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The Catholic Church holds that faith in Jesus Christ is not saving faith unless it bears fruit in good works. Vice-versa, the Church holds that such works are so intimately joined to faith, that, without them, it is impossible for the believer to grow or persevere in his faith.(1) (excerpt) We believe in both.

Which makes Rome concurring with Reformers:

In his Introduction to Romans, Luther stated that saving faith is,

“..that alone can be called Christian faith, which believes without wavering that Christ is the Saviour not only to Peter and to the saints but also to you....Such a faith will work in you love for Christ and joy in him, and good works will naturally follow. If they do not, faith is surely not present: for where faith is, there the Holy Ghost is and must work love and good works.” [Sermons of Martin Luther 1:21-22]

a living, creative, active and powerful thing, this faith. Faith cannot help doing good works constantly. It doesn’t stop to ask if good works ought to be done, but before anyone asks, it already has done them and continues to do them without ceasing. Anyone who does not do good works in this manner is an unbeliever...Thus, it is just as impossible to separate faith and works as it is to separate heat and light from fire! [http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/luther/luther-faith.txt]

“We must therefore most certainly maintain that where there is no faith there also can be no good works; and conversely, that there is no faith where there are no good works. Therefore faith and good works should be so closely joined together that the essence of the entire Christian life consists in both.” [Martin Luther, as cited by Paul Althaus, The Theology of Martin Luther [Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1963], 246, footnote 99]

More .

But Rome teaches that that beginning with baptism, one is "formally justified and made holy by his own personal justice and holiness (causa formalis)." (Catholic Encyclopedia> Sanctifying Grace)

And thus this salvation process usually ends with the RC atoning for sin and once again becoming good enough to enter Heaven through fire and torments or 'purifying' punishments” (INDULGENTIARUM DOCTRINA; cp. 1. 1967) of the purgatory of Rome (EOs reject the purgatory of Rome)

And which is taught as something one deserves:

Regarding those who cooperated with grace, Trent concludes that,

"nothing further is wanting to the justified [baptized and faithful], to prevent their being accounted to have, by those very works which have been done in God, fully satisfied the divine law according to the state of this life, and to have truly merited eternal life." (Trent, Chapter XVI; The Sixth Session Decree on justification, 1547)

Canon 32 similarly states,

"If anyone says that the good works of the one justified are in such manner the gifts of God that they are not also the good merits of him justified; or that the one justified by the good works that he performs by the grace of God and the merit of Jesus Christ, whose living member he is, does not truly merit an increase of grace, eternal life, and in case he dies in grace, the attainment of eternal life itself and also an increase of glory, let him be anathema." (Trent, Canons Concerning Justification, Canon 32. Also see The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent, in Philip Schaff, The Creeds of Christendom, Grand Rapids: Baker, 1919 ed., Decree on Justification, Chapters V, VI, VII, X, XIV, XV, XVI) (emphasis mine)

Shortened, this teaches, "If anyone says that the one justified by the good works that he performs by the grace of God does not truly merit eternal life, and in case he dies in grace, the attainment of eternal life itself, let him be anathema."

While it is true that God blesses obedience, and by which a believer grows in grace and virtue and solidifies his election against falling, (2Pt. 1:5-11) and that God rewards faith (Heb. 10:35) in recognition of his works, by which one is judged fit to be rewarded, (Mt. 25:31-40; Rv. 3:4) yet no one can take credit for this, much less his salvation. For it is God who created him, and in grace enables this dead soul to be drawn and convicted by God, opening his heart, and granting repentant faith, (Jn. 6:44; 12:32; 16:9; Actd 11:18; 16:14; Eph. 2:8,9) which is counted for righteousness. (Rm. 4:4-6)

And whatever theological distinctions are made btwn types of merit, what Rome conveys and what RCs typically profess is that they trust they will go to Heaven because they are good enough (God in His mercy grading on a scale), but never can testify to a day of salvation in which they came to God as lost damned + destitute but contrite sinners, and cast all their faith upon the risen Lord Jesus to save them by His sinless shed blood. And which faith they confessed in baptism, and followed Him.

Instead, we hear such professions as this:

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

And as a result of never having been truly born again and realized the profound basic changes in heart and life, then such RCs know not the essential "fellowship of the Spirit" which born again believers spontaneously realize with each other as they walk in the Spirit. Because they found Christ and who fundamentally changed them.

And i speak from experience as a former RC in a heavily Cath;/ area, who by God's grace became born again while being a weekly mass-going RC, and remained therein for 6 years, during which i served as lector and CCD teacher, (while finding my hunger for Bible teaching met thru evangelical radio), and know the difference btwn institutionalized religion and evangelical faith. Though i yet need to grow more therein, and not take steps backward.