Some Tips on Doing Protestant Apologetics with Roman Catholics
Show them the unity that already exists
Tip #1.
Concede as much as possible. You want to let the Catholic faith emerge from their Romanism.
Consider allowing them to retain as much of their Romanism as possible.
The Roman Church already has the concepts of a “use” and of “pious beliefs and practices.” The Eastern Rite is an example of the former, while the scapular and First Friday Devotions are an example of the latter.
In fact, many of the hills that Roman apologists seem most willing to die on are just that: pious beliefs and practices.
Devotions to Marian apparitions and the rosary, for example, are prime examples of piety which Rome permits, but does not require. That is because even Rome knows that they are not part of the apostolic deposit of faith.
Tip #2.
You want to emphasize at every phase of the argument that you, as a Protestant, adhere faithfully to the Catholic faith: the faith once delivered to the saints, that faith which was always and everywhere believed.
To that end, it is probably best to avoid defending Protestant distinctives, like the Book of Common Prayer 1662 or the Westminster Confession of Faith. Refer back to the above and the concept of a “use.”
Your goal as a Protestant is to lead your Roman interlocutors ad fontes and to show them the unity that already exists.
In doing so you help will further the original goal of the Protestant Reformation.
This post originally appeared as a thread on X.