The best you can say is potentially, which self centered church organizations often cannot resist the temptation to capitalize upon to their own glorification.
And yes the bible says do what is necessary to make the gospel attractive.
You Catholics might have a better witness to exclusive take had you not separated from the Orthodox (who carry exactly the same claim) well before Martin Luther and the other Reformers were born.
And we must also look at how the Lord actually ministered. People often realized they were in trouble already, and instead of building up some idea of an alternative human authority with bureaucracy to please, Christ deftly stepped in as a redeemer in an already understood situation.
People will learn from consequences quicker and better if, alongside the playing out of the consequences, you are kind as possible to them. The kindness of God (again Heaven first) leads unto repentance. Not the threats (Hell).