Though the Reformation drew Protestants away from the Roman Catholic Church, many people today advocate a return to fellowship. Here are several books I recommend on the subject of Roman Catholicism.
Top Recommendation
In Same Words, Different Worlds, Leonardo De Chirico addresses the underlying misconceptions that cripple so many American evangelicals’ understanding of and interaction with Catholic theology. The book shows “why the Roman Catholic words are similar to those of the gospel and yet the Roman Catholic language is different from the gospel’s language” (2). To rephrase the purpose, this book will help evangelical believers to understand why their Catholic friends confess the same gospel as us in words, but live it so differently in practice. We are using the same words to describe dramatically different worldviews. De Chirico, who pastors a church just steps from Vatican City, is possibly today’s foremost Protestant scholar on Catholicism.
Other Recommendations
Sproul examines Evangelicals and Catholics Together. This is a follow-up to the equally excellent Faith Alone.
In this newer work, Sproul responds to those who proclaim that the Reformation is over.
The Roman Catholic Controversy
White is very careful to first understand Roman Catholic doctrine before refuting it through Scripture.
From the same author as my top recommendation. It will give you confidence in your knowledge of Catholic doctrine and practical instruction in how to speak truth to those who hold it.
Though I have not reviewed it, I also recommend Richard Bennett’s Catholicism: East of Eden.
