What about the people in Scripture that were not part of the the 12 yet were preaching and casting out demons in Christ’s name. These were the ones that the 12 tried to rebuke and Christ himself said “those that are not against us, are with us” or something to those same words.Here is a definition of baptism of desire:
“Baptism of Desire is one of the two possible substitutes for Baptism of water. When it is not possible thus to be baptized, an act of perfect contrition or pure love of God will supply the omission. Such acts are a perfect and ultimate diposition calling for the infusion of sanctifying grace, and at least implicitly include a desire and intention to receive Baptism of water should occasion offer. Infants are not capable of Baptism of desire. An heathen, believing, even though in a confused way, in a God whose will should be done and desiring to do that will whatever it may be, probably has Baptism of desire. It may reasonably be assumed that vast numbers of persons unbaptized by water have thus been rendered capable of enjoying the Beatific Vision.”
You are asking about a situation in which baptism with water has occurred so Baptism of Desire does not apply.
A person who has known the full truth taught by the Catholic Church and rejected it, is among those least likely to be saved. Of course, we cannot judge the soul of another; that is for God alone.
God does not hold people responsible for things of which they have no knowledge. He judges based on what they know. A person who has been taught the Catholic faith and left it, presumably knows the truth and has rejected it. Christians who are not Catholic, through no fault of their own, can experience elements of the truth and salvation in their faith communities. But the Catholic Church teaches the fullness of the Faith. People who leave the Catholic Church are rejecting this.What about the people in Scripture that were not part of the the 12 yet were preaching and casting out demons in Christ’s name. These were the ones that the 12 tried to rebuke and Christ himself said “those that are not against us, are with us” or something to those same words.
I just can’t fathom that non-catholics who ignore the RCC can still go to Heaven but people who leave the RCC, despite the fact they still proclaim Christ as Lord, just go to Hell because they left the RCC. I say this as a struggling Catholic.
So even if they still love Jesus and proclaim him, after leaving the RCC, they are doomed to Hell? I left the church twice, I guess due to pride, but my main issues were a) Marian theology, b) papal infallibility and c) practices such as meatless Fridays during Lent, d) but I also left because I felt I was getting nowhere. I call this my “hamster wheel”. One poster deemed it as “spiritual desolation”. Habitual sins would keep me in the confessional over and over and over again. They still do.God does not hold people responsible for things of which they have no knowledge. He judges based on what they know. A person who has been taught the Catholic faith and left it, presumably knows the truth and has rejected it. Christians who are not Catholic, through no fault of their own, can experience elements of the truth and salvation in their faith communities. But the Catholic Church teaches the fullness of the Faith. People who leave the Catholic Church are rejecting this.
God is completely just in His judgments. If somehow a person is not at fault for leaving the Church, then God will know this and take it into consideration. But this is beyond what we can know. We can only speak of general principles. As far as general principles go, leaving the Church means a person goes to Hell.So even if they still love Jesus and proclaim him, after leaving the RCC, they are doomed to Hell? I left the church twice, I guess due to pride, but my main issues were a) Marian theology, b) papal infallibility and c) practices such as meatless Fridays during Lent, d) but I also left because I felt I was getting nowhere. I call this my “hamster wheel”. One poster deemed it as “spiritual desolation”. Habitual sins would keep me in the confessional over and over and over again. They still do.
A lot of stuff I have been able to reconcile but sometimes, I feel like leaving again and staying gone. Please pray that someday this ordeal of mine will be over.
I was frustrated by my experience of RCIA too. You can take up where it left off and work on education yourself in the faith now. There are many great resources available for doing this.I do sometimes wonder if I was PROPERLY catechized before my confirmation back in 1999? They never went to in-depth on some issues and the RCIA I attended was attended by more CURRENT parishioners than normal. Only 2 of us were coming into the church that attended this RCIA and we were vastly outnumbered by practicing catholics. I never really understood why?
I too have often had the feeling that some protestants lead better Christian lives than I do. But I think that being aware of our weakness can help us to turn to God. Here is a traditional morning prayer that you might find helpful to say when you get up:Thanks. I just hate all of this arguing and differences with other churches. I will say this, the times I left, I could never get it out of my head that what I was missing was the REAL Eucharist but yet I see so many other protestants living better Christian lives than me and while I know each walk is different, I get frustrated. I guess the majority of this comes from growing up in heavily protestant rural South Carolina.