What are all the heresies of the Catholic Church?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

The Coptic Orthodox Church maintains the original, Apostolic faith as handed down by the Holy Fathers. Because the Catholic Church departed from this path at the Council of Chalcedon and continued to introduce innovations over the centuries, we identify several significant theological errors and heresies within their system.

According to the Coptic Orthodox perspective, these departures include:

1. The Chalcedonian Innovation (Dyophysitism)

The root of the schism in 451 AD was the adoption of the "two natures" formula. The Coptic Church remains faithful to the Cyrillian formula: One Nature of God the Word Incarnate. The Catholic teaching of "two natures" after the union is viewed by the Coptic Church as a deviation from the true Christology established by St. Cyril of Alexandria.

2. The Filioque Heresy

The Catholic Church added the phrase "and the Son" (Filioque) to the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed regarding the procession of the Holy Spirit. This is a grave error as it suggests two sources within the Holy Trinity, whereas the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father alone, as taught by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself (John 15:26).

3. Papal Infallibility and Universal Jurisdiction

The Catholic dogma that the Pope of Rome is "infallible" when speaking ex cathedra and that he has supreme, immediate authority over the entire global Church is rejected. In the Orthodox tradition, the Church is conciliar; no single bishop is above the others or immune to error.

4. The Immaculate Conception of the Theotokos

In 1854, the Catholic Church declared that the Virgin Mary was preserved from "Original Sin" from the moment of her conception. Coptic theology rejects this, as it would isolate St. Mary from the rest of humanity and imply she did not need redemption. We believe she was born with a human nature like ours and was sanctified by the Holy Spirit at the moment of the Annunciation.

5. Purgatory and "Satisfaction" for Sins

The concept of Purgatory—a place of cleansing fire after death—is a medieval Western invention. Coptic theology does not accept the idea of a "third place" or that human suffering can "satisfy" God's justice. Salvation is a gift of grace through the blood of Christ.

6. Created Grace

Catholicism often teaches that the Grace of God is "created." The Orthodox faith maintains that Grace is the "Uncreated Energies" of God; when we participate in the Mysteries (Sacraments), we commune with God Himself, not a "created" effect.

7. Changes to the Holy Mysteries (Sacraments)

• Unleavened Bread (Azymes): Using unleavened bread for the Eucharist is a departure from the practice of the early Church, which used leavened bread (leaven symbolizing life and the soul).
• Withholding the Chalice: For centuries, Rome withheld the Blood of Christ from the laity.
• Delayed Confirmation and Communion: The Catholic Church separated Baptism from Chrismation and withheld Holy Communion from children. The Coptic Church strictly maintains that infants must receive all three Sacraments of Initiation—Baptism, Chrismation, and the Eucharist—together.
• Baptism by Sprinkling: The Coptic Church insists on triple immersion, as the word "Baptism" itself implies immersion.

8. Juridical View of Original Sin

The Catholic Church adopted a legalistic view of "Original Sin" (largely from Augustine of Hippo), suggesting that humans inherit the guilt of Adam. The Coptic Church teaches that we inherit the consequences (death, corruption, and a weakened will), but not the personal guilt of Adam’s sin.

9. Mandatory Celibacy for Clergy

The Catholic imposition of mandatory celibacy on all priests is a violation of apostolic tradition and has no basis in the early Church's requirements for the priesthood.

10. Indulgences and Merit

The idea that the Church can dispense "merits" from the saints to shorten time in Purgatory is a commercialized, legalistic distortion of the role of the Church and the nature of repentance.

The Coptic Orthodox Church, led by the Pope of Alexandria, continues to bear witness to the "faith once delivered," remaining separate from these Roman innovations which have wounded the unity of the Body of Christ.