K
KindredSoul
Guest
No, I had no specific immorality in mind. Like I said, I’m not sure what might apply, just considering the possibilities and exploring the full extent of why I don’t know one way or the other if a given individual has left “through no fault of their own,” so I can neither condemn them nor be overly optimistic. I must reserve judgment of individuals completely. I guess, for the sake of an example that sort of tells what I’m getting at (but it’s hard to explain it fully): What if a Catholic, just out of curiosity, started going to a Protestant Bible study at an anti-Catholic church, despite knowing that the Church would frown on such a thing? What if seeds of doubts were planted that ultimately consume the person, and eventually they are honestly convinced of Sola Scriptura? It’s true, they’re genuinely convinced, and in that sense a person might say it’s not their fault. On the other hand, if they hadn’t done something they knew a Catholic shouldn’t do, those seeds of doubt wouldn’t have been planted, so even though this is a past mistake, one might technically say it was their own fault. It could be something subtler than that, too, which is why I can never know someone’s exact degree (if any) of fault in such a situation without reading their minds or pasts, perhaps better than they themselves do (what if, for instance, the person in the example forgets about that fateful Bible study, but the damage is already done due to their willful mistake?). Which would God deem to be the measure of judgment? That’s what I don’t know. I hope and even suspect that it’s the former, [seemingly] more merciful standard, but if I am wrong I do not want to have misled anyone. That’s why I cannot judge it at all.
I probably answered this just now above: I’m not saying that. I’m saying I have no way of knowing, ever, whether or not a given individual who left the Church “brought it on themselves.” Maybe they did, maybe they didn’t. Assuming the former leads to judgmentalism. Assuming the latter leads to presumption. The point is I just don’t know, and I’m not sure there’s any possible way to find out since, as in the example above, it’s possible that they themselves don’t know anymore if it is in fact their fault. So as for me, I’ll withhold judgment on their motive and level of fault, especially when I do not have the necessary information to know their intentions.
Nor do I.
It’s a rather wise sentiment, I think, one that I actually first picked up from an Orthodox lady back in my Protestant days. It seems that, in the past century, the Catholic Church has reconciled such a view with the “Outside of the Church There is No Salvation” teaching via a different interpretation of the latter than was applied in times past. The passages in the Catechism about the hope that exists for non-Catholics reflects the reconciliation between these two concepts. I believe it was Divine Providence, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that kept the infallibly proclaimed elements of this Teaching (as opposed to individual opinions of it) just barely open enough to be interpretted in this way, which I believe the Holy Spirit has now led the Church to take advantage of.Well this sounds down right “orthodox”…like they say, they know where salvation is, but not where it is not.
True. I am tempted to think that this is true of ANTI-Catholics who are ex-Catholics (it’s just so obvious that Catholicism is Christian, even if you don’t think it’s THE Church, so it seems that if they must be dealing with a false image of what Catholicism is), but for someone who just leaves the Church but doesn’t necessarily distort what we believe in, it’s possible that a person could do so despite knowing about Catholicism’s beliefs accurately. Sometimes, we Catholics (and people of all beliefs, actually) are prone to doing the same thing many (but not all) Atheists are known for: Assuming that everyone who disagrees with us must simply not have or pay attention to the necessary facts that would surely have opened their eyes. As for me, I’m not so sure that there would be room for faith if there were some indesputable “necessary facts” lying around to ensure that each and every person privy to them absolutely would believe in Catholicism. If there is to be room for faith, there must be room for doubt, and if there is room for doubt, there is always the possibility that someone might genuinely not be convinced of what we believe.
I don’t think there’s any need to apologize. Your situation is similar to the OP, like you say, so therefore your situation and concern is completely relevant to the thread.
Blessings in Christ,
KindredSoul
for whatever reasons) we find ourselves lowering ourselves to their levels just to get along… reacting to them w/ anger and revenge… you name it… and so we are perpetually stained by sin… and entirely incapabl of entering Heaven in that condtion If anyone went to Heaven without going thro Purgation 1st… it would NOT be Heaven anymore… Is God going to put up with that?