[OLD REGGIE]

That paragraph is in a section that specifically addresses non-Christian peoples and religions. Protestants are Christians and as such are not considered in this section.

Now that you know, I trust that you will refrain from posting this section of the catechism in a misleading way again.

You are correct. Let's look at the section which deals with "Christians".

============================================================================= 838 The Church knows that she is joined in many ways to the baptized who are honored by the name of Christian, but do not profess the Catholic faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity or communion under the successor of Peter."322 Those "who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church."323 With the Orthodox Churches, this communion is so profound "that it lacks little to attain the fullness that would permit a common celebration of the Lord's Eucharist."324

Pleas explain to this poor old ignorant fool the exact meaning of Those "who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church."

Please pay particular attention to "certain, although imperfect,". No Catholicspeak. Plain English please.

[conservonator]

Not sure what there is to explain, those who believe and are properly baptized are members of the Church but due to their self imposed exile, their membership is imperfect, incomplete, not what it could be. Since they have cut them selves off from the fullness of Revelation by cleaving to an eccleisical (sp?) body rather than the Church, they lack what the Ethiopian eunuch had: a guide.

As you can see, Reggie, it says nothing of their worthiness of salvation only their status with in the visible Church.