Are non-Catholics sinning (most likely venially) by not being Catholic?

[CalCatholic]

Found this.

818 "However, one cannot charge with the sin of the separation those who at present are born into these communities [that resulted from such separation] and in them are brought up in the faith of Christ, and the Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers . . . . All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church."272

819 "Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth"273 are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: "the written Word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope, and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements."274 Christ’s Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities as means of salvation, whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the Catholic Church. All these blessings come from Christ and lead to him,275 and are in themselves calls to "Catholic unity."276

The Catechism takes most of this from the Vatican II document ‘Unitatis Redintegratio’ (Decree on Ecumenism) chapter 1, sec.3

 

[Telstar]

I know that ignorance plays a HUGE factor in this, but is it grave matter for non-Catholics to not be Catholic?

Is it intrinsically evil? (that is, if they have invincible ignorance will it be a venial sin or no sin at all?)

If someone is born into another Christian faith, I don’t believe they are committing sin by following that faith, any more than it would be sinful for any non-Christian to follow their religion. If they are unaware of their error, it’s not a sin. It’s very sad that they don’t realize how much of the true faith of Christ that they miss out on, but that’s a different subject.

However, Catholics who leave the Catholic Church to join another Christian church, is another story. They are culpable and guilty of at least a venial sin, depending on their reason for leaving. If they are poorly catechized and are truly unaware of the gravity of leaving the Church, then it might only be a venial sin. But, if it’s because they willingly reject a particular Catholic doctrine that they do not wish to follow, either to get a divorce, have an abortion, or to feel free to commit any other sinful act without having to acknowledge that it is a serious personal sin (to ease their own conscience), then it would be a very grave matter and a mortal sin for them. They would be committing another mortal sin, on top of the mortal sin that they were trying to avoid taking responsibility for in the first place.

Are non-Christians sinning? To the extant that they have heard the Gospel and reject it, yes.

Non-Catholic Christians do not consider themselves to be rejecting the Gospel at all. Their interpretation of the Gospel may be faulty, but they are not really aware of their error, so there wouldn’t be any sin.

Schism from Christ’s Church is indeed a grave sin, but many do not recognize the Catholic Church as the Church created by Christ at Pentecost.

Schism cannot technically be committed by those who have never been Catholic. Schism is committed by a group of Catholics who break away from the Church, because they reject the authority of the Magisterium or the Pope, but still retain the basic tenets and doctrines of the faith (such as the Eastern Orthodox churches).

Non-Catholic Christians are the descendants of people who not only broke away, but also rejected at least some of those basic doctrines and tenets of the faith that they refused to accept for various reasons. The original reformers were culpable and guilty of heresy, because they committed that personal sin through an act of their own will. But, those who are brought up as followers in later generations, are not culpable or guilty of that sin.

At least, that’s the way I understand it. I could be very wrong, so I’m open to any correction of my statements that are not in line with Church teaching, but I believe they are compatible.

 

[SHoJjhmou]

The Catechism takes most of this from the Vatican II document ‘Unitatis Redintegratio’ (Decree on Ecumenism) chapter 1, sec.3

Thanks for the thumbs up, but you should be giving it to Bookcat really. He sent me those quotes when I PM’d him.

Message sent by Bookcat

As you note there it is a question of “knowledge”…

Many I would say are not…for they do not realize that the Church is the Church and thus where the disciples of Jesus are to be.

Some can be.

Much has to do with as you note what they know - what they realize. Where by their “own fault” they do not come into full communion with the Church.

Many are “with no fault of their own”.

CCC

Wounds to unity

817 In fact, "in this one and only Church of God from its very beginnings there arose certain rifts, which the Apostle strongly censures as damnable. But in subsequent centuries much more serious dissensions appeared and large communities became separated from full communion with the Catholic Church - for which, often enough, men of both sides were to blame."269 The ruptures that wound the unity of Christ’s Body - here we must distinguish heresy, apostasy, and schism270 - do not occur without human sin:

Where there are sins, there are also divisions, schisms, heresies, and disputes. Where there is virtue, however, there also are harmony and unity, from which arise the one heart and one soul of all believers.271

818 "However, one cannot charge with the sin of the separation those who at present are born into these communities [that resulted from such separation] and in them are brought up in the faith of Christ, and the Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers . . . . All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church."272

819 "Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth"273 are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: "the written Word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope, and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements."274 Christ’s Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities as means of salvation, whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the Catholic Church. All these blessings come from Christ and lead to him,275 and are in themselves calls to "Catholic unity."276

scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a9p3.htm#I

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VIVAS IN DEO
IHCOY XPICTOY

 

[president_weezy]

Does it really matter? Are our sins not forgiven?

 

[Reuben_J]

Does it really matter? Are our sins not forgiven?

It certainly does for sure. Our sins are forgiven only if we repent of them.

The title of this thread though may be quite offensive to non-Catholics, deals mainly with Catholic doctrine and belief, the reason why I hesitated to join in, as it is better suited in the apologetic section.

So it was a valid question for Catholics, no offense to non-Catholics. But as it is being discussed here, perhaps you should know the background to the question.

God bless.

Reuben

 

[SHoJjhmou]

Does it really matter? Are our sins not forgiven?

Well, one should not be presumptuous about forgiveness. It is grave matter to do so.

We must be contrite for all sins (I’m not judging you, but I’m warning you).

 

[spedteacherita]

Here’s the Protestant perspective.

You all love the Lord with all your heart and I see that from the friendships I have made in these forums. God is a great God. He sent His Son for all to know Him and He’s stated so in John 3:16 and other areas of the Bible.

Even though I’ve learned about Catholic teachings in here there are some which I cannot adhere to if I were to become a Catholic because I don’t believe they are things that have been brought down from the Apostles thru apostolic tradition.

God has been in my life since I was a little girl going to a Baptist Church. I hated the services but I loved my Sunday School teachers Marty, and Elsie. Mary took us to see Billy Graham movies to help us understand Christ’s love for us, too. I was able to thank Mary before she passed away recently - she didn’t know the impact she had on our spiritual growth as children.

As an adult I needed to find a church where someone did not yell from the pulpit and I heard horror stories about the Catholic Church from my best friend. So I started going to a church that taught that I was saved by faith in God and not the works that I heard from the Baptist preachers I was baptized after going thru their class and I had my first communion with the Real Presence of Christ. He made a huge difference in my life. I visited a Lutheran College and put out a fleece asking if I was to go there. Within minutes my question was answered and within the 2 summer months everything went from being in a rented home to being a college kid in a dorm room. Let me tell you there were some amazing things He did for me during those 2 months.

There have been other miracles and directions He has taken me and others. I’ve seen them and I’ve heard of them from other Christians who had dedicated their lives to Christ.

If my life is a heresy by Catholic standards and if you think I’m sinning by not becoming a Catholic…so be it. I know better. I know that my Lord loves me and others like me and we welcome the day that either He comes back for us or we fall asleep in His arms.

God bless all of you and I hope you understand a bit better what God does with those of us who are not Catholic,

Blessings,

Rita

 

[spedteacherita]

Does it really matter? Are our sins not forgiven?

President Weezy, God loves you very much - so much He sent His son to be the final atonement for our sins. If you confess your sins to Him He will forgive you. It’s as simple as that.

It’s important to be among Christians who follow the Biblical standards that He left us. You are precious in His sight and He will forgive you - He loves a contrite heart.

God bless you !!

Rita

 

[spedteacherita]

I cannot believe that anybody can ask that question!

I have heard of some Protestant sects who state that Catholics are not “saved”.
But I have never heard that coming from our Catholic side.

Thank you, Hans! God bless you!

Rita

 

[spedteacherita]

First of all, if anything, I was only assuming that they were committing venial sins, far from not being “saved”.

But, I actually was trying not to judge them. I didn’t want to assume anything that was against Catholic doctrine so I decided to ask this question.

But after some responses, as well as PM-ing Bookcat, I realize that there was more to the question than I knew.

Now I am educated and know. Thank you all for your responses.

I am sorry if I offended any non-Catholics, that was not my intent. Originally, I was trying to PM a message to somebody, but I messed up big time and started this thread (wasn’t thinking straight).

You’re apology is accepted!! From my experiences in these forums I have found there are LOTS of things that it teaches and am even surprised at some of them but I appreciate the poster who had the info as to how the Catholic Church regards others outside of their faith.

God bless you!!!

Rita