Do Catholics believe that other Christians can be saved?

No

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by Gene De Lalla

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Do Catholics believe that other Christians can be saved? First, this question should be a statement: Catholics are supposed to believe that no one outside the Catholic Church can be saved, IF they die as non-Catholics.

At first, it would seem that one who holds to this DEFINED doctrine is being quite exclusionary, as well as "hateful" condemning to hell all those outside the Church that Christ founded upon the rock of St. Peter.

But lets turn this around. There is salvation within the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church is an exclusive organization that is open to all! This I realize is a contradictory statement, yet it is true. It is true not because I say it is true, but because Christ Himself has established it from the beginning, taught to the Apostles, and handed down from the Apostles to their successors.

Now wait a minute! But haven't I just condemned all those non-Catholics to hell if they don't become Catholics? The answer is, no.

People - unrepentant sinners, whether malicious or out of ignorance - condemn themselves, whether or not they be Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims, etc. Even out of ignorance? Yes, because as in civil law, ignorance of the law is no excuse. How much more detrimental to the soul is ignorance of God's divine law? So, to use "ignorance" as a positive for salvation flies in the face of everything that has been revealed in the New Testament by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Those who claim to read - and understand? - what the Bible teaches, can't possibly say that someone who is "ignorant" of God's law will be excused from perdition because of his ignorance. Rather, that "ignorance" might excuse one from the sin of infidelity, but not from other sins committed by that individual!

So what condemns these people? The refusal to accept all truth - if they knew it - as revealed in the Bible (I am referring here to the New Testament), whole and entire, and authenticated and codified by none other than the Catholic Church as well as those "ignorant" of the Gospel. I will prove this from the Bible later.

The very same Catholic Church is also the organization that through the incredible efforts of dedicated Catholic monks over the years tediously copied each of the extant manuscripts to preserve for all time, God's revelation, by His word, to mankind. Not until the Guttenberg's invention of the moveable-type printing press, were any Bibles, in book form, available to those who could read and afford such. Further, it should be noted that Guttenberg was a Catholic and the first book that he produced from his new printing press was - you guessed it - the Catholic Bible!

In short, the very Bible that the Protestants "use" against Catholics, is the very same New Testament Bible, that, by the authority of the Catholic Church, was authenticated and preserved for all time for all Christians everywhere. (See the Catholic Synod of Rome, 382 A.D.; the Catholic Council of Hippo, 393 A. D., and the Catholic Council of Carthage, 397 A.D.)

If the authority to determine what books of the New Testament were inspired and which were not, still exists today (it does!), then those who "protest" the Catholic Church are protesting Christ Himself: St. Luke says in 10:16, "He that heareth you, heareth me: and he that despiseth you, despiseth me. And he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me." But it would worth while to read from verse 10 through 16 to get a good handle on what would happen to those who reject His word, especially telling is verse 12: "I say to you, it shall be more tolerable at that day for Sodom, than for that city [that receives not the preaching of the Apostles and their disciples]."

Moreover , despite the scandals that have recently plagued the Church regarding the abuse of adolescents and younger children, the distinction must be made that those who preyed on the young were rotten before they entered the priesthood, not because of it. Further, those "rotten apples" are churchmen, NOT the Church - the spotless Bride of Christ.
As just mentioned, those who refuse to accept the truth whole and entire condemn themselves. So let us take a look at Truth what it is and how the rejection of it leads to other heresies, apostasies and outright denial of Christ as Savior.

"Truth? What is truth?" After asking these two questions, Pontius Pilate walked away, consigning Christ to a horrible, painful, and humiliating death via crucifixion on the cross.

If Pilate was not able to recognize the Truth standing before him, what does that say about those of us in this "modern" age, where most choose what they consider as "truth"?

If one is to accept the truth, then that person, in all honesty (no pun intended), must accept the truth whole and entire. To do otherwise is to make a mockery of truth; it then becomes adulterated, and, consequently, it is no longer the truth.

The very same can be said regarding the "cafeteria" that many Christians (most Catholics included) use to decide which truth to observe and which truth to reject. In other words, if it suites their belief system then they will accept it and live by it, while at the same time ignoring all that is necessary in order to be among the elect.

Truth - objective truth - has all but disappeared from society today.

What can follow is the disintegration of moral absolutes, which has led to the moral chaos of, for instance, abortion - the killing of the pre-born - as a "right" as well as the widespread use of contraceptives among the general population, Catholics included.

Truth exists and it never changes. The Bible is replete with references to this fact: St. John 14:6, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life." St. James 1:17-18, "with whom there is no change nor shadow of alteration. For of his own will hath he begotten us by the word of truth" Hebrews 13:7-9, whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation, Jesus Christ, yesterday, and today: and the same forever. Be not led away with various and strange doctrines.

God demands truthfulness. Psalm 145:18, The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him: to all that call upon him in truth. Proverbs 12:22, Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord: but they that deal faithfully please him. St. John 8:31-32, "If you continue in my word, you shall be my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth: and the truth shall make you free." St. Paul's letter, 2 Thess. 2:12, "in sanctification of the spirit and faith of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:4, Who will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

These are but a few of the Biblical admonitions for truthfulness and against lies.

And what of those who learn the truth and fall away from it? 2 St. Peter 2:20-22, "For if, flying from the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they be again entangled in them and overcome: their latter state is become unto them worse than the former. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of justice than, after they have known it, to turn back from that holy commandment which was delivered to them. For, that of the true proverb has happened to them: The dog is returned to his vomit; and: The sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire." St. Paul's letter to the Hebrews 10:26-27, "For if we sin willfully after having the knowledge of the truth, there is now left no sacrifice for sins: But a certain dreadful expectation of judgment, and the rage of a fire which shall consume the adversaries."

Isn't it interesting that the two verses above - St. Peter, and St. Paul's letter to the Hebrews - while attesting to what happens to those who have the truth then fall away, also utterly destroys the error of "once saved, always saved" widely held by many of the Protestant sects, though many more scriptural verses can be quoted.

But believing the truth amounts to nothing if we don't obey and do the truth, an absolute must if we want to be saved! 1 St. John 1:6, "If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the truth." 1 St. John 2:4-5, "He who saith that he knoweth him and keepeth not his commandments is a liar: and the truth is not in him. But he that keepeth his work, in him in very deed the charity of God is perfected. And by this we know that we are in him." 1 St. John 3:18-19, 22-24, "let us not love in word nor in tongue, but in deed and in truth. In this we know that we are of the truth and in his sight shall persuade our hearts." "we shall receive of him: because we keep his commandments and do those things which are pleasing in his sight. That we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as he hath given commandment unto us. And he that keepeth his commandments abideth in him, and he in him."

The word "deed" or "deeds" used in Scripture is another way of saying "work" or "works." In reality, the New Testament is literally peppered with references to "works" - doing, or carrying out - what the Faith of Christ commands of us. Again, the numerous Protestant sects who claim "faith alone" are ignoring that faith without works is DEAD. Realizing, of course, that faith is the foundation upon which all else is based. By using right reason we can see that works without faith is dead too, but why? Because without [the] faith, it is impossible to please God (St. Paul's letter to the Hebrews, 11:6).

The other side of the coin is that God will hide the truth from those who refuse to love it.

St. Paul's letter, 2 Thess. 2:9-11, Whose coming is according to the working of Satan, in all power and signs and lying wonders: And in all seduction of iniquity to them that perish: because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Therefore God shall send them the operation of error, to believe lying: that all may be judged who have not believed the truth but have consented to iniquity.

The Bible is telling us that those who are "judged" - are damned! Again, St. Paul, 2 Cor. 4:2-4, "nor adulterating the word of God: but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience, in the sight of God. And if our gospel be also hid, it is hid to them that are lost. In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of unbelievers, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not shine unto them." St. Luke, 16:31, "Neither will they believe, if one rise again from the dead."

Those who thnk calling on the name of Christ - alone - will save them are in grave error. For calling on the name of Christ implies that the individual accepts All that Christ revealed in the New Testament in addition to the Paraclete - the Holy Ghost - the Lord sent after His Ascension to teach all truth through His Church! "But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will teach you all truth: for he shall not speak of himself, but what things soever he shall hear, he shall speak: and the things that are to come, he will show you." (St. John 16:13.) The actual verse is important to digest because it shows that along with Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition - the unwritten word transmitted by Christ to His Apostles and they to their disciples - absolutely destroys the "Bible only" error held by most Protestants (see also St. John 21:25, and St. Paul 2 Thessalonians, not the "traditions of men").

On the topic of salvation - and this is the essence of the question - only Catholics are "full gospel" because they believe all the Bible says about being saved.

Most non-Catholics, it seems, think that as long as they "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." But throughout the New Testament Christ and His Apostles teach that attaining Heaven is not easy! Again, the "cafeteria" is open for those who accept some teachings and reject others, while still thinking that they are "saved." That's the type of "cafeteria" that serves up poison in huge portions to the detriment of one's immortal soul.

In Acts 16:31, And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said, "Men, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." But this verse does not say that believing is the only thing necessary for salvation.

For instance, St. Mark 16:16, "And he said to them: Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved: but he that believeth not, shall be condemned."

"But he that believeth not, shall be condemned." Mighty strong words from the Savior!

Being a member of God's one, true, visible Church is also necessary for salvation, not a "body of believers", out there, somewhere!

St. Matthew 5:14, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid." And 1 St. Timothy 3:15, "And if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth."

Notice the Bible is calling the Church the pillar and bulwark of truth, not the "bible." Does this diminish the Bible in any respect? No, of course not.

Christ states that the gates of hell would not prevail against the Church that He founded upon the rock of St. Peter, St. Matthew 16:18, and that He would always be with it, St. Matthew 28:20.

Christ also tells St. Peter, the visible head of His Church on earth the following: St. Matthew 16:19, "And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou salt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and, whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven." This is the power to forgive sins and the power of infallibility! Imagine, the power to forgive sins given to mortal men!

In St. Paul's letter to the Ephesians 4:4, we read: There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all.

St. John 17:22-23 states: "The glory which thou [Father] hast given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one. I in them and thou in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them even as thou hast loved me."

Who heads Christ's (Catholic) Church on earth? St. Peter and his successors, see Acts 11:13-14, And he told us how he had seen the angel standing in this house and saying, Send to Joppa and bring Simon Called Peter; he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.

Quite telling is Acts 15:7, And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said them, "Brethren, you know that in the early days God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe." In St. John 21:15-17, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? He said to him, Yes, Lord; you know hat I love you. He said to him, Feed my lambsfeed my sheep." St. Matthew reports in chapter 16:15-19, Jesus saith to them: "but whom do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answering said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say to thee: That thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed in also in heaven."

In addition, in order to attain salvation, one must eat the flesh and drink the blood of Jesus Christ! Did He really mean that, or was Christ using some type of metaphor just to make a point? The answer is given in the Bible.

St. John chapter 6 should be read in its entirety to show how Christ "builds up" to a climax of one of the most important, incredible (and misunderstood) doctrines of the New Testament, but I'll present the key verses in order to save space and time.

St. John 6:51: "I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread which shall give for the life of the world is my flesh." 52: "The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?' As a good friend of my mine likes to say, the Jews were the first Protestants! They knew very well that Christ was talking about real flesh and real blood. And Christ not only did not deny that He meant real flesh and real blood, but He reinforced their understanding by proclaiming it. 53: So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you." 54: "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." 55: "For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed." 56: "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him." 57: "As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me." 58: "This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever."

Let us now jump to verse 61 and see what happens after Our Lord's proclamation: Many therefore, of His disciples hearing it, said, This saying is hard, and who can hear it. 65: "But there are some of you that believe not." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that did not believe, and who he was that would betray him. 67: After this many of his disciples went back; and walked no more with him.

I ask all non-Catholics: are you too walking away from Him? Are you too picking and choosing what you want to believe and what you think you can reject and still call yourself a Christian? Do you still believe that you don't have to receive Christ's body and blood in order to have life in you?

The only Church that truly provides this life-giving food - the Bread from Heaven - is the Catholic Church. Only Catholic priests can consecrate the bread and wine and "transubstantiation" them into the body and blood of the Christ that you (non-Catholics) claim to follow.

The Protestants can't do it, the Jews can't do it, the Muslims can't do it, only the Catholic priest can call down from Heaven the very Savior that that redeemed mankind, on the altar and offer the Real Presence to all in the state of grace.

Verse 68: Then Jesus said to the twelve: "Will you also go away?" 69: And Simon Peter answered him: "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. 70: And we have believed, and have known that thou are the Christ, the Son of God."

See also St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians in I Corinthians 11:23-29, and 1 Corinthians 10: 15-17 as well as Acts 2:44, 46-47.

Will you non-Catholics stay away too?

Do Catholics believe that other Christians can be saved? In charity (love) the answer must be no. The next step, of course, is conversion to the one, true Faith and the one, true, holy, Catholic (universal), and Apostolic Church founded by Jesus Christ upon the rock of St. Peter.

Learn more about this author, Gene De Lalla.
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