Are non-Christian religions acceptable?

[StAugustine]

not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics cannot become participants in eternal life, but will depart “into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels” [Matt. 25:41], unless before the end of life the same have been added to the flock

Unless they are added to the flock either actually or by intention (which intention requires the supernatural virtue of faith), they cannot be saved.

Again, it is not that they are condemned for being ignorant, rather their ignorance is a punishment for their other mortal sins.

So, when the poor ignorant pagan dies in his ignorance, he goes to hell. Not for being ignorant, but for a life of sin, and for a lack of repentance for which he was kept in ignorance as a punishment. If he would have followed the natural law, Christ would have given him faith in order to be saved.

But guess then what he would have NOT been?

Ignorant.

Dying in ignorance is not a means of salvation. It’s actually a sign of reprobation.

 

[anon10271182]

See StAugustine’s post just above. I agree completely.
I’ll only add that, Christ is waiting for all who seek Him. With open arms.

 

[meltzerboy2]

Is this your explanation of invincible ignorance, that the latter is a PUNISHMENT for other mortal sins? I don’t think the Church agrees with this. If it does, which I strongly doubt, then I am happy not to be Catholic.

 

[AlNg]

Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus.
Dogma.

The Buddhist will not be saved because he does not have the virtue of faith, without which it is impossible to please God,

There is no salvation for
Anyone in any circumstance without this faith. Amen.

Faith in Christ is absolutely necessary.

None must neither pray or sing psalms with heretics, and whosoever shall communicate with those who are cut off from the communion of the Church, whether clergyman or layman, let him be excommunicated” - Council of Carthage, 398

Canon 33: No one shall join in prayers with heretics or schismatics - Council of Laodicea (372)

Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith. Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled; without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.

Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation; that he also believe faithfully the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But no, it’s not my opinion, it is the teaching of the Church in the council of Florence and is an official dogma-

The Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes, and proclaims that those not living within the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics cannot become participants in eternal life, but will depart “into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels…”

That was taught in the past, but now the teaching has changed. It is now taught that non-Catholics can be saved.
Pope Benedict XVI, (Zenit News story, Sept. 5, 2000 “[W]e are in agreement that a Jew, and this is true for believers of other religions, does not need to know or acknowledge Christ as the Son of God in order to be saved…”
John Paul II, Redemptoris Missio , Dec. 7, 1990: “The universality of salvation means that it is granted not only to those who explicitly believe in Christ and have entered the Church.”

 

[anon10271182]

“Zenit News Story?” Really?

But this, from Lumen Gentium 14:
“Christ Himself 'by stressing in express language the necessity of faith and baptism (cf. Mark 16:16; John 3:5), at the same time confirmed the necessity of the Church, into which men enter by baptism, as by a door. Therefore those men cannot be saved, who though aware that God, through Jesus Christ founded the Church as something necessary, still do not wish to enter into it, or to persevere in it.”
And there is no excuse for paganism. Not in America or Europe at any rate. No pleading invincible ignorance. Even today, everyone has heard of Jesus Christ and has the duty to investigate further.

 

[Arwing]

Extra ecclesiam nulla salus like all the dogmas has most assuredly not been changed.

What some perceive the statements from the Church Fathers and popes for centuries have meant when affirming this teaching is perhaps different from the way the teaching is formulated today. But the teaching itself has not changed and never will. It was never meant to assert that one who is not institutionally Catholic cannot be saved.

Pope Benedict XVI, (Zenit News story, Sept. 5, 2000 “[W]e are in agreement that a Jew, and this is true for believers of other religions, does not need to know or acknowledge Christ as the Son of God in order to be saved…”

I’d like to see an actual source for this and, if it’s a real quote, with its context because all I can find are Sedevecantist sites.

Not an authoritative statement of Church teaching in any event; Benedict XVI wasn’t pope at the time he allegedly made that statement. But I very much doubt that it at least as quoted in isolation here is a teaching of his. It seems clear that if it does exist it was taken out of context to push a (schismatic) agenda.

John Paul II, Redemptoris Missio , Dec. 7, 1990: “The universality of salvation means that it is granted not only to those who explicitly believe in Christ and have entered the Church.”

I think that taking this one statement on its own can be a bit misleading; anyway, as I understand this refers to those who are invincibly ignorant and it shortly afterward says (emphasis added):

“For such people salvation in Christ is accessible by virtue of a grace which, while having a mysterious relationship to the Church, does not make them formally part of the Church but enlightens them in a way which is accommodated to their spiritual and material situation.”

This is of course perfectly in line with the sections on salvation and non-Catholics in the Catechism, e.g. 848 “[a]lthough in ways known to himself God can lead those who, through no fault of their own, are ignorant of the Gospel, to that faith without which it is impossible to please him, the Church still has the obligation and also the sacred right to evangelize all men”.

 

[AlNg]

the Church still has the obligation and also the sacred right to evangelize all men”.

That teaching has also been changed by the present Pope, Pope Francis who has spoken out against proselytism: Pope Francis: “The Church grows not through proselytizing… one young man asked me this question: ‘What should I say to a university classmate, a friend, a good person, but who is atheist? What should I tell him in order to change him, to convert him?’ This was the response: ‘The last thing you should do is to say something…’ Peace begins to be broken in this field when proselytism begins, and there are many types of proselytism.”
and
Pope Francis called religious proselytism “poison” during a meeting with Lutheran pilgrims in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall last week.

Pope again criticizes 'proselytism': 'It is not licit that you convince them of your faith' - LifeSite

In a meeting with Lutheran pilgrims, Pope Francis awkwardly answered a question about conversions.

www.lifesitenews.com

“The last thing you must do is ‘to say, to convince’. It’s not right to convince someone of your faith,” said. Pope Francis.
“Proselytism is the strongest venom against the path of ecumenism”.

Proselytism venom against ecumenism-pope - Vatican - Ansa.it

Pope Francis told a group of mostly Lutheran pilgrims on Thursday that proselytism was a potential threat to Christian unity. "The last thing you must do is 'to say, to convince'. It's not right to convince someone of your faith," he said. (ANSA)

www.ansa.it

 

[AlNg]

Therefore those men cannot be saved, who though aware that God, through Jesus Christ founded the Church as something necessary, still do not wish to enter into it, or to persevere in it.”
And there is no excuse for paganism. Not in America or Europe at any rate. No pleading invincible ignorance.

This teaching has been changed by Pope Francis who says that atheists can do good and go to heaven also. Please see:

News - Catholic Online

 

[Arwing]

I don’t think proselytism as Pope Francis is using it should be equated with evangelism. Again not really a case of teaching being changed as is the case with all the doctrines of faith.

What is meant by “the ecumenical path” is the path toward unity in the truth, not indifferentism or other heresies. I think there are ways more appropriate than others in some situations to direct others along this path.

 

[PJM]

Thanks, precisely why I asked,

Blessings,
Patrick

 

[AndrewAxland]

There are obvious inconsistencies in what was taught in centuries past and what is being taught now

Of course, there are, and always have been, since day one. Except for Dogma, of course, which never changes, the other teachings of the Church are a living process and have always been evolving. There was never a time when they stood still. Things grow and die, and new things grow and die. That is what the Magisterium is for, to be the gardener in the garden of truth.

The Holy Spirit is constantly revealing new knowledge to us.

 

[Kaninchen]

The idea there was a universal ‘disease’ (“we’re all doomed”) and the only ‘cure’ was Jesus was a masterstroke of early Christianity.

 

[andersoncorey2007]

yes, non-Christian religions are acceptable but to some extent. all religions are equal and we need to respect all religions.

 

[Eddie18]

That is the point of this thread - Catholic teaching cannot change so why has it?

 

[theCardinalbird]

No Salvation Outside the Church | Catholic Answers Magazine

Does this help with anything?

 

[Eddie18]

You bring up a perfect example of another doctrine that has changed to the exact opposite today. Catholics are going around saying that “everyone goes to heaven”. My brother was just at a funeral where the Catholic priest announced “we all go to heaven” to everyone present. Yet, Scripture says the exact OPPOSITE - that few people are saved. A few quotes below. Catholics need to wake up and learn their faith.

“How narrow is the gate, and strait is the way that leadeth to life: and few there are that find it!” Matt 7:14

“But yet the Son of man, when He cometh, shall he find, think you, faith on earth?” Luke 18:8

“And a certain man said to him: Lord, are they few that are saved? But he said to them: Strive to enter by the narrow gate; for many, I say to you, shall seek to enter, and shall not be able.” Luke 13:23-24

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14

 

[Pup7]

Catholics are going around saying that “everyone goes to heaven”.

Catholics need to wake up and learn their faith.

I mean no offense, but I think you need to go talk to a priest. You’re really focused on this sort of thing.

 

[Eddie18]

You are constantly showing you don’t know what you’re saying on this topic. Here is a quote from the Church saying exactly the opposite of what you just said:

Council of Basel 1431
“It (The Council of Basel) firmly believes, professes and preaches that all those who are outside the catholic church, not only pagans but also Jews or heretics and schismatics, cannot share in eternal life and will go into the everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless they are joined to the catholic church before the end of their lives.”

You REALLY need to start reading up on the history of the Catholic Church in older books. A great place to start is the Catholic Encyclopedia from 1913 available online at newadvent.org.

 

[Pup7]

You are constantly showing you don’t know what you’re saying on this topic. Here is a quote from the Church saying exactly the opposite of what you just said:

Council of Basel 1431
“It (The Council of Basel) firmly believes, professes and preaches that all those who are outside the catholic church, not only pagans but also Jews or heretics and schismatics, cannot share in eternal life and will go into the everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless they are joined to the catholic church before the end of their lives.”

You REALLY need to start reading up on the history of the Catholic Church in older books. A great place to start is the Catholic Encyclopedia from 1913 available online at newadvent.org.

You are constantly repeating yourself and seem bent on arguing with the catechism.

That’s a problem.

You really need to talk to a priest.

You have absolutely no clue what I have or haven’t read or am currently reading.

And I’d rather read a book, not an online encyclopedia. As I said, you have no clue what I am reading or have read, and I don’t need to reel off quotes and stats to prove any of it.

You’re not a Vatican II guy, are you?

 

[Eddie18]

That was taught in the past, but now the teaching has changed

Infallible Catholic teaching cannot change just like 2+2=4 cannot change.
.