The unevangelized who die

[Harold_A.Dupre]

JMJ

A Jehova’s Whitness wants a catholic answer to the question "What happens to people who have not heard the Gospel and (as a consequence) do not know about Jesus and salvation. He is referring specifically to the victim of the recent Tsunami.

Very gratefully,

Harold

 

[BibleReader]

Oh, they all go to Hell!

Just teasing!

There is good Scriptural evidence that they are judged the same way, but less harshly.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Harold A. Dupre:

JMJ

A Jehova’s Whitness wants a catholic answer to the question "What happens to people who have not heard the Gospel and (as a consequence) do not know about Jesus and salvation. He is referring specifically to the victim of the recent Tsunami.

Very gratefully,

Harold

This same question was posted below in the “Water Cooler” section.

 

[marineboy]

Certainly those who are not visible embers of the Catholic church run a very grave risk of eternal damnation. This is why it is very important for catholics to evangengalize throught the entire world. Although, it is possible that someone be saved without explicit faith in Christ. If the person, through no fault of his own does not know Christ but seeks to follow the truth to the best of his ability he can be saved–he would also not have any other mortal sin on his soul…

 

[UKcatholicGuy]

That’s a question we won’t know the full answer to until we die and (hopefully) go to Heaven. Until then, I say we assume that anyone who does not have faith in Jesus will go to hell, which is all the more reason to reach them with His good news!

 

[Verbum]

Hi Harold,

Briefly, here is the answer from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

**1281 **Those who die for the faith, those who are catechumens, and all those who, without knowing of the Church but acting under the inspiration of grace, seek God sincerely and strive to fulfill his will, can be saved even if they have not been baptized (cf. *LG *16).

The LG 16 refers to the Dogmatic Constitution of the Second Vatican Council on the Church (Lumen Gentium). Here is the full quote:

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 many achieve eternal salvation.[19] Nor shall divine providence deny the assistance necessary for salvation to those who, without any fault of theirs, have not yet arrived at an explicit knowledge of God, and who, not without grace, strive to lead a good life. Whatever good or truth is found amongst them is considered by the Church to be a preparation for the Gospel[20] and given by him who enlightens all men that they may at length have life. But very often, deceived by the Evil One, men have become vain in their reasonings, have exchanged the truth of God for a lie and served the world rather than the Creator (cf. Rom. 1:21 and 25). Or else, living and dying in this world without God, they are exposed to ultimate despair. Hence to procure the glory of God and the salvation of all these, the Church, mindful of the Lord’s command, “preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mk. 16:16) takes zealous care to foster the missions.

Verbum

 

[Fr_Ambrose]

Harold A. Dupre:

JMJ

A Jehova’s Whitness wants a catholic answer to the question "What happens to people who have not heard the Gospel and (as a consequence) do not know about Jesus and salvation. He is referring specifically to the victim of the recent Tsunami.

Dear Harold,

These people claim to be Bible Students (I think that was the original name of their organisation.) So use the Scriptures in this case because they provide the answer and it is strange that the Witnesses don’t know this already

"…for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel."
Romans 2:14-16