Martyrdom of Schismatics

  • Thread starter Thread starter mythbuster1
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
M

mythbuster1

Guest
The Church teaches both that martyrdom effects the forgiveness of all sins, and also that unrepentant formal heretics and schismatics cannot be saved even if they lay down their lives for Christ. Am I correct in interpreting this to mean that a heretic or schismatic cannot be saved if he goes to his death clinging to his heresy or schism, but would be reconciled to God and the Church if he is not clinging to his error and dies for the sake of sound doctrine?
 
Not only are the schismatics saved but anyone who dies for Christ is saved. There is an ecumenism of blood. The terrororist wants to kill Christians. He doesn’t ask are you Catholic? I only want to kill Catholics. I will let the Protestants and the Orthodox live.
I would put it to you that even those who are not Christian who die because of Christianity are also saved. There was an Islamic scholar, Abubakr, who lived in Mosul. When ISIS ordered the expulsion of all the Christians he protested and under his authority as Islamic scholar said that that was not what Islam was about. He also was put to death by the ISIS authority for his defense of the Christians. I believe that he also is in Heaven.
 
If someone honestly believes a heretical or schismatic or pagan idea, and honestly does not know any better, then God would not hold that against a person.

But traditionally, from OT times, that has been supposed to be a pretty high bar. By natural reason and the Holy Spirit’s presence in the world, almost everyone is supposed to have some notion that there is one God Who made us, and that we should try to worship Him.

In early Christian times, there were some Gnostics and other members of heretical sects who managed to die from Roman persecution, along with the martyrs. If they persevered, their presence was recorded. (Usually they just sacrificed to the Emperor and bopped out of there, because it wasn’t against their religion/s.)

And then there were the guys who tried to force other Christians to “martyr” them, by making bandit attacks – because martyrdom didn’t happen much when Christianity was legal. They were the only people who thought they were going to Heaven. (Notice that they did not go evangelize in pagan areas. Too much trouble.)
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top