The view of the Roman Catholic Church is that Protestant denominations cannot be considered churches but rather that they are ecclesial communities or specific faith-believing communities because their ordinances and doctrines are not historically the same as the Catholic sacraments and dogmas, and the Protestant communities have no sacramental ministerial priesthood and therefore lack true apostolic succession. According to Bishop Hilarion (Alfeyev) the Eastern Orthodox Church shares the same view on the subject. COUNT 5
QSN1 The Roman Catholic Church considers Protestant denominations to be what? ANS1 ecclesial communities or specific faith-believing communities QSN2 What is lacking in Protestant priesthood, according to the Roman Catholic Church? ANS2 no sacramental ministerial priesthood QSN3 What does the Roman Catholic Church say is not comparable to their sacraments and dogmas? ANS3 ordinances and doctrines QSN4 What other Church shares the Roman Catholic view on Protestant churches? ANS4 Eastern Orthodox QSN5 What is lacking in Protestantism, according to the Roman Catholic Church? ANS5 true apostolic succession