Hello, my name is Tommy, and this probably sounds like a dumb question. But I believe the judgement of who is fit for heaven is not based upon the answers to theological intricacies- such as who is right about their theological beliefs and who is wrong. I’m starting to see that it is more about helping the poor, visiting the prisoner, feeding the hungry, etc…
tommyberryhill, I believe it is a wonderful christian virtue to helping the poor, visiting the prisoners, feeding the hungry. These virtues have always been the fundamental aspects of the Catholic faith. I dont think you will have any problem joining Catholics on this venture of charity anywhere.
Where you error is in asking the Catholic to lay down his or her’s Catholic beliefs to such a venture when it is, and always has been a part of Catholic life. Catholics have always worked with people of different faiths, your example of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta is one of thousands of Catholics, throughtout the ages that have lived this celebate type of lifestyle for the less fortunate.
Maybe you are confusing the ministery of the Catholic church of exercising the Charity Christian virtues, with evangelization? To my knowledge the Catholic church does not force anyone to convert or work in charity to convince one to convert. That is not the way of the Catholic church. The Catholic church does evangelize but to those who have come to here and ask to learn from her the Christian life. These are evangelized within the borders of the Catholic church, not in the works of Charity these are given freely in Love to all the poor and sick, without payment or an expected conversion. This the Catholic church relys on her prayer and Holy Spirit. The Church just waters the seed, and God causes the growth.
**I dont think you can ask a Catholic to lay down his Christian beliefs to work with different faiths, when it is the duty and the belief of the Catholic to these acts of Charity.
The differences you may find in these posts from Catholics to my knowledge are responses from the attacks on Catholic doctrines, and clarifications to misunderstanding of the Catholic faith. Yes sometimes one can detect tension in responses, but these are debates, discussions, clarifications, informative, and not to be taken as feeding the poor etc, or evangelizing, unless the Holy Spirit moves one to do so.
So your post here has good intentions, and it is a repeat of what the Catholic church already teaches and has lived out as a witness to these charitible virtues, thus recently Blessed Mother Teresa.**
. Perhaps Catholics can look at the Blessed Mother Teresa as an example. When she was in India, she never told the natives to accept her theological beliefs so they could attain heaven. What she said was that the people should serve the Religion they had been serving, with as much charity and humility as possible.
**This is probably true, and many have converted not from her theological view, but from her example of life she lived which was Roman Catholic. Again dont confuse Christian charitible virtues with evangelization, debate, discusssion, informative aspects of the Catholic faith. According to Blessed Mother Teresa if one works out and live these Christian virtues to feed the hungry and heal the sick, visit the prisoners in love, you are already walking in Jesus Christ, this has nothing to do with a theological discussion from a Roman Catholic, it is a way of life. **
Peace be with you.
It is beliefs that make the person, not ancestry. It’s OK, we will be patient with you.