can non-christians go to heaven?

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Here is what I believe.

If ANYONE is in heaven, it is by the mercy of God through Jesus Christ. As the Bible says, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy.”

St. Paul writes, “Every knee SHALL bow, and every tongue SHALL confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

If that hypothetical pagan in deepest darkest Africa (the one who people are always talking about, but have never actually met) has the LEAST inkling to love and serve God, even without knowing much about Him, when he kneels before Christ, it will be glory for him to do so. He will say, “So it was YOU all the time!” And doubtless, Christ Jesus will say, “Come over and give me a kiss! You have a lot to learn, but I have all eternity to teach you, if you’re willing.”

He and many other such who are saved are STILL saved by Christ, not merely because they were “good.”
 
I have often heard Fr Groeschel say it isn’t up to us to decide how God reveals Himself to others

Anyone that dies in a state of Grace will go to heaven…It shows the Holy Spirit was at work in their hearts
 
The Church teaches that anyone who does the Will of God according to their conscience (informed conscience) can make it to heaven…it is not just for Catholics
 
So what’s the point of being Catholic if you all think non-Catholics can go to Heaven? (which is NOT what the Church teaches)
 
The point of being Catholic is it is the true religion founded by Christ…the church has taught that people dying in a state of grace go to heaven no matter what religion they are
 
redrosetea said:
The point of being Catholic is it is the true religion founded by Christ…the church has taught that people dying in a state of grace go to heaven no matter what religion they are
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How can those outside the Church be in a state of grace?
 
AnneElliot said:
How can those outside the Church be in a state of grace?
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I don’t know it is a mystery of faith…How can a Virgin conceive? I don’t know that either

There are many people who lived a godly life that werer not Catholic…like Gandhi or ohe Dali Lama

If you won’t take our word for it ask an apologist
 
redrosetea said:
I don’t know it is a mystery of faith…How can a Virgin conceive? I don’t know that either

There are many people who lived a godly life that werer not Catholic…like Gandhi or ohe Dali Lama

If you won’t take our word for it ask an apologist
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I already have the word of the Church on the matter. It’s a dogma of faith that there is no salvation outside the Church.

Original Sin itself is enough to exlude a person from Heaven, but outside of Baptism, the Sacrament of Confession or an act of perfect contrition there is no forgivness of sin. All persons in Heaven are members of the Church, thus all persons in Heaven are not only Christians… they are Catholics. (Even if God had to send an Angel to instruct someone in the Faith, He would do it, rather than let an open and willing heart–that He Himself prepared! perish in ignorance)
 
I have a book with a nihil obstat and imprimatur called “Familiar Explanation of Christian Doctrine” that says as much.

Which part do you disagree with? Ignorance is not salvific, Jesus Christ is through His Holy Church.
 
I disbelieve non Catholics are denied heaven…I have never heard anything so filled with the lack of mercy as this
 
AnneElliot said:
So what’s the point of being Catholic if you all think non-Catholics can go to Heaven? (which is NOT what the Church teaches)
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AnneElliot said:
How can those outside the Church be in a state of grace?
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AnneElliot said:
I already have the word of the Church on the matter. It’s a dogma of faith that there is no salvation outside the Church.

Original Sin itself is enough to exlude a person from Heaven, but outside of Baptism, the Sacrament of Confession or an act of perfect contrition there is no forgivness of sin. All persons in Heaven are members of the Church, thus all persons in Heaven are not only Christians… they are Catholics. (Even if God had to send an Angel to instruct someone in the Faith, He would do it, rather than let an open and willing heart–that He Himself prepared! perish in ignorance)
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Hi Anne
I think you are mixing the destiny of those under canon law from those who are not under canon law. Those not under canon law can answer the call of Natural Moral Law. Which will lead them to a form of Christianity.
 
Our Catholic Church used to say that “outside our church there is no salvation.” There is no longer any mention of this position in any document during and after Second Vatican Council (or Vatican II, held in 1963-65). The Catechism for Filipino Catholics (or CFC), the Catechism of the Catholic Church (or CCC), the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (or PCP II), and other Church documents all state a more accepting and respectful position of other religions. (All underscoring are mine)
  • While our Catholic Church is the ordinary means of salvation (meaning, the Church has the means in how we can reach God), “this salvation through Jesus Christ is offered to all peoples, and this makes possible our openness in understanding the religious convictions of others.” (CFC, 75) Underscore mine.
  • “The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day.” (CCC, No. 841, quoting Lumen Gentium).
  • “Even for those who do not explicitly profess faith in him as the Savior, salvation comes as a grace from Jesus Christ through the communication of the Holy Spirit.” (Ecclesia in Asia by JPII, No. 14).
  • “The Catholic Church rejects nothing of what is true and holy in these religions [referring to Hinduism, Buddhism in the earlier paragraph]. She has a high regard for the manner of life and conduct, the precepts and doctrines which, although differing in many ways from her own teaching, nevertheless often reflect a ray of that truth which enlightens all men.” (Vatican II document Nostra Aetate, No. 2, or the Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non Christian Religions.).
  • “The Synod Fathers drew attention to the multiple and diversified action of the Holy Sprit who continually sows the seeds of truth among all peoples, their religions, their cultures and philosophies. This means that these religions, cultures and philosophies are capable of helping people, individually and collectively, to work against evil and to serve life and everything that is good.” (Ecclesia in Asia by JPII, No. 15)
In over simplistic terms, it is difficult to condemn the people of other faiths, considering that there are 6 billion people in the world, with only 1 billion Catholics. Can you imagine our God, who is Father of all and is a God of love, would condemn the 5 billion?

Nevertheless, it should also be emphasized that the above does not mean that we should stop our evangelizing efforts, for indeed it is also stated that “the Church’s faith in Jesus is a gift received and a gift to be shared; it is the greatest gift which the Church can offer to Asia” (Ecclesia in Asia by JPII, No. 10).

It also states that our acceptance of other religions does not exempt us from our “duty to proclaim without fail, Christ who is the way, the truth and the life.” (Nostra Aetate, No. 2)

However, we cannot convert other religions if we adopt a “holier than thou” attitude. Instead, we should adopt a position of mutual respect and charity: “We cannot truly pray to God the Father of all if we treat any people in other than brotherly fashion, for all men are created in God’s image.” (Nostra Aetate, No. 5)

asktm.blogspot.com/2005/11/can-non-catholics-go-to-heaven-asked.html
 
redrosetea said:
I disbelieve non Catholics are denied heaven…I have never heard anything so filled with the lack of mercy as this
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It’s very merciful! It would only lack mercy if there were no possible way for them to join the Church. The Church is open to all. Anyone can join. We welcome them with open arms and call them to their proper destiny in Jesus Christ.

(and for those who are ignorant/have no contact with the Church, God will either send them a missionary or find a way to instruct them in the Faith Himself, either sending them an Angel, or vision, or something, etc.)
 
redrosetea…

The Church does not (and cannot) change her teachings.
 
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