Question Title | Posted By | Question Date |
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non-Christians saved? | Omar | Monday, July 16, 2007 |
Question: Hello Brother, I know you've talked about this before, but I can't seem to remember where. What type of provision does the Catholic Church provide in its teachings about those who are not Christians being saved after death? For example, if a Muslim or Hindu live their life out in selfless love, doesn't the Catholic Church acknowledge the possibility of their salvation as well? Thanks and God Bless you and your ministry. |
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Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM
Dear Omar: While the normal and usual way to salvation is by literal membership in the Catholic Church and participation in her Sacraments, God is not bound by the Sacraments and can save people extra-Sacramentally. Here is the teaching of the Church from the Catechism:
Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it. 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.
God Bless, Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum
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