Same Words, Different Worlds: Do Roman Catholics and Evangelicals Believe the Same Gospel?

Do Evangelical Protestants and Roman Catholics share a common orthodoxy, as promoted by initiatives such as Evangelicals and Catholics Together? Or do the profound differences between Evangelical and Catholic theology and how they view the doctrines of Christ, the Church and salvation mean they actually hold to very different gospels? Same Words, Different Worlds explores whether Evangelicals and Catholics have the same gospel if they have core commitments that contradict. It lays out how the words used to understand the gospel are the same but differ drastically in their underlying theology. With keen insight, Leonardo de Chirico looks at various aspects of Roman Catholic theology – including Mary, the intercession of the saints, purgatory and papal infallibility – from an Evangelical perspective to argue that theological framework of Roman Catholicism is not faithful to the biblical gospel. Only by understanding the real differences can genuine dialogue flourish. Same Words, Different Worlds will deepen your understanding of the differences between Evangelical and Catholic theology, and how the Reformation is not over in the church today.

About the Author :
Leonardo De Chirico is pastor of the Church Breccia di Roma and lecturer in historical theology at the Istituto di Formazione Evangelica e Documentazione in Padova, Italy. He earned degrees in History (University of Bologna), Theology (ETCW, Bridgend, Wales) and Bioethics (University of Padova). His PhD is from King’s College (London) and was published as' Evangelical Theological Perspectives on Post-Vatican II Roman Catholicism' (Bern-Oxford: Peter Lang 2003). He directs the Reformanda Initiative, cohosts it's podcast, and is author of several books, including A Christian’s Pocket Guide to the Papacy, Same Words, Different Worlds. Do Roman Catholics and Evangelicals Believe the Same Gospel?, and Engaging with Thomas Aquinas: An Evangelical Approach. He blogs on Vatican and Roman Catholic issues from an evangelical perspective at Vatican Files.

Review :
Just as Luther’s own debates with Rome clarified his theology, so this book helps evangelicals think more clearly about the gospel and so helps us be more truly evangelical... this book not only gives us wisdom: it takes us deep into the joy-giving world of the gospel. Leonardo De Chirico’s Same Words, Different Worlds is an authoritative, clear, and compelling account. He knows of what he speaks: fluffy-minded evangelicals confused about "contemporary" Roman Catholicism, read and learn. Laboring for the gospel in the shadow of the Vatican, Dr. De Chirico knows Roman Catholicism of the past and present, of its doctrine and practice, of its American and global identity. He then adds his deep knowledge of the historic orthodox Christian faith. And he then adds his winsome and gracious nature. The result is a book that with clarity and grace shows the profound difference between Roman Catholicism and Evangelicalism—and why that difference is of such ultimate, eternal significance. How can I stand next to my Roman Catholic friend and say the words, "We believe in the one holy catholic and apostolic faith" and mean something completely different by the words: "We", "believe", "in", "the one", "holy", Catholic", "Apostolic" and "faith"? De Chirico, an Italian National and church planter in Rome, is better placed than anyone to act as a bridge between evangelicals and Roman Catholics. This book provides the key to understanding these differences, avoiding pitfalls and communicating more effectively with Roman Catholics. De Chirico’s book is a powerful tool to help us talk about the Jesus whom we love with the people in our lives whom we love who live in a world influenced by Roman Catholicism. In current ecumenical dialogue the emphasis is on agreement, with disputed points either left to one side or treated as secondary. Dr De Chirico takes issue with this approach and argues that the questions that divided the Western Church in the sixteenth century have not gone away and must still be faced. Evangelicals and Catholics hold some things in common, but as this book shows, their differences are important and cannot be overlooked. In this helpful book, my friend Leonardo De Chirico proves why he is one of the preeminent Protestant scholars of Roman Catholicism. He accomplishes just what he sets out to prove: that even though Protestants and Catholics may use similar words, they believe in very different gospels. As he accomplishes this, he displays his characteristic wisdom, charity, kindness, and expansive knowledge of both Protestant and Catholic doctrine. This book is easily the most profound analysis of the Roman Catholic ‘world’ available today. The fact that it is also the most lucid and accessible makes it remarkable. In a measured and eirenic way the author peels back the subtle deceptions through which, over the best part of two millennia, the Papacy has mis-represented the Chistian faith" When Vatican II met at Rome 1962-1965, global Protestants were helped to assess the developments taking place there through ‘observers’, invited from various communions. In more recent times, this service has been admirably fulfilled by Leonardo De Chirico, who by his on-site residence and his digesting of fresh Papal pronouncements and activity today serves as the eyes and ears of evangelical Protestants globally. Now, in Same Words: Different Worlds, De Chirico offers us a fine distillation of his observations. This is a challenging read which sets out the crucial doctrinal differences between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, especially those hiding within some apparent verbal similarities. It is a provocative counter-point to the sometimes naive ecumenical thrust of much modern discussion on inter-church relations. I am thrilled to see this new book by Leonardo De Chirico. I benefitted immensely from reading De Chirico's doctoral thesis several years ago on Roman Catholicism. As one who teaches theology, including a course on the church fathers and medieval theology, it is tempting to say that Rome and Protestantism simply agree on many things. But I have been persuaded by De Chirico's analysis that central tenets of Roman Catholicism put even seemingly common theological territory in a different light. If you want to understand the deep principles of Roman Catholic theology, I strongly encourage the reading of this book.