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Chris Castaldo’s book, Holy Ground: Walking with Jesus as a Former Catholic lays out seven evangelical approaches to Roman Catholicism. Look through his listing below and then answer the poll question at the end that asks which group you belong to.

1. Actively Anti-Roman Catholic

Evangelicals with an actively anti-Roman Catholic approach have a strong focus on the teaching and practice of the Roman Catholic Church which they feel are contrary to biblical teaching. The errors of these teachings and practices are felt to be so substantial and fundamental that most Evangelicals with this approach feel it is virtually impossible to be both a born-again Christian and a practicing member of the Roman Catholic Church. Churches and individuals with this approach feel that it is important to regularly and decisively explain these differences. Contact with Roman Catholics is generally limited to evangelizing them and public polemic, in which the perceived errors of Roman Catholic teaching and practice are exposed.

2. Passively Anti-Roman Catholic

Evangelicals with a passively anti-Roman Catholic approach share the convictions of those who are actively anti-Roman Catholic concerning the teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. They generally do not, however, use the public square to critique those teachings and practices. While there tends to be a strong desire to clarify distinctives among themselves, contact with Roman Catholic institutions is avoided and contact with Roman Catholic members is generally limited to evangelism.

3. Coexistent

Those Evangelicals with a coexistent with a coexistent approach are concerned not to antagonize Roman Catholics by openly criticizing the Roman Catholic Church, its teachings, or its practices. Many Evangelicals with this approach rarely concern themselves with doctrinal issues of any sort, including those that relate to Catholics. When differences are evident, they are seldom addressed. Their posture is best described as ambivalent.

4. Positive Identity

Evangelicals with a positive-identity approach to Roman Catholics are relatively open about their distinctives, while avoiding criticism of the Roman Catholic Church. They seek common ground as well as positive contact with Roman Catholics and Roman Catholic institutions. While cautious, they are open to cooperating with Roman Catholics in isolated social projects such as pro-life efforts and disaster relief. They hesitate, however, to cooperate evangelistically, since they reject both the institution and authority of the Roman Catholic as well as certain central doctrines. Less central differences, as perceived by these Evangelicals, tend to be minimized.

5. Symbiotic

Symbiotic Evangelicals with a symbiotic approach, while maintaining core distinctives, welcome and may even seek cooperation with Roman Catholics on multiple fronts. As with the coexistent approach, differences are seldom the subject of internal teaching or public debate. By contrast, however, resources and energy are expended to actively pursue positive points of contact, publicly underscoring common beliefs and practices and supporting common causes. This would include cooperation with “believing” Catholics in evangelistic efforts. Evangelicals with this approach do not want to be perceived as competing with Roman Catholic institutions.

6. Ecumenical

Evangelicals with an ecumenical approach seek to build bridges with Roman Catholics in pursuit of unity. Evangelism among active Roman Catholics is discouraged and common ground is the subject of both public proclamation and in-house teaching. Differences are generally perceived to be a matter of preference, historical and cultural, rather than as theological and fundamental matters. Evangelicals with this approach make full use of Roman Catholic institutions and other interconfessional structures.

7. Internal Renewal

Evangelicals with an internal-renewal approach toward Roman Catholics seek to work within the Roman Catholic Church and its institutions. Their desire is to encourage renewal with the goal of restoring “prodigal” Roman Catholics both to personal faith and to the Roman Catholic Church. Their focus is often evangelism and personal discipleship through Bible study under the authority of , or at least in cooperation with, the local Roman Catholic priest and parish. Divisive distinctions in teaching or practice are avoided or minimized.

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