Mortal sin and other religions

[seeker63]

We in the Catholic Church are very specific about sin-- what is venial, what is mortal, etc. And it’s made very clear that if we have unconfessed mortal sins when we die we will go straight to hell, no ifs, ans, of buts.

Yet the Church admits it’s possible for people of other religions to get to heaven, be they non-Catholic Christians, Jews, Muslims, or what have you. But these people don’t have the detailed beliefs about sin that we do.

So if you’re a properly catechized Catholic and know about mortal sin, are you held to that stricter standard, but if your religious tradition doesn’t include mortal.venial sin, etc., are you basically given a free pass or at least, are you held to a looser standard?

 

[MilesJesu]

It is true that “to whom much has been given, much will be required.” But this is not a burden.

The CCC states:

847 This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church:

Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation.337
[848](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/848.htm’) "Although in ways known to himself God can lead those who, through no fault of their own, are ignorant of the Gospel, to that faith without which it is impossible to please him, the Church still has the obligation and also the sacred right to evangelize all men."338

Just because the opportunity may arise that they can be saved, it certainly is no guarentee. We benefit tremendously by having access to Grace via the sacraments that others cannot and do not enjoy. Hence, the fullness of truth is in the Church.

Peace,

MilesJesu

 

[UKcatholicGuy]

Seeker,

I had the exact same question a while back. It was answered by Michelle Arnold. Here’s the link:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=56181

The short answer is that one does not have to be Catholic to commit mortal sin. The “full knowledge” requirement only means knowledge that the act is sinful, not necessarily that it’s a “mortal” sin.

It’s safest to be a good Catholic!