See John 12:32, Heb 2:9, 2 Cor 5:15, Rom 5:18, etc.
This is nothing new. The “virtuous pagans” were always accepted as people who, for one reason or another, could not know or accept God’s revelation of Himself in Jesus. But they adhered to natural law, without perhaps even knowing it, and it is certainly undeniable that doing good and not doing evil is the fundamental principle.
The only religion, unfortunately, that seals its believers off from this is Islam, because it rejects natural law and considers sharia to be the only law of the universe. And under sharia, one is permitted and even ordered to do tremendous evil in order to advance Islam and the cause of the Islamic version of God. And in fact one is permitted to engage in all sorts of behavior that other cultures reject.
That said, there probably are some individual Muslims who are fine and sincerely would like to find the truth and do the right things. To me, this only means that the Church has got to be more forthright in offering the truth so that these people might be able to get out of their oppressive and life-denying cult.
re: “‘But I don’t believe, Father, I am an atheist!’ But do good: we will meet one another there.”
Meaning no disrespect, I’m not exactly sure what the sentence above means. What is the “there”? As in, “we will meet one another there.” Not hostile, just curious.
Yes, redemption does not equal salvation. However, once again, I see the lack of clarity in our leader’s words. This homily will lead others to believe, ONCE AGAIN, that all religions (or lack thereof) are the same.
You don’t have to be Catholic.
I am so sick of this.
Also, wouldn't this have been a really good time to instruct all people that although doing good unites all humanity, "doing good" is not good enough for one's salvation? Or maybe there is more to the homily that I'm missing?
Wow. I'm rip-roaring mad. Perhaps I need to step away from the 'puter for a bit.
” And this Blood makes us children of God of the first class! We are created children in the likeness of God and the Blood of Christ has redeemed us all!”
Only the elect are the adopted children of God:
Eph_1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
An unbeliever, until he is reconciled with God, is a slave and servant of the devil:
1Jn_3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
To say everyone is a child of God is just a catch-phrase.