Church closest to the Catholic Church

[gabriel22a]

Yea she’s part of the 90 something percent of people who hate what they THINK the Church teaches…

But she’s a work in progress… that will hopefully come to the church along with my brother when the time is right…

I think I hear your heart–you want them to be Christians. And being Christians with some misinformation is better than the alternative.

Since your brother is not convinced about the Catholic Church and your sister-in-law has a Pentecostal background, I would suggest they find a large, conservative church that is friendly. Larger churches tend not to alienate people with hate mongering or judging, and often times they are large because something good is going on there. Obviously this is not a blanket statement. I like the Evangelical denomination–know a lot of sincere believers there, and they don’t tend to get off base with strange tangents. It would feel familiar to your sister-in-law without bringing in the potential controversy of the charismatic.

I was in the Assemblies of God (Pentecostal) for 37 years, licensed minister. Apart from the teaching we received (wrongly) about transubstantiation in Bible college, we never heard Catholic bashing, neither were we encouraged to “convert” Catholics. We were taught that Catholics were our brothers in Christ. I’m afraid that although I have seen hateful anti-Catholic propaganda, mostly from links on this website, we did not experience it. None of my AG family members–many ministers–, friends or colleagues spent any time working to convert the Catholics. I think the fear people have of the Protestants trying to pull people away from the Catholic Church is based on some bad experiences, but I think the fear is too magnified and the reality not mainstream.

I am in the same situation with my sister and her husband–I encourage them to attend the large Church of God in our town that his grandmother attends, since they are not at all willing to learn about the Catholic Church At least they will receive the truth about salvation. Through prayer, the Holy Spirit will lead them to where He wants them to be. I know He did it for me!

God bless you for being sensitive enough to hear your brother and not alienating him from Christ by insisting that he come into the Catholic Church or go to hell.

 

[Califman831]

There is no salvation outside the catholic church. Please understand that in a selection of a false church you are choosing between which liar is closer to the truth.

 

[otjm]

“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

Well, sort of but not exactly. There are something like 23 rites and/or churches that are in union with the Pope; the Roman rite happens to be the largest and is so large the others get scant recognition. The others are Eastern Churhces that at one point or another were out of union with Rome (with a few minor exceptions - maronite, Malibar * and one other) but have over time re-united with Rome.*

 

[Hesychios]

Well, sort of but not exactly. There are something like 23 rites and/or churches that are in union with the Pope; the Roman rite happens to be the largest and is so large the others get scant recognition. The others are Eastern Churhces that at one point or another were out of union with Rome (with a few minor exceptions - maronite, Malibar * and one other) but have over time re-united with Rome.* Sorry, I was using the term ‘Roman’ Catholic (I know, I know … but the Bull calls it the Holy Roman church so in this case I thought the term was OK) not actually to exclude the other Sui Iuris Catholic churches. If I wanted to do that I would have used the term ‘Latin’ Catholic. Read it as ‘Catholic under the Pope’.

Still the point stands, a Pope has said one must be in his church (in communion with and under his pastoral supervision) to be saved.

 

[VetA]

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.