To: JoeFromSidney
The Catholic Church teaches "Outside the Church there is no salvation." However, that must be understood as the Church understands it. The route to salvation is repentance and reform. That route is open to everyone. The Sacraments of the Church are intended to make that route easier for Catholics, but that route is not impossible even in the absence of the Sacraments. The Church has never taught that non-Catholics are automatically damned. God is not a monster, and wants everyone to be saved. If you are damned, it will be by your own actions, not for any other reason. So...if you're a Catholic (in good standing with the Church, one presumes) you go to Heaven. If you're a Christian but not a Catholic, you might go to Heaven (the phrase, "not impossible" isn't likely to fill non-Catholics with confidence). If you're not a Christian, convert or burn in Hell, you pagan.
Does that sum it up? Can I at least hope for the 1st Circle, where the Virtuous Pagans wind up? 'Cause, y'know, Dante. :-)
62 posted on
11/28/2013 11:41:57 AM PST by
Kip Russell
(Be wary of strong drink. It can make you shoot at tax collectors -- and miss. ---Robert A. Heinlein)
To: Kip Russell
So...if you're a Catholic (in good standing with the Church, one presumes) you go to Heaven. If you're a Christian but not a Catholic, you might go to Heaven (the phrase, "not impossible" isn't likely to fill non-Catholics with confidence). If you're not a Christian, convert or burn in Hell, you pagan.Sorry, you still got it wrong. Anyone who repents of his sins and reforms his life WILL make it to heaven, Protestant, Jew, heathen, atheist, or whatever. Jesus made it clear that Abraham and others of the Fathers were in heaven, and clearly none of them were Catholic, nor had they received any of the Church's Sacraments.
69 posted on
11/28/2013 2:03:51 PM PST by
JoeFromSidney
( book, RESISTANCE TO TYRANNY, available from Amazon.)
To: Kip Russell
Is the word Catholic in the Bible?
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