Christian Denominations/Heaven

[Daughter_of_The_King]

Can other denominations than Catholics go to heaven? This is a question that others have asked me and I never knew how to answer. Thanks

 

[Mtatum1958]

Can people of other denominations (faiths) be received into heaven, yes. Will they, it’s a more difficult path.

Here is an article by Tim Staples that addresses this. There are many more by other authors.

Is There Really "No Salvation Outside the Catholic Church?" | Catholic Answers Magazine

 

[Todd_Easton]

Yes, it is possible for non-Catholic Christians to go to heaven. It is even possible for non-Christians to go to heaven. This is talked about in the section in the Catechism of the Catholic Church entitled, “Outside the Church there is no salvation,” paragraphs 846-848. How likely such people will go to heaven is something only God knows.

 

[BoomerangToo]

Yes, non-Catholics go to heaven, but according to the Simpsons, non-Catholic Christians go to “Protestant Heaven” which is very dull and everyone there plays croquet, and Catholics go to “Catholic Heaven” which is where all the good food, booze and parties are. Oh, and Jesus likes to hang out in Catholic Heaven. Of course, the Simpsons may not be privy to know everything about the afterlife.

 

[arthra]

Yes, it is possible for non-Catholic Christians to go to heaven. It is even possible for non-Christians to go to heaven.

Yes Baha’is believe if you are spiritually near the Divine you would be in “heaven”:

“O NOBLE friends; seekers after God! Praise be to God! Today the light of Truth is shining upon the world in its abundance; the breezes of the heavenly garden are blowing throughout all regions; the call of the Kingdom is heard in all lands, and the breath of the Holy Spirit is felt in all hearts that are faithful. The Spirit of God is giving eternal life.”

~ Abdu’l-Baha, Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 19

Read:

Heaven

 

[poche]

From the Baltimore Catechism;

Q. 510. Is it ever possible for one to be saved who does not know the Catholic Church to be the true Church?

A. It is possible for one to be saved who does not know the Catholic Church to be the true Church, provided that person:

1.(1) Has been validly baptized;

2.(2) Firmly believes the religion he professes and practices to be the true religion, and

3.(3) Dies without the guilt of mortal sin on his soul.

Q. 511. Why do we say it is only possible for a person to be saved who does not know the CatholicChurch to be the true Church?

A. We say it is only possible for a person to be saved who does not know the Catholic Church to be the true Church, because the necessary conditions are not often found, especially that of dying in a state of grace without making use of the Sacrament of Penance.

Lesson 11: On the Church

 

[JonNC]

Can other denominations than Catholics go to heaven? This is a question that others have asked me and I never knew how to answer. Thanks

Scripture tells us over and over how we are saved - by grace.
God has put before us the means of grace - word and sacrament.
He sends us His Holy Spirit in Baptism to regenerate us, forgive our sins, and spark faith in us.
In response to the gift of faith, we are to do the good works He prepares us to do.

“He that believes and is Baptized shall be saved.”

 

[Dan_Defender]

It is possible yes. But Catholics have access to graces and gifts that Protestants reject. So in that sense it is easier for a Catholic. Of course it comes down to the individual and his/her relationship with God. We cannot generalize.

 

[JonNC]

It is possible yes. But Catholics have access to graces and gifts that Protestants reject. So in that sense it is easier for a Catholic. Of course it comes down to the individual and his/her relationship with God. We cannot generalize.

Which graces do you perceive that “Protestants”reject?
I receive the Eucharist. I was baptized. I was confirmed. I’ve confessed and received Absolution.

 

[cfernandomaciel]

It is possible yes. But Catholics have access to graces and gifts that Protestants reject. So in that sense it is easier for a Catholic. Of course it comes down to the individual and his/her relationship with God. We cannot generalize.

I’m not here judging anyone, but it seems to me that this is precisely why it’s more likely a non-Catholic in good standing with his beliefs to go to heaven than a Catholic.

As Catholics, we tend all too fast to go about judging people, and assuming we are going to heaven and nobody else goes. As if every single person whom is not a Catholic is deliberately against the Church of Jesus Christ. See, for every single Christian religion out there, they have the firm belief that they are doing exactly what Jesus had asked them to do in order to go to heaven.

Meanwhile, as Catholics, we are here judging people, saying: “yeah, it’s easier for us to go to heaven”. And I think that’s precisely why it’s harder for us to reach heaven. Because we think we are all set.

 

[cfernandomaciel]

The fact is: nobody can and will ever know if or who will go to heaven, just by inferring that this or that person is from this or that denomination, or from no denomination at all.

The only thing we do know for a fact is that God is love. He is NOT full of love, He is love Himself, the root, the source of all good things we call derived from love, even the love we fill in our hearts is but a shadow of what Love (upper case here) really is. Because Love is God.

Having said that, one can understand that the whole subject of who is going and who is not going to heaven goes a LOT deeper than what we can know and judge for ourselves.

Better not to judge it then, better just mind about our own salvation, which is already a huge mission each one of us have on this planet.

 

[Dan_Defender]

This is why i said we cannot generalize. The protestants i know don’t receive sacraments and think they are already saved (once saved, always saved they say).

 

[Dan_Defender]

I didn’t say that i judged or know who gets saved. But just to be clear, i agree with you, the final decision is God’s alone. At the same time, not all denominations are equal, it matters what path a person chooses.

 

[JonNC]

This is why i said we cannot generalize. The protestants i know don’t receive sacraments and think they are already saved (once saved, always saved they say).

Thanks. You’ve identified the problem with the term “Protestant “. It is actually quite meaningless when discussing doctrine and practice.

 

[CzechMan]

Actually the Catholic church teaches that Protestants do not have valid Eucharist, because they don’t believe it is a sacrifice. And besides, Protestants generally do not believe in transubstantiation, and the Catholic church teaches that if there is no transubstantiation of the elements, the Eucharist is not valid. 1 Cor. 11:29 says you need to discern the Lord’s body, so the Catholic church says if you don’t literally discern the Lord’s body as being what the bread was transubstantiated into, then it is not valid.

 

[JonNC]

Actually the Catholic church teaches that Protestants do not have valid Eucharist, because they don’t believe it is a sacrifice. And besides, Protestants generally do not believe in transubstantiation, and the Catholic church teaches that if there is no transubstantiation of the elements, the Eucharist is not valid. 1 Cor. 11:29 says you need to discern the Lord’s body, so the Catholic church says if you don’t literally discern the Lord’s body as being what the bread was transubstantiated into, then it is not valid.

Yes. That is the Catholic teaching.
Obviously, we would disagree

 

[GKMotley]

The most fundamental reason the RCC would cite for why a valid Eucharist is lacking is the lack of valid Orders. Same for any other sacrament requiring Orders to validly confect. Consideration of intent or form, etc, would be secondary.

 

[CzechMan]

Yes, and the Catholic church says Protestant orders are invalid, because they don’t believe that the Eucharist is a sacrifice.

 

[GKMotley]

In the case of Anglicans, Apostolicae Curae judged Anglican orders invalid, due to the use of the Edwardine Ordinal, judged defective in sacramental form and intent, at a particular point in history. Anglicans who do consider the Eucharist a sacrifice, indeed, the sacrifice of Calvary, re-presented in each Mass, continue to be judged to have lost the Apostolic succession, after the form of consecration/ordination was cured, in 1662.

 

[StarMapp]

Radio Replies online.

http://www.radioreplies.info/site-search.php?s=20&q=salvation

Q546. What are the conditions for the salvation of such a good Protestant? He must have Baptism at least of desire; he must be ignorant of the fact that the Catholic Church is the only true Church; he must not be responsible for that ignorance by deliberately neglecting to inquire when doubts have perhaps come to him about his position; and he must die with perfect contrition for his sins, and with sincere love of God. But such good dispositions are an implicit will to be a Catholic. For the will to do God’s will is the will to fulfill all that He commands. Such a man would join the Catholic Church did he realize that that was part of God’s will. In this sense the Catholic Church is the only road to Heaven, all who are saved belonging to her either actually or implicitly.