Mel Gibson says his wife could be going to hell

MSNBC ^ | 02/10/04 | Jeannette Walls

[Trailerpark Badass]

Well, this "my religion is better than your religion" thing works both ways I guess. I was taught that salvation comes from God, and that faith is the fundamental requirement for salvation. I didn't know that, as a Catholic, I was not going to heaven until a SBC brother of a co-worker told me so.

[EggsAckley]

Hehehehe. I just got it. Very cute!

[Future Snake Eater]

Around here we call that a cult.

No, no, I do NOT believe that Catholics are on par with cult members. They are Christians, they are practicing Christianity, the oldest form of it, too. However, while their faith in the Bible and its teachings is not misplaced at all, its faith in men is far too strong and must be closely reexamined.

[swampfox98]

(BTW I grew up Catholic and remain a christian)

Good for you. Mel should quit while he is ahead.

[Cicero]

For what it's worth, Catholic teaching is that there is no salvation except through Jesus Christ, and no salvation except through His Church.

HOWEVER. God gives grace to whom He will. Thus virtuous pagans, Jews, and Protestants may well, according to Catholic belief, be extended this grace.

Catholics believe that grace is largely channeled through the Sacraments, as established by Jesus in the Bible. But there is extra-sacramental grace as well. Thus Catholics pray for Christians, Jews, theists, believers, and all people to be saved. It's easier in the Church, but it's possible outside of--yet channeled through--the Church.

[NotQuiteCricket]

http://www.catholic.com/library/Salvation_Outside_the_Church.asp

However, for those who knowingly and deliberately (that is, not out of innocent ignorance) commit the sins of heresy (rejecting divinely revealed doctrine) or schism (separating from the Catholic Church and/or joining a schismatic church), no salvation would be possible until they repented and returned to live in Catholic unity.

[ReaganRevolution]

I am a lifelong Catholic and spent 9 years in Catholic school, and I was never taught that you must be Catholic to be saved. Never.

I spent 11 years in Catholic school, and was never taught that other Christians or Jews weren't going to heaven. Now those who don't believe are another story.

I attended a class in which we studied other religious denominations and what they believed, again was never taught they were going to hell.

Now on the other hand I've been told plenty of times I'm going to hell merely for being catholic.

[epluribus_2]

This is so weird. The official RCC position (2004, not medieval) is the only mainstream denomination that says anyone - even nonchristians - can go to heaven. Even Buddhists. Read JPII's books. Says so.

[missyme]

IN FACT I DON'T BELIEVE THIS ARTICLE..MEL HAS STATED HIS WHOLE FAMILY ATTENDS MASS AND HIS WIFE IS A DEVOUT CATHOLIC... WHEN DID SHE CHANGE?

[af_vet_1981]

This article taken out of context......

No, it was not taken out of context. Mel was asked a difficult question and he answered it forthrightly. It is what he was taught, presumably by his father, and it is what he believes to this day (unless you think he is just hamming it up in the interviews to drum up controversy for the film).

"Gibson was interviewed by the Herald Sun in Australia, and the reporter asked the star if Protestants are denied eternal salvation."

[WKB]

There is no salvation for those outside the Church,” Gibson replied.

I am have some very dear friends that are Catholic
and some very dear friends of all denominations that are saved and are going to heaven.
Mr. Gibson and his Church are wrong on this one.
I'll leave it at that.

[roses of sharon]

Dittos!!!!!!!

60 Min tried this on Sunday.

Old playbook.

[EllaMinnow]

Now on the other hand I've been told plenty of times I'm going to hell merely for being catholic.

Yep, me too.

[Trailerpark Badass]

Papal policies and edicts come from a man, who, when it all boils down, is just as fallible as the rest of us.

You're making a distinction where none exists. Obviously, Catholics believe that the Pope and church leaders are "divinely inspired" in the same way you believe the writers of the Bible were.

I fail to see how your belief is sound while mine is not.

[Jaded]

Several other religions feel that if you aren't one of them you will burn in h*ll.

[Petronski]

Mel's wrong, but I don't think he's quoting Church teachings properly/accurately.

[Keyes2000mt]

I would say that we can be disturbed by this quite a bit, but the fact is that many Conservative people, most I would daresay will watch movies featuring people who whether it's active or not in that movie, stand against everything we believe in. It would seem that perhaps Mr. Gibson deserves as much grace as those movie stars we watch despite their crazy leftism.

[Future Snake Eater]

Does he say that even if they don't believe in Christ as the Savior they can still go to Heaven? I find that REAL hard to swallow.

Regardless, Gibson practices a very old form of Catholicism. I believe they even still give the sermons in Latin at mass in his church. So, even if there is a new philosophy, it wouldn't surprise me that Gibson doesn't stick with it.

[sarasota]

Every time someone writes something down, it can be altered. Over centuries it can (and has) been altered according to man's interpretation. Like it or not. We're human and our minds do not recall every nuance. I'm still waiting for the release of the Dead Sea Scrolls that are locked up in the Vatican. Not that it would make any difference in my interpretation of this written word, but that it will be interesting to see what they are keeping hidden.

[Maigrey]

Ouchie!

(Pulling up a chair, with the popcorn, to watch the impending train wreck!)