Historic Protestant Perspectives on Catholicism

Historically, prominent Protestant figures such as Luther and Calvin acknowledged the existence of genuine Christianity within the Roman Catholic Church, despite their criticisms of its practices. Luther emphasized that the Catholic Church contained true Christian elements and devoted saints, while Calvin illustrated that denial of the Catholic identity as a church does not negate the presence of Christian communities within it. This historical balance highlights that, even while arguing against certain errors, both Reformers maintained a recognition of the Christian character of many within Catholicism. Additionally, later Protestant voices, like Richard Hooker and Francis Turretin, echoed similar sentiments, acknowledging some degree of truth shared with the Catholic tradition while critiquing its errors.