Will only Catholics get to Heaven?

Yes and No

Published on April 7, 2008 By lulapilgrim In Religion

In another blog, I was asked this question: Do you believe a person must be Catholic to get to Heaven?

The short answer is I believe the only requirement for a person to get to Heaven is that person's soul must be completely free of sin.

Regarding the Church, Christ developed the image of the Good Shepherd and His Church through the image of the flock or sheepfold and who will be in it. Read St. John 10 only 42 short verses.

"I am the Good Shepherd; and I know mine and mine know me" v. 14 ..."And other sheep I have that are not of this fold. Them also, I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd." v. 16 "As the Father knoweth me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for my sheep" v. 15 ....the Father and I are one." v. 30.

As far as the Church, I believe it cannot be a matter of indifference to which Church I belong. I have examined the reasons for my Catholic faith and also the claims of the Catholic Church. She is the only possible Church historically, Scripturallly, and logically and that she must be infallible in her official teachings in faith and morals. Once I knew that the Catholic Church is divinely qualified to speak the truth in religious matters, I accept her decisions and definitions. As far as I'm concerned nothing could be more wise than that. In fact, it would be sheer folly to do otherwise.

I believe that since Christ established one Church, I am not free to belong to any other. I believe that nevertheless, all those outside the Church through no fault of their own will be saved if they follow their conscience and do not die in mortal sin.

I cannot conscientiously say that one religion is as good as another. I believe that those who labor under ignorance of the true religion, if this ignorance be invincible, are not before the eyes of God burdened with guilt for this thing. I believe that those will be lost who are convinced that the Catholic religion is the true religion and yet refuse to embrace it.

I believe that is what I mean when I say: "Outside the Catholic Church there is no salvation."

Is it not God's will that all should be Catholic?

I believe it is. For Christ established the Catholic Church, and commanded her go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the SOn and of the Holy Spirit. But He said also, "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved, he that believes not shall be condemned." He thereby tells us that not all who hear the truth will accept it. He Himself did not convert all to whom He preached. In individual cases, we must refuse to judge in which even those who have heard the truth concerning the Catholic Chruch apprehend its significance. Their responsibiliity in remaining non-Catholics must be left to Almighty God.

Meantime, we Catholics pray for them realizing that God's time is the best time. It is for us to pray that He give them the grace of the Catholic faith, and that they may correspond with that grace despite all difficulties when it becomes clear to them where God is calling them.

Comments (Page 1)

lulapilgrim

on Apr 07, 2008

Egads! This has come out in small size font. This is my first blog since JU changed the format and I'm at a loss as to how to change the font size.

If someone will give me some simple directions how to edit this, I'll be very happy to do so.

Leauki

on Apr 08, 2008

This has come out in small size font.

It's perfectly readable. Please don't make it ugly by changing the font size to something bigger!

Tova7

on Apr 08, 2008

Glad to see you didn't ignore my question Lula, I was wondering about that.

If I were to sum it up in a few lines would this be correct?

1. Catholics go to heaven

2. Catholics who don't want to be involved but sill associate themselves with the Catholic church, don't get to go.

I believe that those will be lost who are convinced that the Catholic religion is the true religion and yet refuse to embrace it.

I am still not clear though. Lets bring it down to a bite size level.

You know KFC, do you think she's going to heaven?

Dr Guy

on Apr 08, 2008

I am still not clear though. Lets bring it down to a bite size level.
You know KFC, do you think she's going to heaven?

A rare venture into religion, but I will answer for myself. Yes, she will.

The key here is "Those who are convinced, yet do not embrace...". Many are not convinced, and KFC is one of them from what I know.

Zoologist03

on Apr 08, 2008

This has to be placed here. It's just the rule.

Yes, yes it is.

As for who goes to heaven? Eh...I don't know. I'll tell you when and if I get there.

~Zoo

Tova7

on Apr 08, 2008

Dumb dumb dumb dumb.

Benmeister

on Apr 08, 2008

There is no such thing as an afterlife. What matters is what you do while you're here on this earth.

Zoologist03

on Apr 08, 2008

Dumb dumb dumb dumb.

Oh, it's on now.

~Zoo

KFC Kickin For Christ

on Apr 08, 2008

I'm a bit confused. You say this:

I cannot conscientiously say that one religion is as good as another.

Then you say this:

I believe that those who labor under ignorance of the true religion........I believe that those will be lost who are convinced that the Catholic religion is the true religion and yet refuse to embrace it.

So which is it? Is one religion REALLY better than all the rest?

Why is there mentioned 22 churches in scripture before the inception of the CC? There was the Church of Corinth, the Church of Ephesus, The Church at Philipi, The Church Thesalonica, etc. 22 Churches were mentioned. They were not the RCC as it had not been formed yet.

Can you show me in scripture Lula where our church attendance is mandatory for Salvation. Because I know of no scripture that mandates this.

The only thing that keeps us out of church, is not sin, is not church attendance, is not being good, is not being baptized. The only thing keeping us out of church is unbelief. For that there is no cure.

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved..."Acts 16:31

KFC Kickin For Christ

on Apr 08, 2008

I cannot edit so let me rephrase...."the only thing keeping us out of HEAVEN is unbelief." All sin is forgveable.....all but the sin of unbelief.

andrew_

on Apr 08, 2008

So basically, the only way we're getting into heaven is subscribing to an institution. That's lovely.

I sincerely hope you get into heaven, author. That way god can smack the living bajeezus out of you for such a narrow-minded view.

lulapilgrim

on Apr 08, 2008

It's perfectly readable.

Thanks, Leauki.

qrush

on Apr 08, 2008

I consider myself a practical Catholic (yes, I go to church, not every Sunday though , and I'm a minister/lector and active in my community), and I wholeheartedly disagree with this viewpoint. There are many paths to salvation in my opinion, and we Catholics have chosen just one. To completely disregard all other faiths is utterly irrational and very close-minded. I encourage you to perhaps look into some of the belief systems in the world and familiarize yourself with them, be it Judaism, Buddhism, Islam...anything will help you gain a bigger picture of the world that surrounds you. Be open...please.

lulapilgrim

on Apr 08, 2008

Tova7 posts:

If I were to sum it up in a few lines would this be correct?
1. Catholics go to heaven
2. Catholics who don't want to be involved but sill associate themselves with the Catholic church, don't get to go.

As to your #1, No one who has the stain of mortal or venial upon their soul at the time of death will enter into Heaven. Therefore, Catholics who die with no sin upon their soul go to Heaven. "For the wages of sin is death." Rom. 6:23 "There shall not enter into it (Heaven)anything defiled," Apoc. 21:27. I believe immediately after death the eternal destiny of each separated soul is decided by the just judgment of God. Our soul will be illuminated as to its own innocence or guilt. Those who are found unfit as a result in their death in the state of mortal sin, will go to Hell. THose who are not quite fit, owing to the presence of venial sin or some spiritual debt still due the justice of God, will go to Purgatory. And those who are quite fit, having so stain of sins upon their soul, will be admitted at once to Heaven.

As to your #2, would you be more specific about "not wanting to be involved"?

Lula writes: I believe that those will be lost who are convinced that the Catholic religion is the true religion and yet refuse to embrace it.

I am still not clear though. Lets bring it down to a bite size level.
You know KFC, do you think she's going to heaven?

It's not for me to say who will go to Heaven. Only God can judge hearts and the state of souls.

lulapilgrim

on Apr 08, 2008

There is no such thing as an afterlife.

Benmeister,

Obviously, I disagree...the "afterlife" is either Heaven or Hell. I believe God created us in His Image and Likeness and therefore we are created as eternal beings...and as eternal beings will spending eternity in either Heaven or Hell.

On what basis do you say there is no such thing as an afterlife?

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