Catholicism is perceived as a threat in those societies where active efforts are made by its representatives, notably through Opus Dei, to counter the advance of secularism. There is a history of behind-the-scenes conflict, especially in European countries, between Catholic-controlled institutions and those controlled by bodies such as the Freemasons.
The historical belief in the threat of the Antichrist, and the associated threat of the papacy, continues to be sustained within certain Protestant churches and popular culture, although for many it has become a symbol of the evil in the human heart. This idea was developed during the time of Luther and contributed significantly to his opposition to the Pope, becoming an article of faith. The institution of the papacy, not individual popes, were identified with the Antichrist. Following the Reformation this idea gradually receded into the background, although maintained by Protestant scholars.