D-F-Pardon me, but big whoop. Now what does that mean? "People" will vary a great deal on that answer. And a bumfuddled priest doesn't change what the Church believes
Ah, the standard pat answer-this "bumfuddled" priest doesn't speak for the Church and I should go look up what the Church believe. And when I go look up the Church teaching is that there really are other pathways to Christ, you'll just deny it-or ignore it-and rally around the Church blah, blah, blah. (Should I post the Pope kissing the Koran?)
The Roman Catholic Church has just about rejected or changed every major Christian doctrine there is-including our Lord Jesus being the only way to God. There is not much of a Christian Church in Rome. Rather it's more like a club. For a Catholic to tell me that MacArthur is a heretic is not very reliable source. It's like someone telling me that Martha Stewart is a great auto mechanic. Thanks but I think I'd like to check this out myself.
Tell me, not that I expect a straight answer, but do you believe that our Lord Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven? You can tell us all the Catholic Church's position on the matter. And this is your opportunity not be bumfuddled and to really put the matter to rest. Just post your source.
And you tell me John MacArthur is a heretic.
What's the point in listening to him if it's only to reinforce what you believe when he agrees and ignore him when he doesn't? It's your authority picking those who agree as your authority. Unless you then recant.
That is how we grow. I am reminded of the honorable Apollos who, when teaching wrong doctrine was taken aside and corrected. He then started teaching correct doctrine. Same way with those teaching the baptism of John. You listen to what someone states, you compare it with the scriptures which you know to be infallible, and then you trust God to guide you all.
There are some things that remain a mystery and you keep your mind open to the truth. Every Christian is on a pilgrimage. Once you find out the truth, you fit that piece of the puzzle into the picture and move on. After all, God said that He would guide us to all truths.
On your question about what we believe concerning whether our Lord Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven, the obvious answer is the creed: " He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end." Of course, the Catechism will answer more fully if you have other questions.
In here, probably the briefest answer to your request is "1022 Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of heaven-through a purification or immediately--or immediate and everlasting damnation." And there's also "1977 - Christ is the end of the law (cf. Rom 10:4); only he teaches and bestows the justice of God."
I am reminded of the honorable Apollos who, when teaching wrong doctrine was taken aside and corrected.
By Paul who had the authority of the Church. And whom met in Council with other leaders to decide what the Church believes. The New Testament is full of the story of the One Church led by the Holy Spirit, not individuals picking one leaders view or the other. It's the history of one Church, the same Church, the Church that Christ established and gave authority to.
That's my point. If you correct MacArthur, he can say "who are you?" And you can say the same to him - "he's right on this, wrong on that." But you both only have your own authority. How can this way hope to result in One Holy and Apostolic Church?
You listen to what someone states, you compare it with the scriptures which you know to be infallible, and then you trust God to guide you all.
But in practice you just have different people with different views of infallible scripture arguing with equal authority - none. Surely God does not guide us in all these different directions to different truths.
Every Christian is on a pilgrimage.
But not by themselves, each becoming their own authority and deriving their own doctrine - choosing from a plethora of churches.