Christian Unity

[Anything4Him]

If the Christian/non-Christian religions are looking for unity, how come people like Martin Luther King and Gandhi being looked at for saint-hood?

I know saints are Catholics, but it just seems like these men worked most of their lives for peace, and believed in God!

It just seems like a logical thing to do… tell me if I am wrong!

TM

 

[Flopfoot]

Pretty sure that we need people to pray for their intercession and miracles and things to happen before they can be canonised?

Anyway, saints are supposed to be fairly good Catholic role models… we don’t want people going against Church teaching with the excuse that “Saint Ghandi did / didn’t do that!”

Far as I know. There’s probably more reasons why non-Catholics can’t become saints, others can answer better.

That being said, of course we can still have respect for these men and try to continue to spread any positive messages and examples they gave.

 

[puzzleannie]

the primary criteria for sainthood is virtue and fidelity to the Church and the commandments. Working for peace and justice are very good things, and Mother Teresa did those things, but she is a saint because she is holy and remained faithful to God’s plan throughout her life.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Anything4Him:

If the Christian/non-Christian religions are looking for unity, how come people like Martin Luther King and Gandhi being looked at for saint-hood?

I know saints are Catholics, but it just seems like these men worked most of their lives for peace, and believed in God!

It just seems like a logical thing to do… tell me if I am wrong!

TM

It would be hard for the Catholic Church to Make someone a public Saint when they publicly rejected the Catholic faith.

 

[jimmy]

Anything4Him:

If the Christian/non-Christian religions are looking for unity, how come people like Martin Luther King and Gandhi being looked at for saint-hood?

I know saints are Catholics, but it just seems like these men worked most of their lives for peace, and believed in God!

It just seems like a logical thing to do… tell me if I am wrong!

TM

A saint does not become a saint because he did good works on earth. A person is declared a saint because of their holyness. A person could be a hermit and just sit in a hut and pray and become a saint. Even if MLK did work to bring about peace that does not justify sainthood. Sainthood is a reflection of a persons relationship with God. It is a statement that this person is in heaven with God.

Someone like Ghandi is a little different of a story. Ghandi was a Bhuddist; he did not accept Christ. Christ did say that He is the way, the light, and the truth. No one gets to the Father except through the Son. It is possible that Ghandi is in heaven, but it is not because he did good things on earth. It would be because Christ gave him the Grace to recieve salvation. Ghandi will never be declared a saint because he accepted the truth of Christ. We have no knowledge of whether he is actually in heaven or not.

You should also remember that the Catholic Church is not looking for union with non-Catholics. They only seek union in truth. There can be no union with Bhuddists as long as they do not accept Christ. What they seek is mutual tolerance of eachothers beliefs. That is all.

 

[a_cermak]

I believe MLK Jr has made it into the Episcopalian Book of Minor Feasts as a saint. However, their view of saints is slightly different than the Catholic Church.

 

[Chipper]

Anything4Him:

If the Christian/non-Christian religions are looking for unity, how come people like Martin Luther King and Gandhi being looked at for saint-hood?

I know saints are Catholics, but it just seems like these men worked most of their lives for peace, and believed in God!

It just seems like a logical thing to do… tell me if I am wrong!

TM

In addition to everything said by others, let’s not forget, that to be declared a Saint, there must be documented miracles in association with the Saint. I’ve never heard of any miracles caused by MLK, or Ghandi.

Regards,
Chipper