What are your thoughts on the pope's call for Christian unity (video link)

[pacloc]

This is an interesting debate going on about the destination of protestants. I only would mention that while the posters quoting saints and Church documents are speaking more truthfully than those saying most protestants are going to Heaven, they really do not have the right to be teaching if this is the method they use. Teaching is a very dangerous thing to take lightly since souls are involved. If what you use is the brute threat of hell and excommunication and authority of the “Church says so” you do not have the right to instruct the weaker members. It is the same to tell a 5 year old that everything you tell them to do is done merely because I say so and you will go to hell if you don’t do what I say. A true teacher explains why the child should do something, because of it being good and the right thing to do, not because of the consequence. The consequence is good too, but not for the reason. Likewise it is wrong to spout out “Hell, Hell, Hell” knowing that protestants are present on these forums and will likely not make any change in their view of the Church from hearing just the consequence. What needs to be stressed is how the Church makes sense, how it answers things that protestants have no answer for. Our view of the incarnation is a good starting point, our view of how God has made us in a way that we really do earn merit since we were made in His image and likeness.

I think both parties mean well, but please recognize that the method in teaching is what is important here. Hell does have to come up, but not right off the bat and not without an explanation of what hell is and how it is that we are withdrawing from God not God withdrawing from us.

 

[clem456]

This is an interesting debate going on about the destination of protestants. I only would mention that while the posters quoting saints and Church documents are speaking more truthfully than those saying most protestants are going to Heaven,

I agree with the thrust of your post in the area of preaching the message the right way.

A larger point about the above:
Who has the right to say who’s going to heaven or hell?
As for me personally, I never said and will not say that most protestants are going to heaven, as you said above. Or hell.
It is simply not my business or area of competence to make that determination. (Who’s is it?)
We need to think and speak with the Church.

 

[SAVINGRACE]

It is important to understand that this type of attitude is not Catholic teaching. Since the Second Vatican Council we have been instructed as Catholics to find common ground with not only other Christina assemblies, but also non-Christian. We understand that all faiths have a Measure of the Holy Spirit working within them, but the the the Catholic Church has the fullness, and completeness of the Spirit and God’s salvation for us.
We as Catholics must first find that common ground with all assemblies for the betterment of all man kind, this is our pope’s call the Catholics.
This cannot be done if the first words or thoughts from the Catholic is that “you are going to hell” This is not the work of the Church or teaching and with such a mind set we cannot do our savior’s work.

Deacon Frank, Roman Catholic Permanent Deacon

Thank you Deacon Frank. You said it better than I did. I don’t know of any lay Catholic, Priest or Bishop who believes or teaches otherwise. This us and them attitude from some Catholics is unhelpful. We can agree on common ground and work together without compromising the Faith.

 

[Peter_J]

Thank you Deacon Frank. You said it better than I did. I don’t know of any lay Catholic, Priest or Bishop who believes or teaches otherwise. **This us and them attitude from some Catholics is unhelpful. **

Or Protestants … well, that probably goes without saying in your post, but I felt like saying it explicitly.

Protestants shouldn’t define themselves in terms of non-being-Catholic, and Catholics shouldn’t define themselves in terms of non-being-Protestant.

 

[Butzi]

I think it would educational to see a comparison of Pius IX’s encyclical, Mortalium Animos, and what Francis is saying.