Does it really matter being Catholic?

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The recent comment by Pope Francis regarding atheists got me thinking.

Does it really matter being Catholic?

We believe that one does not have to be Catholic to go to heaven.

I watch Duck Dynasty and love how they believe in God. How they lead presumed Godly lives. Will they be left out because they are not Catholic? I doubt it.

My grandmother and my mother-in-law are very devout Baptists…(well, my grandmother died earlier this year.). Never miss Church. Are they going to be left out of heaven because they are not Catholics? Apparently not.

So why be Catholic? Because it is the true Church? What does that matter if not required for salvation?

Because of the Eucharist? What does that matter if not required for salvation?

because it is the Church Jesus started? What does that matter if not required for salvation?

If I believe in God, follow the commandments, lead as Godly a life as possible, does it matter what Church I belong to?

I love being Catholic, but I miss the camaraderie that other Churches offer. Face it, the Catholic Church is not big on fellowship.

So why be Catholic? It has to be for more than just tradition. Doesn’t it?
 
Yes, being Catholic matters and the Pope is not saying that it does not. Being a member of the Catholic Church is the only way to be saved that we know about. While God is not limited to what we know about, we are. We cannot base our actions on the assumption that we can ignore the means of salvation that God has revealed to us.

Why be Catholic? Because this is the religion that most accurately and completely teaches the truth, makes the most graces available, and is the surest path to salvation.
 
Yes, being Catholic matters and the Pope is not saying that it does not. Being a member of the Catholic Church is the only way to be saved that we know about. While God is not limited to what we know about, we are. We cannot base our actions on the assumption that we can ignore the means of salvation that God has revealed to us.
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Why be Catholic? Because this is the religion that most accurately and completely teaches the truth, makes the most graces available, and is the surest path to salvation.
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👍 I couldn’t have said it better.

Most people who are not Catholic do not understand the truth behind the Church’s teachings. Therefore I do not think they can be held guilty of rejecting it. Besides that’s for God to judge.
 
floresco said:
Yes, being Catholic matters and the Pope is not saying that it does not. Being a member of the Catholic Church is the only way to be saved that we know about. While God is not limited to what we know about, we are. We cannot base our actions on the assumption that we can ignore the means of salvation that God has revealed to us.

Why be Catholic? Because this is the religion that most accurately and completely teaches the truth, makes the most graces available, and is the surest path to salvation.
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I understand what you are saying. but even the CCC says that we do not teach that only Catholics go to heaven.

So, aside from Tradition, why is it important? If people love and believe in God, are baptized, and keep the commandments, and do all we are told to do, why does it matter?

Not trying to argue here. Trying to understand.
 
The thing you are forgetting is that all Christians are Catholic, because there is only one church. There are those who are not in full communion with the church, which is unfortunate, but even if they don’t want to recognize it, they are still part of the church that Christ established on earth with Peter. There is no other church. Christ established only one. To believe in Christ is to be part of his church, even if you don’t want to be fully in the church.
 
“my God, I am heartily sorry for having
offended You and I detest all my sins,
because I fear the loss of heaven and the
pains of hell, but most of all because they
offend You, my God, who are all good and
deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve,
with the help of Your grace, to confess my
sins, to do penance and to amend my life.
amen.” Act of contrition

You are a Catholic because that’s what you believe in and because you love your God, most of all.

If non- Catholics and non-believers can gain heaven somehow that shouldn’t raises anger or makes you feel less for what you believe.
 
Christ said, If you love Me, you will follow My commandments."

Baltimore Catechism: Q. Why did God make us? A. God made us to know Him, to love Him, to serve Him in this world so we could be happy with Him in the next. (iirc!)

The Church teaches us about God so that we can know Him; what Christs’s commandments are and how best to follow them, iow, how best to love Him; and how best to serve Him.

In addition, the Church gives us the sacraments, visible signs which confer grace. Grace is very necessary for salvation, as we cannot attain Heaven by our own efforts but need God’s help, or grace.

Since being a good Catholic is the one sure way to Heaven, and since we receive so much help from the Church in attaining Heaven, being Catholic is very important.

The Church has never forbidden us to pray for those who die apparently outside the Church, but we know God is perfectly just and not bound by the sacraments, so we understand that those who seem not to be Catholic at their time of death might possibly be united with the Church because of their love for what has been revealed to them as God and cooperation with the graces they received.
 
TexanKnight said:
I understand what you are saying. but even the CCC says that we do not teach that only Catholics go to heaven.

So, aside from Tradition, why is it important? If people love and believe in God, are baptized, and keep the commandments, and do all we are told to do, why does it matter?

Not trying to argue here. Trying to understand.
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lf
(within
the church), your answer lies in the very question you posted which means you are right there with the truth! when we believe god we need to be baptized (by the church, wwe keep the commandments including attending church! we repent we need to be loosed of our sins by priests, as established by Christ himself… we must eat Christ flesh (unless you eat of my flesh you have no life in you) , as Eternal bread for our souls (within the church)… everything a Christian needs is within the church! the universal catholic church established by Christ… we are blessed to have the church! find joy in it there are many fellowship programs and we have the most historical and profound messages from the vaticans church founders, saints etc. world wide! heaven wide!
 
TexanKnight said:
The recent comment by Pope Francis regarding atheists got me thinking.

Does it really matter being Catholic?

We believe that one does not have to be Catholic to go to heaven.

I watch Duck Dynasty and love how they believe in God. How they lead presumed Godly lives. Will they be left out because they are not Catholic? I doubt it.

My grandmother and my mother-in-law are very devout Baptists…(well, my grandmother died earlier this year.). Never miss Church. Are they going to be left out of heaven because they are not Catholics? Apparently not.

So why be Catholic? Because it is the true Church? What does that matter if not required for salvation?

Because of the Eucharist? What does that matter if not required for salvation?

because it is the Church Jesus started? What does that matter if not required for salvation?

If I believe in God, follow the commandments, lead as Godly a life as possible, does it matter what Church I belong to?

I love being Catholic, but I miss the camaraderie that other Churches offer. Face it, the Catholic Church is not big on fellowship.

So why be Catholic? It has to be for more than just tradition. Doesn’t it?
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If you’re trying to get from Alaska to Florida, why would you want a car or an airplane? It’s possible to get there by walking. A car or plane can get you there much more easily, but what does that matter?
 
TexanKnight said:
I understand what you are saying. but even the CCC says that we do not teach that only Catholics go to heaven.

So, aside from Tradition, why is it important? If people love and believe in God, are baptized, and keep the commandments, and do all we are told to do, why does it matter?

Not trying to argue here. Trying to understand.
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Let’s look at what the Catechism says: 848 "Although in ways known to himself God can lead those who, through no fault of their own, are ignorant of the Gospel, to that faith without which it is impossible to please him, the Church still has the obligation and also the sacred right to evangelize all men."3

God can somehow save people who appear to be outside the Catholic Church but that does not mean that He will in any given case. We do not know how it happens. It is a matter of speculation. It would be presumptuous to assume that anyone and everyone is saved. We are obliged to act on what has been revealed about salvation: all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body The Catechism quotes Lumen Gentium:Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it.

Being Catholic matters because this is the means of salvation that was revealed by God. To know about it and to nevertheless refuse to be Catholic is to disobey God.
 
I am Catholic and Christian and that will never change! In my heart of hearts I cannot believe that we as Catholics are the only followers of Christ (Christians) that will ever get the opportunity to gain heaven if free of sin because we are solely Catholic Christians. I truly believe it is both arrogant and sinful to believe that WE as Catholics preempt any/all other followers of Christ (Christians) and His Word in getting into Heaven.

No one should second guess God’s Will in matters of who goes to Heaven and why, if we do then aren’t we guilty of casting the first stone?

I heard a homily once where the PRIEST said, and I quote, " There are people in this Church that will not be in Heaven. There are people who are not in this Church that will be in Heaven…"

Mike
 
Mikeydell said:
I am Catholic and Christian and that will never change! In my heart of hearts I cannot believe that we as Catholics are the only followers of Christ (Christians) that will ever get the opportunity to gain heaven if free of sin because we are solely Catholic Christians. I truly believe it is both arrogant and sinful to believe that WE as Catholics preempt any/all other followers of Christ (Christians) and His Word in getting into Heaven.

No one should second guess God’s Will in matters of who goes to Heaven and why, if we do then aren’t we guilty of casting the first stone?

I heard a homily once where the PRIEST said, and I quote, " There are people in this Church that will not be in Heaven. There are people who are not in this Church that will be in Heaven…"

Mike
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I think that you should be looking to Church teaching, such as that given in the Catechism, rather than basing your comments on what you believe in your heart of hearts. Your personal beliefs could be wrong while Church teaching is true.
 
What is most important to me in the Catholic Church is the Eucharist – by receiving it daily (if possible) Jesus is with me always.
I also want to comment onTexanKnight’s comment that the Catholic Church is not big on fellowship – Texan Knight should attend the daily Mass at my Church – almost everyone gets together after Mass and engages in “lots” of talk and fellowship.
 
Dear TexanKnight,

This is one question I have struggled with since Vatican II. Before the 1960’s, it sounded as if Rome was quite secure about herself being the One True Church, but since that era we have heard oddly-phrased things. Protestants are now “ecclesial communities”, and the Orthodox communities are just flat-out recognized as being “Churches”, of their own accord and in their own right. I am not so sure you would’ve heard this coming from anyone in the Catholic Episcopate 300 years ago.

By the way, the Catholic Church is actually big on fellowship, but in the Mediterranean sense: coffee and cakes after Mass, and strong individual friendships. If you mean “fellowship” in the Protestant sense of Bible studies, mens’ groups, womens’ groups, summer camps for kids, big events with many strangers together, etc., you must consider whether a lot of those are actually what they say they are. Fellowship is in the intentions and actions of friends, not in the activity done by itself.
BarbG said:
What is most important to me in the Catholic Church is the Eucharist – by receiving it daily (if possible) Jesus is with me always…
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The Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, and some High Anglicans (1930s Dutch Lineage) can say the same thing about their own valid Holy Communion - and with the approval of Rome! This only pushes the question back: does it really matter being specifically Roman Catholic?
 
WRT camaraderie, I think there is a lack of it is that Catholic social customs develiped at a time when everyone in the area of the church was Catholic. Fellowship was all around! But Mass was different–Mass was where you went to visit *God, *so people were focused on Him rather than each other.

Unfortunately, we are now all diffused into the wider society. Catholics seem to be slowly making changes, starting little groups, getting together after Mass, bit I agree it’s tough. Sometimes one just wants human friends as well as God.
 
floresco said:
yes, being catholic matters and the pope is not saying that it does not. Being a member of the catholic church is the only way to be saved that we know about. While god is not limited to what we know about, we are. We cannot base our actions on the assumption that we can ignore the means of salvation that god has revealed to us.

Why be catholic? Because this is the religion that most accurately and completely teaches the truth, makes the most graces available, and is the surest path to salvation.
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amen :d
 
TexanKnight said:
The recent comment by Pope Francis regarding atheists got me thinking.

Does it really matter being Catholic?

We believe that one does not have to be Catholic to go to heaven.

I watch Duck Dynasty and love how they believe in God. How they lead presumed Godly lives. Will they be left out because they are not Catholic? I doubt it.

My grandmother and my mother-in-law are very devout Baptists…(well, my grandmother died earlier this year.). Never miss Church. Are they going to be left out of heaven because they are not Catholics? Apparently not.

So why be Catholic? Because it is the true Church? What does that matter if not required for salvation?

Because of the Eucharist? What does that matter if not required for salvation?

because it is the Church Jesus started? What does that matter if not required for salvation?

If I believe in God, follow the commandments, lead as Godly a life as possible, does it matter what Church I belong to?

I love being Catholic, but I miss the camaraderie that other Churches offer. Face it, the Catholic Church is not big on fellowship.

So why be Catholic? It has to be for more than just tradition. Doesn’t it?
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I think it depends on what it matters for. Since the focus of Christianity appears to be eternal salvation, I suppose that for Catholics it does matter since, apart from invincible ignorance (however that may be defined), salvation is based only on Jesus and His revelation to the Church. Further, Catholics have all the Sacraments to help them in aspiring toward and achieving salvation. OTOH, Catholics may be held to a higher standard since they have all these advantages.

If, however, the question involves being Catholic for the purpose of living a good life here on earth, probably that matters less than for salvation according to the Church, since people of good faith and well-formed conscience who follow the golden rule in their daily lives can live as good people, even if they are not good Catholics, or Christians, or even believers.

From the perspective of other religions, no doubt being Catholic does not matter. In the case of Judaism, it does not matter either in a positive or negative direction since Judaism believes that all good people will share in the World to Come and that the moral behavior of righteous people trumps their specific faith in Judaism. One might then ask the question why be Jewish, but that is the topic for another thread.
 
floresco said:
Yes, being Catholic matters and the Pope is not saying that it does not. Being a member of the Catholic Church is the only way to be saved that we know about. While God is not limited to what we know about, we are. We cannot base our actions on the assumption that we can ignore the means of salvation that God has revealed to us.

Why be Catholic? Because this is the religion that most accurately and completely teaches the truth, makes the most graces available, and is the surest path to salvation.
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Then is it just a matter of ease? That is, it’s not impossible for a non-Catholic to get to heaven, but it’s harder, so if you want the easier way, go with the Catholic Church? I see what you’re saying, it makes sense. But it’s not a compelling case to make for conversion. And in fact, the other paths may be easier (in the sense of more efficient) in other ways, depending on the person.
 
A quote from OurSundayVisitor.com

If you scanned the news headlines May 22, you may have thought Pope Francis radically altered Church teaching. CNN reported, “Heaven for Atheists? Pope Sparks Debate.” Huffington Post claimed, “Pope Francis Says Atheists Who Do Good Are Redeemed, Not Just Catholics.”

But what did the pope really say? Did he suggest all atheists are redeemed? And if so, is this a shift in Catholic teaching?

To begin, we must examine the pope’s remarks in context. He was reflecting on Mark 9:38-40, where the disciples complain to Jesus: “We saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus calmly responded, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.”

Pope Francis explained that Jesus’ answer was meant partly to correct the false notion that only religious people can do good. “This [belief] was wrong,” the pope said. “Jesus broadens the horizon … The root of this possibility of doing good — that we all have — is in creation.”

But then he continued:

“[A]ll of us have this commandment at heart: Do good and do not do evil. All of us. ‘But, Father, this [person] is not Catholic! He cannot do good.’ Yes, he can … The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! ‘Father, the atheists?’ Even the atheists. Everyone! … We must meet one another doing good. ‘But I don’t believe, Father, I am an atheist!’ But do good: We will meet one another there.”
 
I guess I have to state this another way.

As Catholics, we believe in ONE church. We believe it is holy. We believe it is catholic (universal). We believe it is apostolic.

We do not believe in many churches. Only one. Christ established only one. Anyone who believes in Christ is part of that church, even if they protest against certain aspects of the church. People such as those are not in full communion with the church, but they are still part of it.

When we say the profession of faith, we are not claiming that our church is the best among many. We are claiming there is only one. There are no other churches. Those who protest against the church (protestants) are still part of the one church that Christ established, because they believe in him. They are simply not FULLY in the church.
 
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