[kosta50]

 markomalley: I am confused, though, why you assume that John 6:64-65 would be problematic for a Catholic? Of course, God knew before the foundation of the world who would be saved and who would not be saved.

HD: According to Augustine, this is the definition of Pelagianism.

...Let us, then, understand the calling whereby they become elected,—not those who are elected because they have believed, but who are elected that they may believe.

That is not what the Church taught. What the Holy Catholic Church (East and West) taught everywhere and always is

• Article III.—God has from eternity predestinated to glory those who would, in his foreknowledge, make good use of their free will in accepting the salvation, and has condemned those who would reject it. The Calvinistic doctrine of unconditional predestination is condemned as abominable, impious, and blasphemous. [Confessio Dosithei, Council of Jerusalem 1762]

There is no "guesswork" when it comes to God's foreknowledge. But His foreknowledge does not take away our free will which was clearly given to us in the Garden of Eden.

 

[GCC Catholic]

Kosta,

Is the text of the Council of Jerusalem online? I’d be curious to read it at greater length if it is available.

[ears_to_hear]

Why would God NEED to predestine those He already perfectly knew would come?