Does one have to be Catholic to enter heaven?

[penadm57]

A friend of mine in his 70’s converted to Catholicism when he was a teenager. He says that he was told by a very good priest (who also taught me many years later)that one had to be catholic to enter heaven.

I don’t think that this teaching is entirely correct. I suspect that the doctrine of the Baptism of desire is relevant here. Please clarify the Catholic teaching for me.

Thanks.

 

[Leonie_Ambrose]

penadm57,

The following links should assist you in better understanding the Catholic Church’s teaching on salvation for non-Catholics. If you have any further questions or concerns that are not answered by these links, please [contact Catholic Answers (http://www.catholic.com/home/contact.asp) directly.**

****Recommended Reading: **

• [Salvation (http://www.catholic.com/library/salvation.asp) from the Catholic Answers Library
• *[*Extra ecclesiam nulla salus ** (http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=2802)
• [**Salvation Outside of the Church ** (http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=143)
• [**What is invincible ignorance? ** (http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=48661)