Christ's Mercy?

[TheNeutral]

This is a hypothetical situation, it may or may not specifically reflect my own life.

If a man, having been in the Catholic Church, were to “defect” and become a Protestant, would they then be destined to hell? If not, what could a defector do to ensure their salvation without rejoining Catholicism? I believe there was one Priest who actually advised one (a translator, I believe) not to convert, however, this story could’ve been fabricated. Just how far does God’s mercy extend before you’re doomed to hell (especially considering they wouldn’t have ignorance).

Under what circumstances could one defect and not go to hell?

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

I think there are many cases where one could make the theologically “wrong” choice and still end up in Heaven.

For instance, those who are abused or suffered the fallout from abuse. Thos who were incredibly mal-treated by not only a parish, but by a dioceses. Sometimes without a good foundation, without a fruitful faith, one can ascribe things to it that it is not.

My biological parents were Catholic. They were very evil people. Had I not been adopted, I would of probably always associated the Catholic faith with evil people who go to church–and are “pillars” of their community but do evil behind closed doors.

This would have been the case, even more, had my adoptive parents been anything besides Catholic and had they not taken me to Lifeteen to try and convince me that Catholics were not evil. It’s funny, because at the time they were looking for an easy way to ensure I went to church and they didn’t have to have an argument. They weren’t even all that faithful or active in their parish. However, Lifeteen turned into a huge experience for our whole family and changed my Dad’s spiritual life quite drastically. Unfortunately, having been raised as “lukewarm” Catholics my brothers did not experience this. They have some genuine gripes and some mis-education and some angst towards the whole thing.

My older brother has come to a point where he is respectful of Catholicism but prefers to worship in a church without a “centralized” government. My middle brother has no religion. He won’t acknowledge God and he lives a purely atheistic lifestyle. My youngest brother is empathetic towards the Church, doesn’t really believe they are “right” but believes they are more “right” than any other religion. So he goes when he can to pay homage to their “correctness”.

This was all a result of a very poor version of Catholocism passed down from my grandparents to my parents. My grandparents have 15 grandchildren. Myself and one of my younger cousins are the only ones who actually practice, even though all my aunts and uncles do. There’s alot to be said for the wasteland of the faith that occured during the American 70’s.

 

[Cruciferi]

I would argue nowadays with the amount of information available no one could plead ignorance to reduce their culpability. Perhaps having severe deficiencies in the formation of their faith could reduce the sin of leaving the Church. However, if a person truly knows that the Church is central to reaching heaven and they commit the sin of apostasy anyways it could be a sin against the Holy Spirit. Especially if they go to the grave in a state of unrepentance. I firmly believe this kind of situation is in Gods hands. He will judge the persons culpability and merits.

 

[1Lord1Faith]

Salvation is a matter of the heart. It’s not about form, location or institutions.

That being said, the Catholic Church was insituted by Christ for this very purpose. To dispose the heart to a receiving of God.