Non-Catholics

[lumenjesuchrist]

If non-Catholics can get to heaven, which I know they can. What is the point of becoming a Catholic? I know it is true but isn’t that discouraging to becoming a Catholic if they can make it to Heaven outside? I’m confused. Thanks and God Bless!

 

[Della]

The teaching doesn’t say they will absolutely, without a doubt go to heaven, which is what you seem to be implying. No one’s salvation is assured just because he belongs to the Catholic Church, either.

What the teaching is trying to tell us is that God has poured out his grace on humanity through the redemptive act of Christ on the cross. Therefore, all who will be saved will be saved by him and in him. This in no way ensures anyone’s salvation, though, it’s merely to let us know that God is not bound by anything except his own mercy and justice.

The Catholic Church is the sure way to salvation for all who are faithful. Within it are all the necessary elements that can bring us to salvation. Not so in Protestant ecclesial bodies. For although they may have much that is true and good, such as the trinitarian baptism prescribed by Christ (which makes them imperfect members of the Church), the fullness of truth does not subsist within them as it does in the Catholic Church. Therefore Protestants are at more of a disadvantage than are Catholics. But Catholics who do not take advantage of the sacraments and prayer life of the Church are hindering themselves nearly as much and may find themselves in hell while a faithful Protestant enters into heaven instead.

 

[GaryTaylor]

The One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church is the Church Jesus Christ established on Earth. It “is” the Mystical Body of Jeus Christ. Salavation is offered to all through Christs Church and very little is asked in return.

TODAY its offered. How long that Mercy will remain on the table only the Lord knows. How long should one tempt the Lords Mercy?

Really thats the question everyone should be asking themself. How long will you insist your own thinking is right and reject the Lords Word and Will?

All Christian Theologians agree we are in the Book of Revelation now. Christ is coming. Though our time and concept of time may very well not coincide with the Lords. It doesn’t change the facts.

If in fact we are a flashing momet in time caught inbetween two eternitys, why chance eternity?

People say, well show me a Miracle? Geez…just read about the converstion of Mexico, Portugal, Austria. I becomes very hard to ignore these facts.

What good is your Free-Will if all it earns you is eternal suffering? Your not taking a thing with you from this earth, nothing. So what good is the vanity of this world?

I find it amazing a Souls throws away eternity for a Good time and monetary gain through mortal sin on earth.

The real value on earth is family another aspect so overlooked in this period of social transition on earth.

 

[Laura80]

If a non-catholic feels as though they are being called to the Catholic Church, or feels that there is something to Catholism that their own church is missing, and chooses to ignore it, then that’s whey they’d be in trouble. Of course a non-catholic can get to heaven, I’m sure even non-christians could get to heaven. But if you’re looking for the truth and find it, then choose to ignore it, I don’t think you’re chances would be very good.

 

[meltzerboy]

If non-Catholics can get to heaven, which I know they can. What is the point of becoming a Catholic? I know it is true but isn’t that discouraging to becoming a Catholic if they can make it to Heaven outside? I’m confused. Thanks and God Bless!

Two points: first, I don’t think that whether or not someone who is not Catholic can be saved and go to heaven should influence so much one’s own belief and the practice of one’s faith. I realize we all wish everyone be saved, particularly those near and dear to us, and that Christians have a particular responsibility to evangelize, whether by direct proselytizing or by serving as a model of moral behavior. However, wouldn’t it be as important to focus on one’s own faith and actions than be overly concerned with that of others? My second point is that, while salvation is very much emphasized in Catholicism (as it is in all Christianity), I hope that salvation is not the ONLY reason you are Catholic. What about living a Christ-like life here on Earth according to the moral teachings of Catholicism based on faith, hope, and charity? Wouldn’t that way of life in the service of G-d and one’s neighbor be justification for being Catholic?

 

[Julian0404]

If non-Catholics can get to heaven, which I know they can. What is the point of becoming a Catholic? I know it is true but isn’t that discouraging to becoming a Catholic if they can make it to Heaven outside? I’m confused. Thanks and God Bless!

Catholicism is not a game with winners or loser, and keeping score is not the goal. Catholicism is not about joining the “good team” and holding it over the “other team”. Catholicism is believing in and following the ONE TRUE GOD - WHO is best recognized in HIS Love and Forgiveness. Until we all grasp that JESUS on the Cross Crucified is the symbol of Catholicism - and mediate upon the meaning of GOD’s only SON dieing for us as well as the “other team” then we will always be confused by our faith.
The model JESUS gave us is to Love and Forgive - each other and the “other team”. To pray for HIS mercy upon each other and the “other team” and to rejoice when the Lost Sheep is found or the prodigal returns home.

 

[eegardner]

If a non Catholic does not know that the Catholic Church is the fullness of the Truth, then they are not be responsible for not knowing. However, if they believe that the Catholic Church is the fullness of the Truth, they are responsible and should seek to be part of this Truth.

 

[wisdomseeker]

If non-Catholics can get to heaven, which I know they can. What is the point of becoming a Catholic? I know it is true but isn’t that discouraging to becoming a Catholic if they can make it to Heaven outside? I’m confused. Thanks and God Bless!

I would think that God has a plan and has revealed to His Church. I know that the CC keeps inviting everyone to come in. It will be like on the days of Noah, if they whoever they are do not come in, the doors will be closed and those outside will stay outside. Read as you will. Only God knows who whom He will save. But that is what Jesus says. It will be like on the days of Noah. what happened on the days of Noah?

For quite a while now, the CC is continuously calling people, if they continue to reject the Church, God will be the Judge. That is all I know.

 

[fred_conty]

If non-Catholics can get to heaven, which I know they can. What is the point of becoming a Catholic? I know it is true but isn’t that discouraging to becoming a Catholic if they can make it to Heaven outside? I’m confused. Thanks and God Bless!

Hi,
To answer that I would have to tell you all the wonderful things found in the Catholic faith that are not found in all the thousands of Protestant faiths. Then I would have to tell you all of the errors that are found in the thousands of Protestant faiths that are not found in the Catholic faith. And all the thousands of Protestant faiths disagree with one another on
hundreds of important issues and doctrines. Predestination is one example.

So in brief, the Catholic church teaches the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth from the beginning. More importantly it does not cave in to what society may
want today, tomorrow, or the next day to be the truth. Abortion is one example.
It teaches the same truth now and forever. It is stable like a rock.

It is the one christian world wide church that teaches the same truths everywhere.
It is the one christian world wide church that has the same worship service everywhere.
For example, on vacation, I still go to a Catholic church without any problem of
denominational differences.

The bishops and priests are the same thru the line of history. Not self appointed.
The devotions are the same.
The saints are the same.
The sacraments are the same.
One and only one head of the church. Not headless or multiple heads.
And most of all, Christ’s presence is the same in every Catholic Church everywhere.
And where you find Jesus, there will find his church to give you refuge and help.

The joy is in experiencing it.

 

[Tony888]

If non-Catholics can get to heaven, which I know they can. What is the point of becoming a Catholic? I know it is true but isn’t that discouraging to becoming a Catholic if they can make it to Heaven outside? I’m confused. Thanks and God Bless!

Going with your assumption that it is not required, then it is a question of increasing the PROBABILITIY of reaching heaven

Once you have been taught about Christ, you are expected to follow his commandments.
Being in a Church that teaches and practices his commandments obviously increase your chance of ‘getting to heaven’

I think it is nigh impossible to follow the commandments alone, without being in a Christian community.

 

[Della]

In order to be certain what the Church teaches it’s always best to go to the source: The Catechism of the Catholic Church:

Possible salvation of non-Christians: #s 846-848.

“Outside the Church there is no salvation”
846 How are we to understand this affirmation, often repeated by the Church Fathers?335 Re-formulated positively, it means that all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body:
Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it.336
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 "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