First they say that no one is saved outside of the RCC.
Pope Boniface VIII, Unam Sanctam: “We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff.” — Pope Boniface VIII, Unam Sanctam (Promulgated November 18, 1302) http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/b8-unam.html
And then we hear from those on this forum that those outside the RCC are not saved but their own “church” says this.
818 "However, one cannot charge with the sin of the separation those who at present are born into these communities [that resulted from such separation] and in them are brought up in the faith of Christ, and the Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers. . . . All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church."
But then we see this from them.
847 Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation.
So not only don’t they need to be baptized to be saved but they don’t even need to know Jesus! Of course we have the declaration from the RCC that Catholics and Muslims serve the same God.
CCC841 The Church's relationship with the Muslims. "The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day.
Of course with that attitude one can understand the statement by mother Theresa that most any religion is just fine.
"If in coming face to face with God we accept Him in our lives, then we are converting. We become a better Hindu, a better Muslim, a better Catholic, a better whatever we are. ... What God is in your mind you must accept" (from Mother Teresa: Her People and Her Work , by Desmond Doig, p. 156, as quoted by Dave Hunt, Global Peace and the Rise of Antichrist , p. 149).
So like I said, having a discussion with Catholics as to what they believe is rather useless.
Ah, another well known and oft used tactic; when backed into a corner without further ability to defend a position declare the debate to be a waste of time.
Very good, CB, I’ll take this as your admission of defeat in this debate as I have not once used anything other than Scripture to explain the true meaning of baptism.