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Evangelical, Pentecostal or ProtestantStep 1 of 11

What we share

One prayer, prayed the night before he died. You were in it.

The Catholic Church teaches that all who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ, have a right to be called Christians, and are accepted as brothers and sisters in the Lord.1 Baptism is the foundation of communion among all Christians.2

Start reading 3 min read · 3 min film
Saint Paul Writing His Epistles, by Valentin de Boulogne: the apostle in red, pen in hand.

Valentin de Boulogne, Saint Paul Writing His Epistles, c. 1618–1620. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Public domain, source.

Journeys / Evangelical, Pentecostal or Protestant / Step 1 of 11

Jerusalem, the hour of the Passion

It is the hour of his Passion, and Jesus is praying to his Father for his disciples.3 Then the prayer widens: “And not for them only do I pray, but for them also who through their word shall believe in me.”4

That is everyone who has ever come to faith through the apostles’ preaching.4 And what he asks for all of them is one thing: “That they all may be one.”5

If you love Jesus and read your Bible, that prayer was about you. It was about your Catholic neighbour too.

01Where we start

Brothers and sisters already

This journey is for Christians from other churches who want to understand Catholics. It starts with what is already true between us, before it ever gets to our differences.

The Catholic Church teaches that all who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ and have a right to be called Christians.16 They are, in its words, “accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church.”1

It also says that the written Word of God, the life of grace, and faith, hope and charity are found outside the visible boundaries of the Catholic Church.7

So what exactly do we hold in common? More than many people expect.

02The list

What we hold in common

<b>One Lord:</b> we confess Jesus Christ as Lord.1011

<b>The Trinity:</b> one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is the central mystery of Christian faith.12

<b>Scripture:</b> the Bible is inspired, and God is its author.1314

<b>Grace:</b> our justification comes from the grace of God, his free and undeserved help.1516

<b>Baptism:</b> it is the foundation of communion among all Christians, including those not yet in full communion with the Catholic Church.2

“One body and one Spirit: as you are called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all.”

Ephesians 4:4-610

That is a lot of common ground. So why not stop there?

03The honest part

Honest about the differences

The Church does not pretend our differences are small: it teaches that nothing is so foreign to the spirit of ecumenism as a false irenicism.17 Unity is something the Church must always pray and work for, because Christ wills it.3

And it admits that full reconciliation “transcends human powers and gifts.” So it places its hope in the prayer of Christ, the love of the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit.18

The next steps take the big questions one at a time, Scripture first: Mary, the saints, and more. You are welcome to disagree. We only ask that you hear what Catholics actually believe, in the Church’s own words.

He prayed that we would be one. The least we can do is understand each other.

Your move

Try this, this week

  1. Read John 17:20-23. This is the prayer of Jesus for all who would believe in him.
  2. List what you already share. Use the five points in this lesson as a start.
  3. Write down one honest question. The next steps take them one at a time.
  4. Pray for a Catholic you know. And, if you like, ask them to pray for you.

You’ll need

  • Your own Bible, whatever translation you love.
  • A Catholic friend to talk with, if you have one.

Remember Start with what is already true between us.

Optional: watch a short film

Video: Why Be Ecumenical? Part I, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Link checked 4 October 2026. Loads from YouTube (privacy-enhanced mode) only when you press play. Watch on YouTube

What this video covers (summarized from the publisher’s description, not a transcript): Fr. John Crossin, OSFS, of the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, outlines good reasons for ecumenical dialogue.

What the Church teaches on this: Christ always gives his Church the gift of unity, but the Church must always pray and work to maintain, reinforce and perfect the unity that Christ wills for her. CCC 820

Videos come from faithful Catholic teachers. Where a video and this page differ in wording, the Catechism and Scripture cited here are the authority.

If this is hard

Conversations about faith between Christians can feel tense, especially within families. It is fine to go slowly and to keep loving people who see things differently. If you are weighing a big decision, a priest can listen and help you think it through.

How to talk to a priest

Two questions people ask

Does the Catholic Church think Protestants are Christians?

Yes. The Church teaches that all who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ and have a right to be called Christians.16

Do Catholics believe we are saved by grace?

The Catechism teaches that our justification comes from the grace of God, his free and undeserved help.15 Because the initiative belongs to God, no one can merit the initial grace of forgiveness and justification.1916

Do Catholics read the Bible?

The Church forcefully exhorts all the faithful to learn the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures. The Catechism quotes St Jerome: “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.”20

Only one thing to do

Your one next step

Tonight, read John 17:20-23 slowly, and pray it for one Christian you know from a different church. That is all. When you are ready, the next step looks at Mary.

Next: Mary

Step 1 of 11 · Evangelical, Pentecostal or Protestant

If we share so much, why do Catholics talk so much about Mary?

Step 2: Mary: honored, not worshiped

Take it with you

Printable one-page cardDownload card (A4 PDF)Download card (US Letter PDF)

Short link: stoneandincense-preview.pages.dev/go/cg1

Notes

  1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 818. vatican.va
  2. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1271. vatican.va
  3. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 820. vatican.va
  4. John 17:20, Douay-Rheims. read the chapter
  5. John 17:21, Douay-Rheims. read the chapter
  6. Unitatis Redintegratio 3 (Vatican II, Decree on Ecumenism, 1964). vatican.va
  7. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 819. vatican.va
  8. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 11. vatican.va
  9. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1213. vatican.va
  10. Ephesians 4:4-6, Douay-Rheims. read the chapter
  11. Romans 10:9, Douay-Rheims. read the chapter
  12. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 234. vatican.va
  13. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 105. vatican.va
  14. 2 Timothy 3:16, Douay-Rheims. read the chapter
  15. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1996. vatican.va
  16. Ephesians 2:8-9, Douay-Rheims. read the chapter
  17. Unitatis Redintegratio 11 (Vatican II, Decree on Ecumenism, 1964). vatican.va
  18. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 822. vatican.va
  19. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2010. vatican.va
  20. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 133. vatican.va

Excerpts from the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for use in the United States of America Copyright © 1994, United States Catholic Conference, Inc. – Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with Permission. English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Modifications from the Editio Typica copyright © 1997, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops – Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Scripture: Douay-Rheims, Challoner revision (public domain). Early Christian writers: Ante-Nicene Fathers (1885, public domain). Video: “Why Be Ecumenical? Part I,” United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, supporting material, not a teaching source.

Scenes marked “Imagine” are an invitation to picture the moment, not a historical record. Stone & Incense restates Church teaching in plain words; our wording is not an official Church text. Report an error.