love his brother." 1 John 4: 17-21
• "Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not minister to You?’” Matthew 25: 44:46
• "Go and make disciples." Acts 1:8

True faith expresses itself if we live our love out loud, as in "the Acts of the Apostles."

One, Mystical Body of Christ

With Christ, we gather in a sacred circle;
servant souls, purgatorial pentitents and sanctified saints
all guided by grace, having been loved into His light.

Through holy union, healing hearts and filial faith;
we stand as one redeemed body
under God’s gaze, as we fly upon the Spirit’s breath.

Sources

Catechism of the Catholic Church. 1997. Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. 1992. Communionis Notio. Vatican Press.

Tierney, B. (1972). The origins of papal infallibility, 1150–1350: A study on the concepts of infallibility, sovereignty and tradition in the Middle Ages. Brill.

USCCB. 2011. New American Bible Revised Edition. USCCB Publishing.