Is it a sin to believe that only Catholics go to heaven..?

[TEPO]

There have been alot of Catholics throughout history, and even some today who believe that only Catholics, exclusively, can go to heaven…

Are these Catholics living in sin…?

 

[lbetson]

Only our Dear Lord Jesus can see into the hearts of men.

I love my Catholic faith, but I find it hard to believe that such a loving, merciful, tender, forgiving God would make being Catholic a criteria for obtaining heaven. There are people, I’m sure, in remote parts of the world, who by ignorance have never even heard of our dear Lord Jesus, who are probably living more of the Christian virtues then some Catholics I know.

I would say it is sinful to rise above men, cast judgement, and look down on our fellow brothers and sisters. We are to be lowly and humble. Jesus came here for the spiritually sick and is the Divine Physician. As Mother Teresa has said, “each one of them is Jesus in disguise”.

 

[Joe_5859]

There have been alot of Catholics throughout history, and even some today who believe that only Catholics, exclusively, can go to heaven…

Are these Catholics living in sin…?

I don’t know that I’d classify it as a sin. If one holds this as a private theological opinion, that’s one thing; however, if one is attempting to say that all Catholics must adhere to this opinion, that’s quite another. At the very least, the latter would be guilty of inaccurate catechesis.

What is not up for debate is the Catholic doctrine “Outside the Church there is no salvation”. This is still true and will always be true. The CCC chooses to articulate this teaching positively: “Re-formulated positively, it means that all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body” (CCC 846). In other words, the question of whether or not visible membership to the Catholic Church is necessary for one to be saved through the Church is an open question.

 

[Malleus_01]

There have been alot of Catholics throughout history, and even some today who believe that only Catholics, exclusively, can go to heaven…

Are these Catholics living in sin…?

Malleus: Define the term “Catholic” And after you do that -

Baptism: scripturecatholic.com/baptism.html

Confirmation : scripturecatholic.com/confirmation.html

Penance : scripturecatholic.com/confession.html

Holy Communion : scripturecatholic.com/the_eucharist.html

Matrimony: scripturecatholic.com/divorce_remarriage.html

scripturecatholic.com/contraception.html

scripturecatholic.com/homosexuality.html

scripturecatholic.com/husband_headship.html

Holy Orders : scripturecatholic.com/the_priesthood.html

Extreme Unction: scripturecatholic.com/anointing_of_the_sick.html

And the Athanasian Creed : ccel.org/creeds/athanasian.creed.html

Add to that the Precepts of the Church the Ecumenical Church Councils and the Teachings of the Popes / Doctors / Theologians and Apologists for 2000 years and then see if your definition of what is "Catholic "matches…

My feeling is that it wont.

So you have your answer.

pax

 

[Rascalking]

There have been alot of Catholics throughout history, and even some today who believe that only Catholics, exclusively, can go to heaven…

Are these Catholics living in sin…?

Yes, I think they are.

How dare they claim that they know who is in heaven? Have they been there? Do they have knowledge of heaven that us commoners don’t? Do they judge souls? Does God ask them questions?

 

[TEPO]

Yes, I think they are.

How dare they claim that they know who is in heaven? Have they been there? Do they have knowledge of heaven that us commoners don’t? Do they judge souls? Does God ask them questions?

So it is a sin to assume that one path in particular is the only way to heaven…?

 

[Rascalking]

So it is a sin to assume that one path in particular is the only way to heaven…?

That’s a very good question.

In my opinion, (and this is only my opinion, I don’t claim divine knowledge or expertise in canon law)-the thought alone probably isn’t, but it can lead to actions that are-arrogance, self-righteousness, snobbery, all that jazz.

What’s interesting is that there very well might be only road to heaven. Those who get there may not know they get there through that one path. IE-Someone who is totally ignorant of the life of Jesus Christ-never heard of him, or grew up in a place where they can’t really worship him-may be much closer to heaven than you or I. They just don’t know that it’s still through Jesus that they get there.

 

[SenorSalsa]

The following quotes are all from Lumen Gentium, a document from Vatican II. All emphasis is mine

1. This Sacred Council wishes to turn its attention firstly to the Catholic faithful. Basing itself upon Sacred Scripture and Tradition,** it teaches that the Church, now sojourning on earth as an exile, is necessary for salvation**. Christ, present to us in His Body, which is the Church, is the one Mediator and the unique way of salvation. In explicit terms He Himself affirmed the necessity of faith and baptism(124) and thereby affirmed also the necessity of the Church, for through baptism as through a door men enter the Church. Whosoever, therefore, knowing that the Catholic Church was made necessary by Christ, would refuse to enter or to remain in it, could not be saved.

They are fully incorporated in the society of the Church who, possessing the Spirit of Christ accept her entire system and all the means of salvation given to her, and are united with her as part of her visible bodily structure and through her with Christ, who rules her through the Supreme Pontiff and the bishops. The bonds which bind men to the Church in a visible way are profession of faith, the sacraments, and ecclesiastical government and communion. He is not saved, however, who, though part of the body of the Church, does not persevere in charity.

The Church recognizes that in many ways she is linked with those who, being baptized, are honored with the name of Christian, though they do not profess the faith in its entirety or do not preserve unity of communion with the successor of Peter…In all of Christ’s disciples the Spirit arouses the desire to be peacefully united, in the manner determined by Christ, as one flock under one shepherd, and He prompts them to pursue this end. (17*) Mother Church never ceases to pray, hope and work that this may come about. **She exhorts her children to purification and renewal **so that the sign of Christ may shine more brightly over the face of the earth.

Those also can attain to salvation who** through no fault of their own** do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, yet sincerely seek God and moved by grace strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience.

The short answer is, Yes, the Catholic Church is needed for Salvation, the long answer is not everyone that is physically part of the catholic church is saved, and not every one not physically part of the catholic church can be said to be excluded from salvation

 

[JuanCarlos]

Extra Ecclesia Nulla Salus (outside the Church there is no salvation) is an infallible teaching of the Church. However, Feeneyism (only those physically baptized by water explicitly into the Catholic Church can be saved) is a heresy.

So, believe that the Catholic Church is necessary for salvation, and leave it to God to determine if one fits the mark of invincible ignorance.

 

[Cristiano]

So it is a sin to assume that one path in particular is the only way to heaven…?

No it is not a sin. There is only one way to Heaven, we have access to the Father only through the Son.

Now going to the idea that there is no salvation outside the Universal Church I think that there is no sin in believing that. On the contrary I would say that you must accept it.

In my limited knowledge I can tell you that I can show you some people that are part of the Church and some people that are not; however there are also a lot of people that appear to fall in between and I cannot say if they are or are not members of the Universal Church. I just encourage you not to be arrogant in deciding which individual is or is not a member of the Universal Church.

 

[SpiritusSanctus]

There is no salvation outside the Catholic church, but I do believe that God has mercy on the souls who are not Catholic but do not know better. However, if a person knows the Catholic church is the true church yet rejects it anyway, then they cannot be saved. Obviously it is not our place to judge souls, God is in charge of that. So, it is a sin to judge people’s souls ourselves? We can judge them by their actions, but if we judge their souls then yes, I would say it is a sin. But to think that only Catholics go to Heaven isn’t really a sin because there is no salvation outside of the Catholic church except for those who do not know better. But those who do know better must not reject it. Of course, not all Catholics go to Heaven. God is the judge of souls.

 

[Rascalking]

if a person knows the Catholic church is the true church yet rejects it anyway, then they cannot be saved. .

I’m not saying I disagree with this, but I do have a genuine question-

How can a person be SURE it’s the one true church? Isn’t it a matter of faith?

Again, I’m not saying I disagree, please don’t anyone throw rocks at me.

 

[SpiritusSanctus]

I’m not saying I disagree with this, but I do have a genuine question-

How can a person be SURE it’s the one true church? Isn’t it a matter of faith?

Again, I’m not saying I disagree, please don’t anyone throw rocks at me.

A bit surprising coming from a Catholic. Not going to throw (virtual) rocks at you when I say this, but I do have an answer to your question.

When Christ chose Peter as the first Pope, He said that He would establish one church that would last until the end of times. Only ONE. Can you explain to me why Christ would want a separate church all with different beliefs on every corner? That’s not how it works. Look in a Catholic Bible if you don’t believe me. As Catholics, we KNOW our church is thw true church. Christ Himself said so.

 

[Rascalking]

A bit surprising coming from a Catholic. Not going to throw (virtual) rocks at you when I say this, but I do have an answer to your question.

When Christ chose Peter as the first Pope, He said that He would establish one church that would last until the end of times. Only ONE. Can you explain to me why Christ would want a separate church all with different beliefs on every corner? That’s not how it works. Look in a Catholic Bible if you don’t believe me. As Catholics, we KNOW our church is thw true church. Christ Himself said so.

Ow! Your virtual rock broke my computer screen!

Well, in the words of Luke Skywalker, “You’ll find out I’m full of surprises.”

I never said I don’t believe you, never said I don’t agree with it. I just like to ask questions.

 

[PKinsale]

It may or may not be the case that one needs to be Catholic to go to heaven, but all those in heaven are Catholic.

 

[Joe_5859]

It may or may not be the case that one needs to be Catholic to go to heaven, but all those in heaven are Catholic.

Good answer!

 

[preV2tradcath]

Absolutely not.

“There is but one universal Church of the faithful, outside which no one at all is saved.” (Pope Innocent III, Fourth Lateran Council, 1215.)

“We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff.” (Pope Boniface VIII, the Bull Unam Sanctam, 1302.)

“The most Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics, can have a share in life eternal; but that they will go into the eternal fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless before death they are joined with Her; and that so important is the unity of this ecclesiastical body that only those remaining within this unity can profit by the sacraments of the Church unto salvation, and they alone can receive an eternal recompense for their fasts, their almsgivings, their other works of Christian piety and the duties of a Christian soldier. No one, let his almsgiving be as great as it may, no one, even if he pour out his blood for the Name of Christ, can be saved, unless he remain within the bosom and the unity of the Catholic Church.” (Pope Eugene IV, the Bull Cantate Domino, 1441.)

 

[numealinesimpet]

It may or may not be the case that one needs to be Catholic to go to heaven, but all those in heaven are Catholic.

That’s the point. I heard it explained well by a priest at an Ignatian Retreat once:
All those in Heaven are Catholic. How do we know this? They can see the Blessed Trinity, they can see the Queen of Heaven, they can see S. Peter and the Communion of Saints, they can see Purgatory and Hell… they could not be anything else than Catholics. How did they get through those Gates? At some point of their lives, up to the very last instant, God’s Providence will have given them the Grace of Faith (which is not the same thing as a comprehensive knowledge). The priest related the story of a Freemason who had spent his whole life attacking the Church. Family and friends prayed for him. In his last agony, they brought him a crucifix. He held it in his hands, spat upon it, and then his head fell back onto the pillow and he expired. A mystic was told later, “He was saved. As his head was falling back, I appeared to him and said, “Will you spit on Me now?” He replied, ‘No, Lord’. Then he died.”

 

[Rascalking]

Absolutely not.

“There is but one universal Church of the faithful, outside which no one at all is saved.” (Pope Innocent III, Fourth Lateran Council, 1215.)

“We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff.” (Pope Boniface VIII, the Bull Unam Sanctam, 1302.)

“The most Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics, can have a share in life eternal; but that they will go into the eternal fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless before death they are joined with Her; and that so important is the unity of this ecclesiastical body that only those remaining within this unity can profit by the sacraments of the Church unto salvation, and they alone can receive an eternal recompense for their fasts, their almsgivings, their other works of Christian piety and the duties of a Christian soldier. No one, let his almsgiving be as great as it may, no one, even if he pour out his blood for the Name of Christ, can be saved, unless he remain within the bosom and the unity of the Catholic Church.” (Pope Eugene IV, the Bull Cantate Domino, 1441.)

I assume by your name you don’t accept Vatican II. Is it true, yes or no?

 

[Rascalking]

It may or may not be the case that one needs to be Catholic to go to heaven, but all those in heaven are Catholic.

Good point!