Church closest to the Catholic Church

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sancte_joseph

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Okay so I consider myself a traditional catholic (if it matters)
Anyway my brother was never brought up in any religion/faith.
He still hold the basic believes in God, and sorta Jesus christ. He has some misunderstandings about the Holy trinity… but non the less he believes in God.

And he considers me the spokesperson of the Catholic church… because THANKS BE TO GOD… when I talk to him it seem like i have the gift of preaching.

Anyway for more than a year we’ve had several “talks” where i clear up things about the faith and sometimes he asks questions, and etc.

And after that year or so HE seems like he’s leaning towards the Catholic Church, BUT his wife wants anything but the Catholic Church… She a non practicing pentecostal.

WELL THIS IS THE IMPORTANT PART:

They are looking for a church to attend. and like i said the wife doesn’t want a catholic church and he doesn’t want such a protestant church…
but he also doesn’t want a lutheran or anglican…

THEY TALKED ABOUT ATTENDING A METHODIST CHURCH

SO MY QUESTION: WHAT PROTESTANT DENOMINATION HOLD THE SAME BELIEFS AS THE CHURCH… DOESN’T TEACH HERESY OR SO MUCH HERESY… AND DOESN’T ATTACK THE CATHOLIC CHURCH… ARE THE METHODIST OK?
 
The Methodists around here (ahem That is, where I live) tend to stick to themselves, and are largely dismissive and disaproving of “outsiders”. I don’t suppose you could find an Orthodox Church? Then you’ve just a bit of Schism instead of a whole lotta heresy.
 
sancte_joseph said:
Okay so I consider myself a traditional catholic (if it matters)
Anyway my brother was never brought up in any religion/faith.
He still hold the basic believes in God, and sorta Jesus christ. He has some misunderstandings about the Holy trinity… but non the less he believes in God.

And he considers me the spokesperson of the Catholic church… because THANKS BE TO GOD… when I talk to him it seem like i have the gift of preaching.

Anyway for more than a year we’ve had several “talks” where i clear up things about the faith and sometimes he asks questions, and etc.

And after that year or so HE seems like he’s leaning towards the Catholic Church, BUT his wife wants anything but the Catholic Church… She a non practicing pentecostal.

WELL THIS IS THE IMPORTANT PART:

They are looking for a church to attend. and like i said the wife doesn’t want a catholic church and he doesn’t want such a protestant church…
but he also doesn’t want a lutheran or anglican…

THEY TALKED ABOUT ATTENDING A METHODIST CHURCH

SO MY QUESTION: WHAT PROTESTANT DENOMINATION HOLD THE SAME BELIEFS AS THE CHURCH… DOESN’T TEACH HERESY OR SO MUCH HERESY… AND DOESN’T ATTACK THE CATHOLIC CHURCH… ARE THE METHODIST OK?
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I don’t think I could recommend any church other than the Catholic Church. I would ask why the wife doesn’t want a Catholic Church.
 
Put it this way:

Does he want to go to Heaven by himself, or to Hell, with his missus?

Our religion is more important than pleasing our family. I think even Jesus said brother would be set against brother by it, and that you might have to split with your family. He might have had something like this situation in mind.

I don’t see what’s stopping them going to different churches. If you’re going to church to be sociable with the wife, you’re going for the wrong reason.
 
God always comes first. If your brother believes that the Catholic Church is the One Holy and Apostolic Church, then he must choose the Catholic Church. If he has been given the truth and rejects it, then he is rejecting God. I was once a fallen Catholic and spent many years away from the Church. My wife shared several of the same beliefs that I did. I have reconciled and come back to the Church that our Lord, Jesus Christ gave us. We have some disagreements on many things when it comes to religion now, but I still put God first. Our wives are not for us to worship. We worship God. I would recommend that you do not suggest another church to your brother. You know who the true Church is. The road to hell is led by good intentions. Don’t lead him away from the Church.
 
Layman said:
Put it this way:

Does he want to go to Heaven by himself, or to Hell, with his missus?
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“The Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes, and proclaims that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews, heretics and schismatics can become participants in eternal life, but they will depart ‘into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels’ "
Bull Cantate Domino 1441AD

It goes on to state very clearly that whatever good one might do outside of said catholic church avails them nothing. Not that I agree with this, but that’s what it says.

So that begs the question: “what constitutes the Catholic Church?” It seems that the Papacy itself has waffled a bit on this point over time. I guess one could say that there are 'Strict Constructionist" and “Loose Constructionist” positions on that point.

But the Roman Catholic fall back position is that no one whom is not a baptized Roman Catholic will see salvation, this includes infants and the unborn who did not become baptized before departure from this life.

I don’t want to assume too much here, but I believe that is the position you are taking.

Michael
 
If you’re looking for the church that is closest to the Catholic Church in terms of doctrine and practice, that would be the Eastern Orthodox churches. Even the Lutherans are far closer to the Catholic Church than the Methodists.

If they’re looking to make a compromise on this issue, I would suggest that a better compromise would be to attend both where your brother wants to go (a Catholic parish) and where his wife wants to go (whether Methodist or Pentecostal or whatever). I’ve known couples who do this. IMHO, it’s a far better course of action than picking one denomination that is “in between” where both of them would really want to go.
 
Whether they go to a Methodist parish, an Anglican one, or Billy Bob’s Pentecostal worship centre down the street, it does not matter. Neither is the true religion. Having the knowledge that the Catholic Church is necessary for salvation and rejecting it, is to condemn yourself.
 
stuart12 said:
Whether they go to a Methodist parish, an Anglican one, or Billy Bob’s Pentecostal worship centre down the street, it does not matter. Neither is the true religion. Having the knowledge that the Catholic Church is necessary for salvation and rejecting it, is to condemn yourself.
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Just to toss an idea out there, what if the individual does not actually convert to another religion, but merely goes there to pray in the company of his spouse on a regular basis?

This individual might think: “I believe that the … Church is the True church, but I need to do this right now”. Even Scott Hahn’s grandmother was a Catholic with rosary beads that he tore to pieces, but he does not mention his grandfather, he leaves the impression that she was a lone Catholic in a Protestant family. If that is the case we might presume she went to church with her husband at least some times. Is anyone prepared to argue that she is in hell?

What of Saint Monnica, the mother of Augustine. It is a known fact that she married a pagan, and did not raise her son as a Catholic. All she could do is set a good example and pray for him!

Is there no place for sympathy in this? Everyone’s situation is unique.
 
Joe_5859 said:
If they’re looking to make a compromise on this issue, I would suggest that a better compromise would be to attend both where your brother wants to go (a Catholic parish) and where his wife wants to go (whether Methodist or Pentecostal or whatever). I’ve known couples who do this. IMHO, it’s a far better course of action than picking one denomination that is “in between” where both of them would really want to go.
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I think so too.

The Catholic partner should have a spiritual director (confessor) who understands the situation.
 
sancte_joseph said:
Okay so I consider myself a traditional catholic (if it matters)
Anyway my brother was never brought up in any religion/faith.
He still hold the basic believes in God, and sorta Jesus christ. He has some misunderstandings about the Holy trinity… but non the less he believes in God.

And he considers me the spokesperson of the Catholic church… because THANKS BE TO GOD… when I talk to him it seem like i have the gift of preaching.

Anyway for more than a year we’ve had several “talks” where i clear up things about the faith and sometimes he asks questions, and etc.

And after that year or so HE seems like he’s leaning towards the Catholic Church, BUT his wife wants anything but the Catholic Church… She a non practicing pentecostal.

WELL THIS IS THE IMPORTANT PART:

They are looking for a church to attend. and like i said the wife doesn’t want a catholic church and he doesn’t want such a protestant church…
but he also doesn’t want a lutheran or anglican…

THEY TALKED ABOUT ATTENDING A METHODIST CHURCH

SO MY QUESTION: WHAT PROTESTANT DENOMINATION HOLD THE SAME BELIEFS AS THE CHURCH… DOESN’T TEACH HERESY OR SO MUCH HERESY… AND DOESN’T ATTACK THE CATHOLIC CHURCH… ARE THE METHODIST OK?
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As former Episcopalians ourselves, I would not recommend the Episcopal Church right now–same as Anglican (as far as your brother would be concerned anyway). If they’re interested in Methodist, you might try to steer them to the Free Methodist. I was raised in Free Methodist and Nazarene denominations, and they’re often pretty good for Protestant.

While I agree that the best answer is to attend a Catholic Mass with your brother, that’s sometimes too far a step for a newcomer to make. With us, at least, we took baby steps closer and closer to the truth of the Catholic Church–never realizing it as we church hopped, though.
 
For me, this question is like asking what gas is closest to oxygen.

While we might be able to name a few, none of them will sustain life like oxygen.
 
I don’t consider them to be Protestant, but I have heard Fr Groeschel speak well of the Orthodox…I would give them a try
 
redrosetea said:
I don’t consider them to be Protestant, but I have heard Fr Groeschel speak well of the Orthodox…I would give them a try
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If you are looking for a western style of worship then the Eastern Orthodox as well as the Eastern Catholic Churches will not work for you.
 
I understand…I have heard Fr G say more than once how beautiful their liturgy is…I would love to go to an Eastern rite church to see it for myself

I rather think that NO is not as beautiful as the old Tridentine mass…and before someone starts pelting me with bread or shoes…I go to a NO mass every week
 
redrosetea said:
I rather think that NO is not as beautiful as the old Tridentine mass…and before someone starts pelting me with bread or shoes…I go to a NO mass every week
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I agree it is more beautiful. And I also think (I have always thought) that the NO liturgy, when properly executed, is very spiritually fulfilling in it’s own way.

The problem is that the liturgy is not always properly executed.
 
stuart12 said:
Whether they go to a Methodist parish, an Anglican one, or Billy Bob’s Pentecostal worship centre down the street, it does not matter. Neither is the true religion. Having the knowledge that the Catholic Church is necessary for salvation and rejecting it, is to condemn yourself.
Click to expand...
Isn’t Billy Bob’s Church the one with the snakes?

Friend, your sister-in-law comes from a religous perspective (Pentecost) that is heavy in the dislike of the Catholic Church. I would stress a couple of elementary things.

#1 We are absolutely biblically based. We have three readings at every mass. We like the bible because it is our book, Meaning, guided by the Holy Sprirt, we authored the bible almost 2000 years ago.

The first reading is almost always from the Old Testament, the second from Epistles and lastly, the third reading comes from the gospels and is read by the priest. Logically explaining the order of Mass shows we are not the pegans many biblically based evangelical christians think we are.

#2 Attend weekly mass. Ask her for a commitment to experience a Catholic Mass. Ask for an open heart in pursing God’s Will while she attends. Your guidance will greatly assist her growing comfortable with how we do things during mass.

A Catholic Mass as I am sure your aware can leave a powerful impression on someone’s mind the first few times they visit.
 
Hesychios said:
Just to toss an idea out there, what if the individual does not actually convert to another religion, but merely goes there to pray in the company of his spouse on a regular basis?

This individual might think: “I believe that the … Church is the True church, but I need to do this right now”. Even Scott Hahn’s grandmother was a Catholic with rosary beads that he tore to pieces, but he does not mention his grandfather, he leaves the impression that she was a lone Catholic in a Protestant family. If that is the case we might presume she went to church with her husband at least some times. Is anyone prepared to argue that she is in hell?

What of Saint Monnica, the mother of Augustine. It is a known fact that she married a pagan, and did not raise her son as a Catholic. All she could do is set a good example and pray for him!

Is there no place for sympathy in this? Everyone’s situation is unique.
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Of course I have compassion but one must not settle for second best, when first is simple to attain.
I am of the opinion that a Catholic should not participate in non-Catholic worship whether it be Eastern Orthodox, Methodist or ‘‘non-denominational’’. One gives the impression that their religion is as valid as ours.
 
sirduckjr said:
Isn’t Billy Bob’s Church the one with the snakes?

Friend, your sister-in-law comes from a religous perspective (Pentecost) that is heavy in the dislike of the Catholic Church. I would stress a couple of elementary things.

#1 We are absolutely biblically based. We have three readings at every mass. We like the bible because it is our book, Meaning, guided by the Holy Sprirt, we authored the bible almost 2000 years ago.

The first reading is almost always from the Old Testament, the second from Epistles and lastly, the third reading comes from the gospels and is read by the priest. Logically explaining the order of Mass shows we are not the pegans many biblically based evangelical christians think we are.

#2 Attend weekly mass. Ask her for a commitment to experience a Catholic Mass. Ask for an open heart in pursing God’s Will while she attends. Your guidance will greatly assist her growing comfortable with how we do things during mass.

A Catholic Mass as I am sure your aware can leave a powerful impression on someone’s mind the first few times they visit.
Click to expand...
Catholic’s read the Bible?😮

A great surprise to many of our ‘separated brothers’, but as you say, we wrote the NT and decided which books formed the canon. If the Catholic Church got the NT canon correct, maybe she got the rest of her teachings correct?
 
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