FF:
Thanks for the sincere reply. I thought I might contribute something to your thoughts about your Catholic family, and their salvation.
While I am not a Catholic anymore, and never will be again, I do not for a moment believe that Catholics are not saved. Here's why.
Salvation is pretty simple. Confess your sins, believe in Christ as your savior, and in the truth of his birth and resurrection, and grow in faith over whatever time you have after your salvation, be it 50 years or 50 minutes. Jesus' parable in Mt 20:1-16 makes that clear to us. Someone saved on his deathbed is no less worthy of the kingdom of God than someone who led a mostly blameless and decent life.
If salvation is that straightforward, and does not require a lifetime of service or worship, then it changes our perspective of those who are not evangelical Christians as we, and their future in eternity.
And, the fact that faith has very few prerequisites and equally few requirements, means that doctrine, rituals and rules, might obscure the truth and its simplicity but certainly not undo it.
Hence, there is very little that a Catholic can do to "unearn" his salvation just because he believes in Catholic doctrine, engages in Caholic rituals, or believes that the Pope is the Vicar of Christ on earth and is infallible. None of these doctrinal matters will divert his heart from the truth of salvation. They might be distractions at times, but will not unearn his salvation.
As for the Christians who get all hot and bothered about Mormonism, I think that they too are very likely saved as well. Again, the simplicity of the criteria for salvation, and a right heart, is all it takes. We can never know if a devout Mormon looks heavenward one day and utters this prayer, "Lord, I get confused by all this doctrine, ritual, and rules, but I just want to get right by you and hold you in my heart each day." I have zero doubt that the Holy Spirit is with that fellow at that moment. There is no amount of ritual or doctrine that can unearn this fellow's salvation in my view.
I am confident that this happens because I keep hearing in Christian media that it is happening throughout the Muslim world. Muslims are looking heavenward, praying for understanding, and they become convicted immediately of the truth of Christ. If it's happening to Muslims, it's happening to people throughout the globe.
Don't get me wrong. Not all Catholics and Mormon, in addition to Christian church members, are saved merely because they belong to a church and practice what the church teaches. But those that look heavenward and pray will no doubt be led by the Holy Spirit.
My two cents. I hope this is a useful perspective.
THANKS! I really believe that my mom believed in Jesus, had confessed her sins (through a priest, but a confession nevertheless), so I can hope to see her again! My father and brother are a different problem, I could not tell if they've ever been saved, so I'll be very thankful if you join me in praying for them!
I hope this is a useful perspective.
You bet! Thanks!