The difference between Protestant and Catholic art was further emphasized by the Council of Trent (1545-63), which initiated Catholic Counter-Reformation art, and in the process issued a new set of aesthetics for a more stringent style of painting and sculpture.

Reformers believed strongly in the educational and inspirational power of visual art, and promoted a number of guidelines to be followed in the production of religious paintings and sculpture. These formed the basis for what became known as Catholic Counter-Reformation Art.

The Reformation’s influence on the arts did not end with the Reformation itself; although the various artistic expressions have followed their course of renewal and modernisation, it is undeniable that the spirit of the Reformation contributed to an increased sense of freedom and authenticity in artistic creation.

And with the increasing dissatisfaction among the people, especially the Protestants, the mass ‘movement’ against the Catholic church’s authorities led to the Reformation, also known as the Protestant Reformation. It signals the break away from the singular Roman Catholic Church’s authority.

Protestant Reformers did not encourage art in which religious imagery were major features. They believed images of Christ and Mary could lead to idolatry and distracted viewer from the purpose of going to church. The religious conflict may have accelerated the exchange of artistic ideas.

As visible religion, art communicates religious beliefs, customs, and values through iconography and depictions of the human body. The foundational principle for the interconnections between art and religion is the reciprocity between image making and meaning making as creative correspondence of humanity with divinity.

Which identifies how the Catholic Church and Protestants viewed religious art? While religious images were considered acceptable by the Catholic Church, they were regarded as idolatry by most Protestants.

One of the differences between Protestants and Catholics is the way they view bread and wine during religious services. Catholics believe that the bread and wine actually turns into the body and blood of Christ. Protestants believe it stays bread and wine and only represents Christ.

The Catholic Church also recognizes as sacramental, (1) the marriages between two baptized Protestants or between two baptized Orthodox Christians, as well as (2) marriages between baptized non-Catholic Christians and Catholic Christians, although in the latter case, consent from the diocesan bishop must be obtained.

Protestants are currently allowed to receive Catholic communion only in extreme circumstances, such as when they are in danger of death. But seven conservative bishops were opposed, saying that communion was central to the Catholic faith and the issue should not be decided by local churches.

Some common grounds for annulment requests include that a petitioner never intended to be permanently married or faithful, and that mental illness or substance abuse prevented them from consenting to a lifelong marriage.

(An ecclesiastical annulment, granted through a Church tribunal, is a separate procedure, without which a Catholic cannot get remarried in the Church. An annulment ends a marriage, but differs from divorce in important ways. The parties, for instance, must prove that the marriage was never valid to begin with.

While a divorce ends a legally valid marriage, an annulment treats the marriage as if it never existed. The end result of an annulment is the same as a divorce—the parties are single and may remarry or enter into a domestic partnership with another person.