Does Roman Catholicism Teach Salvation by Grace?

What do Catholics really believe? This is the title of an article written by a Roman Catholic and published by the ministry Young Life. Young Life has recently embraced Roman Catholicism as a partner in ministry. Its mission is to introduce adolescents to Jesus and help them grow in their faith. Because of their endorsement of Roman Catholicism, Young Life felt the need to clarify the beliefs of Roman Catholics on certain issues that are rightly important to those with Protestant convictions. 

In the article mentioned above, Michael Havercamp (a practicing Catholic and YL’s Director of Catholic Relations) states that Roman Catholics believe in salvation by grace. “Once in a while, a Protestant will suggest that Catholics believe salvation comes from works, not faith. But just like Protestants, Catholics believe we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.” This is a classic case of same words, different worlds. This statement is meant to put Protestants at ease and make them feel comfortable collaborating with Roman Catholics for the sake of the gospel. But is the statement really true? Do Catholics believe in salvation by grace?

The statement is misleading at best. Where Havercamp and other Roman Catholics turn to support this claim is the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which in its section on grace states, “The merit of man before God in the Christian life arises from the fact that God has freely chosen to associate man with the work of his grace. The fatherly action of God is first on his own initiative” (CCC 2008, italics original). Two sections later the CCC states, “Since the initiative belongs to God in the order of grace, no one can merit the initial grace of forgiveness and justification” (CCC 2010, italics original). This could certainly lead one to believe that the Catholic Church does indeed teach salvation by grace. And in a sense it is true. But here it must be noted that salvation by grace does not necessarily define the gospel. The Reformers understood this and insisted on the addition of the word alone to safeguard the biblical gospel. Salvation is by grace alone. This is essential to maintaining gospel integrity.

The CCC also says about grace that “the merit of good works is to be attributed in the first place to the grace of God, then to the faithful (CCC 2008, italics mine). The CCC also states that “Moved by the Holy Spirit and by charity, we can then merit for ourselves and for others the graces needed for our sanctification, for the increase of grace and charity, and for the attainment of eternal life (CCC 2010, italics original). According to Roman Catholicism we are indeed saved by grace, but not by grace alone. Because sin is merely a wound to human nature according to Roman Catholic theology and does not create spiritual death (see Ephesians 2:1), man must respond to God’s call and his fallen nature is capable of doing so. Indeed, man is capax Dei, that is, man is capable of God. This is how the CCC begins. If man has capacitas dei (capacity for God), then salvation by God’s grace alone must be rejected, and indeed Roman Catholicism rejects the alone aspect of salvation by grace. 

One need look no further than a recent article published by the Catholic News Agency to demonstrate that Roman Catholicism does indeed teach forgiveness and salvation through works and merit, at least in part. 2025 will be the Year of Jubilee for the Catholic Church. It is an occasion to make pilgrimages and earn indulgences. There is no clearer demonstration of a violation of salvation by grace alone (and therefore of the biblical gospel) than the Roman Catholic doctrine of indulgences (see CCC sections 1471-79 for the Catholic Church’s teachings on indulgences). 

In the above-mentioned article, the Catholic Church lays out how Roman Catholics can earn an indulgence during Jubilee. Possibilities mentioned are: make a pilgrimage to Rome, perform a work of mercy, fast from social media, defend life, volunteer, visit your local cathedral, pray in certain basilicas, etc. If doing these things earns forgiveness of sins, then salvation is not by grace alone. It is instead by grace plus works which “merit for ourselves and for others the graces needed for our sanctification, for the increase of grace and charity, and for the attainment of eternal life” (CCC 2010).

Same words (grace, salvation), but totally different worlds. Evangelicals must be aware of this reality and understand how to look below the surface when Roman Catholics make claims such as “we are saved by grace.” It is not false, but it is misleading, as the doctrine of indulgences clearly reveals.

We are saved by God’s grace alone through faith in Christ alone. If it’s not alone, it’s not the gospel. The Reformers knew what they were talking about and what they died for. May the church uphold these truths and not be misled by half-truths. To God alone be the glory.