Evangelical Beliefs

[Cinette]

But how can you say this with assurance when other catholics disagree? It would seem to me that your differences negate the idea that the rcc is the only church because there is no division like with protestants because there is only one teaching. If that is the case, why are so many catholics divided?

The CC has one teaching and stands by their teaching.

Unfortunately there will be Catholics who are ignorant of their Faith and will not agree with this or that.

One cannot say that Faith is a matter of opinion or “I don’t agree”. The Church and its Teaching Authority are guided by the Spirit. We have to obey. That is the way it is and if you think about it you might agree. Jesus instructed and empowered the Apostles and this empowerment was handed down thru Apostolic Succession.

Note that the Apostles themselves never mentioned the words Trinity or Incarnation. These dogmas were developed over time by the Doctors of the Church and the Magisterium as they studied the scriptures - the concepts of the Trinity and the Incarnation are embedded in the scriptures.

These are my thoughts. I am not an expert but am trying to learn about my Faith which I find very exciting. If I say anything which is not correct I am sure that a Moderator will correct me!

Blessings

 

[reteeks21]

The CC has one teaching and stands by their teaching.

Unfortunately there will be Catholics who are ignorant of their Faith and will not agree with this or that.

One cannot say that Faith is a matter of opinion or “I don’t agree”. The Church and its Teaching Authority are guided by the Spirit. We have to obey. That is the way it is and if you think about it you might agree. Jesus instructed and empowered the Apostles and this empowerment was handed down thru Apostolic Succession.

Note that the Apostles themselves never mentioned the words Trinity or Incarnation. These dogmas were developed over time by the Doctors of the Church and the Magisterium as they studied the scriptures - the concepts of the Trinity and the Incarnation are embedded in the scriptures.

These are my thoughts. I am not an expert but am trying to learn about my Faith which I find very exciting. If I say anything which is not correct I am sure that a Moderator will correct me!

Blessings

Points well taken, but how can this be considering that at one time the “chair” said that there is no salvation outside the rcc, but other popes have said that is not true? That seems like that there is no continuity.

 

[Cinette]

Points well taken, but how can this be considering that at one time the “chair” said that there is no salvation outside the rcc, but other popes have said that is not true? That seems like that there is no continuity.

Remember that I am no expert but here are my :twocents: worth.

To say that there is no salvation outside the Church is the same as saying that only thru Christ can you get to the Father. It is correct. However, there is a wider interpretation which says that people of other faiths, thru no fault of their own, who love God and obey His commandments can also achieve salvation.

Actually I have other theories as well which are very interesting but I don’t have time. My son has just arrived by airplane from another city and I must dash.

Talk to you again:yup:

 

[Rocky]

Reteeks 21 asks which one of us is “right”. I think that when we discuss things in this forum it is a mistake to have to always have it be right or wrong with one another. Because each of us may be seeing only half of what is being discussed.

That being said, it is always to our advantage and blessing to affirm what the magisterium teaches, even if we may see things a little different. And this reason is because the magisterium has been given authority in these matters. If the magisterium says one thing at one time, and then expands on it later on, it just means that through the Holy Spirit and study, the picture has become a little clearer. I think in photography when one is developing the picture, the more light that is given to the negative, the clearer it will become (not enough light will make it dark). This analogy is very poor, I am sure.

As to people of other faiths being able to achieve their salvation, as Cinetta states, I do not think the Church teaches this. I believe the Church teaches that we do not know what God will do to others who have done their best in these other faith traditions, but we do know that our God is merciful, so there is hope that they may be saved. This is an important teaching, I think, especially for converts from another faith — it gives them hope for their families who have died without ever having the opportunity to know Christ. I do believe that all salvation comes from Jesus Christ, and all who enter into God’s presence do so through the mercy shown because of Christ’s actions in His passion, death and resurrection, and not through the achievements of any individual.

That being said, it is important that those who have been brought into the normative way of becoming a part of God’s family should conform themselves in every way possible to following Christ, taking up their cross, and keeping faith with Him and His Church.

 

[mmplps7783]

Ypu guys a freaking me out. Are you telling me (I’m a baby chrstian so be gentle) that if I die and never believe in the practices of the catholic church I’m going to hell!!?

 

[Rawb]

Ypu guys a freaking me out. Are you telling me (I’m a baby chrstian so be gentle) that if I die and never believe in the practices of the catholic church I’m going to hell!!?

If you realized that the Catholic Church was right, that her doctrines were correct, and she was established by Christ, but you then for whatever reason refused to join her, then your soul would be in a grave situation. That would be a mortal sin.

Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus just means that all grace that God pours out on this world He does so through the Catholic Church. It’s like the Church is a hose from Heaven down, and the grace of God comes down through that hose.

After all, if you were to die a non-Catholic and go to purgatory, would it not be the prayers of Catholics who would help you obtain Heaven?

Everyone in Heaven is Catholic.

 

[mmplps7783]

Pardon me for feeling offended but my grandmother was a very fine christian but she was not catholic. That statement about everyone that is in heaven is catholic seems very wrong to me. Therefore you are saying my grandmother can’t possibly be in heaven since whe wasn’t a catholic. HMMM…that is one of the attitudes that keeps me from organized religion. It seems like that attitude would fall under the category of the pharisees and the adultress.
I am still trying to learn about purgatory but currently I don’t beleive in it.

 

[Rawb]

Therefore you are saying my grandmother can’t possibly be in heaven since whe wasn’t a catholic.

No I’m not. I’m saying that when she gets to Heaven she’ll be Catholic.

Purgatory is the final scrub down before we get to Heaven. When we die, are we perfect? No. Is everyone in Heaven perfect? Yes. Does something happen between the time of our death and our enterance to Heaven that makes us perfect? Apparently. That is Purgatory.

By the time you come out on the other side of Purgatory, you are in complete agreement with the teachings of The Church. You are Catholic. So everyone in Heaven is Catholic.

 

[ohioszo]

[Also, I have been told many times that the reason why the rcc is correct is because their is no division in it, that they are united, and this is the basis for claiming that the protestant church is false and heretical. Well, if you say one thing and your popes say another, where is the unity in that? It would seem that one of you is wrong.
[/QUOTE]

We are always in agreement with the Pope. I often had the feeling that the Pope and I were rather close, as when something is on my mind, and it comes out in a homily or talk of theirs. Then they may address something that offers God’s mercy to us when we sin. Of course, encyclicals are quite thorough, and may not be always read by us. We don’t expect what is said to be any different then what we know in our hearts, and to read them is something that is a great experience of Faith. All Catholics would agree with me, I think.