I believe that Jesus Christ established One, Holy Catholic, Apostolic Church.
I believe that baptism is necessary, but not sufficient for salvation.
That is why He gave us the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic, Church.
Baptism is by desire, blood, or water, but the ordinary way is with water.
I believe that while it is His desire that we receive the sacraments, for our own benefit, and so that we have the means of further sanctification, it is possible for one who dies with complete contrition for his sins and a desire for baptism, to gain salvation through the merits of the Catholic Church-particularly through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
I believe that because Catholics are given so much, that Catholics are held to a higher standard than non-Catholics.
I also believe that Catholics who do God’s will are rewarded justly in Heaven.
So, the lost and separated are non-Catholics and fallen away Catholics, and even practicing Catholics who have fallen into serious sin.
Salvation is possible for all of them, but the further one travels into the blinding snowstorm, the harder it will be to find one’s way out.
I believe that too, just not exclusively. There isn't just one letter to one church in Revelation.
I believe that baptism is necessary, but not sufficient for salvation.
Baptism? It wasn't necessary for the thief to be redeemed on the cross next to Jesus. I am sure people are dunked without truly turning to Christ as Lord and Savior. Baptism is a powerful symbol and outward statement, but it is our hearts that need to be changed.
I believe that while it is His desire that we receive the sacraments, for our own benefit, and so that we have the means of further sanctification, it is possible for one who dies with complete contrition for his sins and a desire for baptism, to gain salvation through the merits of the Catholic Church-particularly through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
While sacraments and repeated religious actions can be a very good thing, they are particularly dangerous to become the object that is worshiped rather than God. Like the bronze serpent, they become gods rather than a lens to help us focus on God. I believe the more ritual that surrounds a symbol, the more likely the symbol becomes a god.
So, the lost and separated are non-Catholics and fallen away Catholics, and even practicing Catholics who have fallen into serious sin.
You set yourself up to judge hearts here. The Catholic church is not perfect. People can have legitimate and morally righteous reasons for leaving or deciding not to join.