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Now my brother is Catholic and she is Protestant. She went to the classes almost against her will...but loved them. She found the Catholic church to be very refreshing, and has since ‘converted’. It turns out that she had grown up with a very incorrect idea of what it was like in a Catholic church.

Being Protestant often means being just as lost as a typical RC, which i was, despite being raised devout. Rome generally affirms Trinitarian baptized Prots as sep. brethren, as she imagines the act of baptism regenerates, even without moral cognizance, repentance and faith by baptized. And that by this the soul is formally justified due to interior holiness ("infused charity"). Thus they usually end their salvation process by becoming good enough to enter Heaven thru suffering torments in Roman purgatory (rejected even by the EOs).

Most mainline (Meth. etc.) Prots are not much different, thinking their level of goodness itself will gain them Heaven, as per above and like this Catholic on Catholic answers:

I feel when my numbers up I will appoach a large table and St.Peter will be there with an enormous scale of justice by his side. We will see our life in a movie...the things that we did for the benefit of others will be for the plus side of the scale..the other stuff,,not so good will..well, be on the negative side..and so its a very interesting job Pete has. I wonder if he pushes a button for the elevator down for the losers...and what .sideways for those heading for purgatory..the half way house....lets wait and see.... — http://forums.catholic.com/showpost.php?p=4098202&postcount=2

So, my recommendation is go to mass a few times. You can see for yourself what a Catholic church is like - for most people it is not at all what they thought it would be.

I did so for 6 years after manifestly becoming born again thru heartfelt tearful repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus to save me in His mercy and grace, as a contrite guilty + empty, destitute sinner, though raised devout, and realized the profound differences btwn institutionalized religion and evangelical faith.

I quickly realized and wondered at the foundational contrast btwn what happened to me and other RCs (and which, besides even nature seeming new, was a heightened realization of my own sin. I found little personal fellowship in Christ with others, except with a few Catholic charismatics whose meetings i went to looking for life, but which were treated as 2nd class members. The hierarchy made them join in with the nun's marxist type "social justice" program, and they went along, and wondered at the spiritual loss in their meetings.

In any case, my real food that edified and challenged my soul was evangelical radio, even after i had joined a evangelical church. It is now more of a mixed bag, but some of the best preaching i know is on Youtube, as here and here . Thank God. I need it.

feel when my numbers up I will appoach a large table and St.Peter will be there with an enormous scale of justice by his side. We will see our life in a movie...the things that we did for the benefit of others will be for the plus side of the scale..the other stuff,,not so good will..well, be on the negative side..and so its a very interesting job Pete has. I wonder if he pushes a button for the elevator down for the losers...and what .sideways for those heading for purgatory..the half way house....lets wait and see.... — http://forums.catholic.com/showpost.php?p=4098202&postcount=2

To which I found something similar without a "side elevator" but only two choices:

Weighing of deeds on Day of Judgment

Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {Then as for him whose balance (of good deeds) will be heavy, He will live a pleasant life (in Paradise). But as for him whose balance (of good deeds) will be light, He will have his home in Hawiyah (pit, i.e. Hell). And what will make you know what it is? (It is) a hot blazing Fire!}[101:6-11]. Allah also Says (interpretation of meaning): {…So as for those whose scale (of good deeds) will be heavy, they will be the successful (by entering Paradise).}[7:8]. He also Says: {And those whose scales (of good deeds) are light, they are those who lose their ownselves, in Hell will they abide.}[23:103]. Also, it is mentioned in the Qur'an: {… So as for those whose scale (of good deeds) will be heavy, they will be the successful (by entering Paradise). And as for those whose scale will be light, they are those who will lose their ownselves (by entering Hell) because they denied and rejected Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.)}[7:8-9].

To which Ibn Abbas said:

Ibn Abbas said: good and bad deeds will be weighed in the Scale that has a tongue and two pans. A believer will be brought forward in a good state with his deeds, and when his deeds are put in one of the pans, it becomes heavier than the other. This is mentioned in the verse: {…So as for those whose scale (of good deeds) will be heavy, they will be the successful (by entering Paradise).}[7:8]. The deeds of an unbeliever will be brought in a bad repulsive state, and when they will be put in the pan of the scale; they will have no weight, and ultimately he will be thrown in the Fire (Hell). [ al-Qurtubi ] al-Tabri reported from Ibn Masoud that he said: all people will be called to their account on the Day of Judgment. Even if the good deeds of the person surpass his bad deeds by only one good deed, he will enter Paradise. Likewise only one bad deed more, entitles the person to enter the Fire (Hell). And the one whose good and bad deeds are equal will be among the people of A'araf.

Then of course there is always dying in the cause of Jihad which gives you an express ticket to Paradise.

All references:

Weighing of deeds on Day of Judgment