Does it really matter being Catholic?

[TexanKnight]

I have enjoyed, and been edified, by your responses.

I am in no crisis of faith. I simply have witnessed a lot of good believers (non-Catholic) leading great and Godly lives and wondered, especially because I see the strength they receive from fellowship.

I do wish there was more fellowship. I think faith is strengthened when there is fellowship. My parish does not have much in that area and I hunger for it.

Thank you all so much for responding.

 

[Alizarin]

?.. And Islam, or any other religion besides Catholicism (except perhaps Eastern Orthodoxy), is certainly less efficacious in getting people to heaven. We have the Sacraments to bring us closer to God and forgive our sins, so we’ve got the easiest possible way to heaven.

That’s essentially what I said, and many here strongly disagreed. So which Catholic do I believe? You and the pope seems to say one thing, the others say something different…

 

[Fevronia]

That’s essentially what I said, and many here strongly disagreed. So which Catholic do I believe? You and the pope seems to say one thing, the others say something different…

You have to go with Church teaching (which I quoted in Post #38). The reason why the Church engaged in evangelizing was not because it thought of other religions as non-efficient. It was because the risk of falling in to error and losing ones way is what will result if one truly follows a different religion.

So a Buddhist who is truly Buddhist to the core will fall in to errors like “there is no absolute reality”, a belief in the reincarnation, and other sorts of errors. When a person is truly Buddhist, one will contemplate these truths and shape ones life accordingly. So a person who believes in reincarnation and a Karma system may not feel that much remorse over a sinful act. They may be willing to commit the act and then offset it with good deeds. The person may not also see any acts as worthy of repenting. They will just do some good deeds and consider it covered. In this way, one can very easily end up damning oneself. Here Buddhism acts as an impediment for the person to seek the truth even when conscience and reason might at times suggest that there is something wrong with what they believe.

Now you may say maybe we can presume absolute ignorance. The truth is we cannot. It may well be the case that they have already received sufficient Grace to know what they do is wrong but are still following it due to a lack of an alternative. So it is our duty then to give the message of Christ to them.

 

[Fevronia]

I can only repeat that this is my own personal hope and belief–though I sort of think that even Pope Francis may agree based on things he has said. The rules Jesus gave when asked what was required for someone to get to heaven were that one must love God with their whole mind and heart–and their neighbor as themselves. I don’t remember an addendum that He said “And oh yes, you must be Catholic cause everyone else is going to hell in a hand basket.” I certainly agree though that we must share our faith with as many as possible, hoping that they too will grow to believe. I suspect that God, in His mercy and wisdom, may have some plan for those people who have never been exposed to the Catholic faith–and in some cases maybe not even to Christianity. I don’t believe that God creates out of malice—and what could be more malicious than if for instance, a child were born into one of the closed prison camps in North Korea, never introduced to any form of Christianity, and when that child finally died, God were to stand there waiting and smiling as He tossed them into hell? The beauty is, however, that non of us mortals know God’s mind—so we should pray for everyone–Catholics, protestants, buddhists, and yes–even atheists! You’d agree with that, right?

Well, first thing I have to say is that you have to understand why Catholics have said that not many will be saved for so many years. Christ did say that the gate is narrow and many will not enter (as quoted by Jon S). We should also be careful of presuming what the Holy Father may have in his mind apart from what he plainly says.

When Christ said ‘one must love God with their whole mind and heart–and their neighbor as themselves’, if we understand his words we see where the Church features in all of this. The word “love” means to do good to the other. What is good is to do the will of God. We know the will of God and how he has ordered this world through Divine Revelation as taught by the Church. Other religions only have shades of the truth mixed with errors that can lead one further away from the truth.

So inside the Church, one can be certain of attaining salvation if one perseveres to the end in being obedient to her. Outside of the Church, no one will be saved by following their own religion obediently. They will only be saved in so far as they listen to their conscience and what their religions hold in common with the Catholic Church, then answer the Grace God gives them. Not many will do that because of the errors in their faith that lead them away from the truth and the work of the devil in the world.

So it is good to pray that all be saved. But we should not let that hope ever become a detriment to our work of evangelizing others and combating heresy. Our hope that all be saved is not a “Theological Hope” since God has made no such promise to us. We can only have a human hope.

 

[Alizarin]

You have to go with Church teaching

I thought I was Because this is what I’ve read in the CCC:

*818 However, one cannot charge with the sin of the separation those who at present are born into these communities [that resulted from such separation] and in them are brought up in the faith of Christ, and the Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers . . . . All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church."

838 The Church knows that she is joined in many ways to the baptized who are honored by the name of Christian, but do not profess the Catholic faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity or communion under the successor of Peter."322 Those "who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church

839 "Those who have not yet received the Gospel are related to the People of God in various ways.

841 The Church’s relationship with the Muslims: 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.

843 The Catholic Church recognizes in other religions that search, among shadows and images, for the God who is unknown yet near since he gives life and breath and all things and wants all men to be saved. Thus, the Church considers all goodness and truth found in these religions as "a preparation for the Gospel and given by him who enlightens all men that they may at length have life.

847 This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church: Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation.*

Official Curch teaching seems to be pretty clear. And Pope Francis affirmed this in his letter to the famous atheist in the Italian newspaper:

"First of all, you ask if the God of the Christians forgives those who do not believe and do not seek faith. Given that - and this is fundamental - God’s mercy has no limits if he who asks for mercy does so in contrition and with a sincere heart, the issue for those who do not believe in God is in obeying their own conscience"

After reading all that, I don’t see why it matters if a person is Catholic beyond that for particular individuals suited to encountering God in a particularly Cartholic way it may be the most spiritually fulfilling path. Do those passages from the CCC say something different to you?

 

[TRH1292]

We can summarize Catholic teaching on the salvific nature of the Church in 13 points:

1. God strongly desires every Human being to be saved.
2. God sent Jesus to die for every human being.
3. Christ established the Catholic Church and the Sacrifice of Mass and the other sacraments especially Baptism for the salvation of the world.
4. God’s perfect will for every human being is that they may enter in the Church through Baptism and be saved.
5. The Catholic Church is the only ark of Salvation God established and joining it is the only sure path of salvation.
6. Not all have access to the Church, and not all have a proper understanding due to outstanding circumstances , such as how they were raised, to the truth of the Catholic Church. It’s a confusing world.
7. But because of #1 and #2, God gives every person a chance to be saved. God gives every single person sufficient grace to be saved, regardless of if they know about the Church.
8. People who respond to his Grace may be joined to the Church mystically by a Baptism of Desire if they truly seek the will of God, because God is merciful, even if this desire is only implicit.
9. Those who are saved with this Baptism of Desire, or saved by being a non-catholic Christian who was ignorant of these truths, are still saved through the Catholic Church. They are saved from Grace that comes from the catholic sacraments and the sacrifice of Mass and prayers of the Church. They are united to the Church fully in heaven.
10. Outside of the visible structures and sacraments of the Church, there can be no definite assurance of salvation.
11. The Church hopes that in God’s mercy all may respond to his graces that he gives to all and be saved, even if perhaps at death. Even if this is unlikely, the church hopes and prays for the salvation of all people.
12. For those who knowingly reject the Catholic Church with enough evidence to reasonably know it is true have absolutely no hope for salvation unless they repent, but we do not know who has reached such a point.
13. The Church does not know if any person or what persons have entered hell, or how many. This is simply not known.

 

[Jon_S_1]

I thought I was Because this is what I’ve read in the CCC:

818 However, one cannot charge with the sin of the separation those who at present are born into these communities [that resulted from such separation] and in them are brought up in the faith of Christ, and the Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers . . . . All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church."

838 The Church knows that she is joined in many ways to the baptized who are honored by the name of Christian, but do not profess the Catholic faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity or communion under the successor of Peter."322 Those "who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church

839 "Those who have not yet received the Gospel are related to the People of God in various ways.

841 The Church’s relationship with the Muslims: 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.

843 The Catholic Church recognizes in other religions that search, among shadows and images, for the God who is unknown yet near since he gives life and breath and all things and wants all men to be saved. Thus, the Church considers all goodness and truth found in these religions as "a preparation for the Gospel and given by him who enlightens all men that they may at length have life.

847 This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church: Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation.

Official Curch teaching seems to be pretty clear. And Pope Francis affirmed this in his letter to the famous atheist in the Italian newspaper:

After reading all that, I don’t see why it matters if a person is Catholic beyond that for particular individuals suited to encountering God in a particularly Cartholic way it may be the most spiritually fulfilling path. Do those passages from the CCC say something different to you?

None if these quotes except in a way the last one indicate anything about going to heaven. They describe a relationship with the church.

News flash, not all Catholics go to heaven (or Purgatory) a great number will go to hell unfortunately. The same is true for other religions but to a much larger extent.

You can’t use quotes calling us not to judge or calling an earthly relationship between people and the church to say all roads lead to heaven.

That is quite the leap.

 

[John_Q_Sinner]

**Does it really matter being Catholic? **

Yes. The Catholic Faith has the fullness of Truth, which means outside of the Faith one cannot have a truly full relationship with God.

 

[Fevronia]

I thought I was Because this is what I’ve read in the CCC:

818 However, one cannot charge with the sin of the separation those who at present are born into these communities [that resulted from such separation] and in them are brought up in the faith of Christ, and the Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers . . . . All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church."

838 The Church knows that she is joined in many ways to the baptized who are honored by the name of Christian, but do not profess the Catholic faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity or communion under the successor of Peter."322 Those "who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church

839 "Those who have not yet received the Gospel are related to the People of God in various ways.

841 The Church’s relationship with the Muslims: 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.

843 The Catholic Church recognizes in other religions that search, among shadows and images, for the God who is unknown yet near since he gives life and breath and all things and wants all men to be saved. Thus, the Church considers all goodness and truth found in these religions as "a preparation for the Gospel and given by him who enlightens all men that they may at length have life.

847 This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church: Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation.

Official Curch teaching seems to be pretty clear. And Pope Francis affirmed this in his letter to the famous atheist in the Italian newspaper:

After reading all that, I don’t see why it matters if a person is Catholic beyond that for particular individuals suited to encountering God in a particularly Cartholic way it may be the most spiritually fulfilling path. Do those passages from the CCC say something different to you?

Look, none of the above quotes as Jon S has pointed out say if all outside the Church are saved because of their faith. To understand the answer to that question, you have to go to the source documents that the Catechism cites from. Those would be Vatican II documents which in turn cites other past documents of councils and Papal declarations.

I quoted to you the Vatican II teaching. I could and I am sure others on this forum can quote to you more strongly worded texts from prior to Vatican II as well if required.

Note that Pope Francis never answered the question as to whether atheists are saved by atheism. He for all purposes wrote a polite reply to the editor. Telling an atheists that he will end up in hell because of his atheism is not a conversation starter. Neither does it profit the Atheist to know that if he does not believe the Church as the true Church. After all, it does not make sense for one to be afraid of a superstitious threat of hell unless there is some reason to think the Church that is saying it as true. So our Holy Father exercised prudence in his letter. The editor asked the wrong question. He should have asked what reason Pope Francis can give the non-believers to become part of the Catholic Church. Instead he asked a question that would polarize the non-believers against him had he given the honest and comprehensive answer. Pope Francis played it safe.

But Catholics should know better because the Church has taught her position clearly for 2000 years. I am sure that is what Pope Francis is thinking too. He doesn’t expect you to learn the faith as a Catholic from the daily news paper.

The problem happens when Catholics try to use the material intended for non-Catholics and non-believers, to learn their faith. That is equivalent to an adult reading books intended for a toddler. A toddler is not told everything about a subject. Somethings are kept from them to be taught later. But not so for adults. The Church takes the same role in reaching out to the non-Catholic world vs. to her own. She uses more tender approach to reaching out to those outside while the clear and full doctrine is available for those inside in her Council decrees and Papal declarations.

The only reason why Vatican II at times sounds a bit ambiguous (if one does not read the footnotes) is that it was intended to be used for dialogue with non-Catholics. That is why the whole council has a “toned down” vibe. It is not meant for Catholics to tone themselves down too but to use the documents as a starting point for dialogue.

 

[Alizarin]

None if these quotes except in a way the last one indicate anything about going to heaven.

Actually, 841 and 847 both mention salvation.

 

[Fevronia]

Actually, 841 and 847 both mention salvation.

It mentions salvation but does not state if Muslims are saved by Islam (for an example). In fact, the whole Catechism never makes such a claim. But the interested reader should go to the Vatican II documents from which the Catechism cites these passages and then also proceed to look at the footnotes from which Vatican II derives its statements. That is how you better understand what the CCC is saying.

Then there is really no ambiguity. No one is saved outside of the Church because of their faith and adherence to their particular religion. That is not what the Church teaches.

Those who are saved are only saved because of what they share in common with the Catholic Church. The more they share in common the more chance they have. So a Jew/Muslim will have more of a chance than an Atheist. But because there are errors in every single one of these religions and blatant distortion (coupled with the continuous work of the devil to snare people away from God), the chance they will be lost is higher. That is why the Church considers it her duty to convert and preach to all men and women.

To give another analogy, it is like learning from a text book that has mistakes with others who are equally incompetent on the subject (non Catholics) VS learning from a good text with a certified instructor (Catholics). You are more likely to never learn the subject in the first way. Add to that a more powerful and tempting being (the devil) that is trying continuously to mislead you down the wrong path and the chances become even slimmer.

So I really do not understand what makes you think being Catholic is not a big deal.

 

[Jon_S_1]

Actually, 841 and 847 both mention salvation.

Yep the plan if salvation does start with EVERYONE acknowledging the creator.

This is step 1 of the road to salvation.

Equivalent to taking your first breath when born.

The road to salvation however is long and hard. Many will start out and few will finish.

St Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race”

Many Catholics will not finish the race.

This is why the graces obtained in the sacraments are so beneficial. They are Gods aid in helping us finish the race.

 

[steve_b]

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.

Just thinking outloud

If baprism automatically makes one Catholic and “in the Church” them Protestants regardless of stripe who have been baptised, could walk off the street and receive the sacraments of Penance, & particularly Eucharist in the Catholic Church. Since they can’t just walk off the street as a non Catholic, and do that, at least not untill they successfully go through RCIA and are received into the Church, then without that, they are outside the Church. As the bishops say, to be able to receive those sacraments as a non Catholic, would be to acknowledge a union that isn’t there. iow they are outside the Church
B2C:

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.

Part of, but not in the Church. And that has consequences

The other day, a protestant came to my front door. After the conversation had awhile to develop, I asked him, is your belief in Jesus or Protestantism? It can’t be both.

The reason I asked him that

Whether one wants to drop the name Protestand in favor of Evangelical or just Christian, they are Protestants in their history & heritage. God did NOT start Protestantism. Protestantism left the Catholic Church, Our Lord’s body that He established, that He builds, that He preserves, and gives all His promises to Matthew 16:16-19 . And He demands perfect unity. John 17:20-23 as in ZERO division of any kind.

When a system exists because they opposed Our Lord’s Church, then to remain in that system, to defend that system, to refuse to return home to the Catholic Church, is to believe more in their own protestant systems that THEY and THEIR founders developed, NOT in Jesus and what He established. If Jesus is really Lord of their life, they would return to the Church Jesus established asap. Especially since scripture ( John 16:12-15 Jesus ) condemns division from Our Lord’s Church and condemns those who do it and remain in division / dissent Romans 16:17-20 , Galatians 5:19-21 .

That’s why scripture and Tradition teach

846 outside the church no salvation

So that there is no confusion, the Church clarifies a particular issue (ignorance) so that no one misunderstands , or excuses themselves too quickly as an escape

1791 ignorance isn’t always innocent.

iow a person’s ignorance must be completely innocent and remain innocent. Because once a person knows the truth, they are no longer ignorant, and have to act on this knowledge.

 

[rightofcenter77]

I will say that, even as a devout Catholic, the Pope’s words, and the modern “teaching” from the Church is confusing. Some people walk away thinking that they don’t really have to try to seek out the truth, because the Church teaches that they may be saved anyway.

Logically, many of us believe that a person born in a remote location, with no knowledge of Christ, probably does not get sent to hell. Do we know for sure? No. What about those that have heard of Christ and reject it? What about those who knew but fell away?

I tend to sum the teaching up like this. Each of us has the desire for truth planted on our hearts. If we are humble, truly humble, and seek out God, we will find his Church or die trying. If we are not truly humble, then we may not. If we are so hardened in our hatred of Catholicism, for example, or so hardened in atheism, we may be ignoring our instinct to seek out God’s truth. THAT may be the path to Hell - thinking you know better and ignoring the truth planted within us. And the same could be said of those who are baptized and confirmed Catholics who intentionally ignore Church teaching, and all the way down to a person who has never heard of Christ. Are you seeking the truth, or are you hardened in your own stubbornness? I think only God knows these answers.

So, yes, it matters. If you are seeking the truth, truly and openly, I think you will find the Church because, in the end, it’s the only one that REALLY make sense. If you are hardened and stop seeking (like join a protestant group because it’s “easier”) then you may be condemning yourself.

Again - I am not judging, but only trying to explain what I THINK is the church’s current teaching. However, I’ll admit the Church has made this area very confusing.

Sean

 

[TexanKnight]

I will say that, even as a devout Catholic, the Pope’s words, and the modern “teaching” from the Church is confusing. Some people walk away thinking that they don’t really have to try to seek out the truth, because the Church teaches that they may be saved anyway.

Logically, many of us believe that a person born in a remote location, with no knowledge of Christ, probably does not get sent to hell. Do we know for sure? No. What about those that have heard of Christ and reject it? What about those who knew but fell away?

I tend to sum the teaching up like this. Each of us has the desire for truth planted on our hearts. If we are humble, truly humble, and seek out God, we will find his Church or die trying. If we are not truly humble, then we may not. If we are so hardened in our hatred of Catholicism, for example, or so hardened in atheism, we may be ignoring our instinct to seek out God’s truth. THAT may be the path to Hell - thinking you know better and ignoring the truth planted within us. And the same could be said of those who are baptized and confirmed Catholics who intentionally ignore Church teaching, and all the way down to a person who has never heard of Christ. Are you seeking the truth, or are you hardened in your own stubbornness? I think only God knows these answers.

So, yes, it matters. If you are seeking the truth, truly and openly, I think you will find the Church because, in the end, it’s the only one that REALLY make sense. If you are hardened and stop seeking (like join a protestant group because it’s “easier”) then you may be condemning yourself.

Again - I am not judging, but only trying to explain what I THINK is the church’s current teaching. However, I’ll admit the Church has made this area very confusing.

Sean

I hope no one took the OP thinking I was asking questions because attending somewhere was “easier”. I do not want an easier Church. Believing the right way should not be “easy”.

What I was talking about was the lack of fellowship seen in Protestant Churches, and, if a person follows God and is baptized, does it really matter where he or she attends?

 

[rightofcenter77]

I hope no one took the OP thinking I was asking questions because attending somewhere was “easier”. I do not want an easier Church. Believing the right way should not be “easy”.

What I was talking about was the lack of fellowship seen in Protestant Churches, and, if a person follows God and is baptized, does it really matter where he or she attends?

I didn’t take it that way at all. What I was trying to say is that many people reject Catholicism because they don’t like the Church’s teaching on birth control, for example. So, for them, it’s “easier” to not be Catholic.

Again, it speaks to what’s in someone’s heart. If you don’t find the Church because your heart is not open to the truth, I think that may not get you across the finish line. But that is for God to judge, not me.

Sean

 

[Richca]

Just thinking outloud

If baprism automatically makes one Catholic and "in the Church

 

[rightofcenter77]

Hi Steve and good post.
Here are a few of my thoughts. If a protestant or other is validly baptized in their church and if baptism makes one a member of the Mystical Body of Christ, and the Mystical Body of Christ is the Catholic Church, I do not see how this protestant or other can be at one and the same time a member of the Mystical Body of Christ and not a member.
It seems we need to acknowledge that there are degrees of membership or communion in the Catholic Church. A practicing catholic who is receiving the sacraments and adhering to the teaching of the Church has full membership or communion in the Church. The sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is a sign of this full communion. Our seperated brethern who have been validly baptized have a lesser degree of membership and communion with the Catholic Church.

 

[floresco]

After reading all that, I don’t see why it matters if a person is Catholic beyond that for particular individuals suited to encountering God in a particularly Cartholic way it may be the most spiritually fulfilling path. Do those passages from the CCC say something different to you?

There have been a lot of misinterpretations of the teaching on salvation found in the Catechism and the Council documents on which it is based. The Vatican, recognizing this, issued a clarifying document called Dominus Iesus: vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20000806_dominus-iesus_en.html Reading this will make clear that you have misunderstood what you read.

In particular note what is said starting in section 20:

Above all else, it must be firmly believed 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 (cf. Mk 16:16; Jn 3:5), and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through baptism as through a door”.77 This doctrine must not be set against the universal salvific will of God (cf. 1 Tim 2:4); “it is necessary to keep these two truths together, namely, the real possibility of salvation in Christ for all mankind and the necessity of the Church for this salvation”.7

Your opinion is refuted in section 21:

it is clear that it would be contrary to the faith to consider the Church as one way of salvation alongside those constituted by the other religions, seen as complementary to the Church or substantially equivalent to her,

See also in section 21:

One cannot attribute to these [other religions], however, a divine origin or an ex opere operato salvific efficacy, which is proper to the Christian sacraments.88 Furthermore, it cannot be overlooked that other rituals, insofar as they depend on superstitions or other errors (cf. 1 Cor 10:20-21), constitute an obstacle to salvation.89

In section 22 we see that Church teaching "rules out, in a radical way, that mentality of indifferentism “characterized by a religious relativism which leads to the belief that ‘one religion is as good as another’ ".

 

[Fevronia]

There have been a lot of misinterpretations of the teaching on salvation found in the Catechism and the Council documents on which it is based. The Vatican, recognizing this, issued a clarifying document called Dominus Iesus: vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20000806_dominus-iesus_en.html Reading this will make clear that you have misunderstood what you read.

In particular note what is said starting in section 20:

Your opinion is refuted in section 21:

See also in section 21:

In section 22 we see that Church teaching "rules out, in a radical way, that mentality of indifferentism “characterized by a religious relativism which leads to the belief that ‘one religion is as good as another’ ".

That was a good reply. I hadn’t read Dominus Iesus in that detail and I learned a lot from your post