For Catholics - Must One Belong to the Catholic Church to be Saved?

Question

I would prefer answers only from Catholics (especially Roman Catholics). The basis of the question is; Does one have to either be a member of the Catholic Church or follow the riules of the Catholic Church to be saved? If so - please provide some sources.

Answer 1

Pastor Billy says: the answer can be both simply and complex to understand.

Simple understanding:
Yes because God only created one Church, one body to assume there is more than one body or some invisible body not fully united at the end of time would make Jesus a monster as he is the one head and we are the one body. To be a body we must be fully united. read the gospel John and Jesus' prayer to the Father for our complete oneness. If you believe in only one remnant Church than that Church is Catholic, Roman Catholic.

2. Complex answer:
some others have already posted much of it, I suggest reading the Catholic Church catechism on salvation. All those who have a valid baptism even those outside the physical church are in someway imperfectly united to the Roman Catholic Church. Catholics pray for full unity of all believers as Jesus also prayed for. Now with regards to non-believers or those of non-christian faiths Catholicism teaches that nothing is impossible for God. If God so wills for someone to be saved without knowledge of Jesus Christ through his mercy that person can be saved.

One should be a member of the Catholic Church purly because it is the One Church created by Jesus instructing upon our oneness. As far as riules I think you meant rituals. Every Christian community has ritual. Take the baptists for example they have a baptismal ritual of only dunking converts this is a ritual, or the Pentecostals they have the ritual of speaking in tongues during baptism or what about all the calendar feast days such a Christmas or Easter these are celebrated ritual by those other than Catholics. Ritual is used in all the high points of our life such as birth, baptism, marriage, graduation and so on so forth. Is God not worth of ritual in godly worship of him?
What I really think you are impling here is the use of ancient liturgy by Catholics in worship of God. The Jews use ancient liturgy in fact once you study Judaism you begin to understanding the natural transition from Judaism to Catholicism, from Old Covenant to New Covenant. Catholicism is the fullfillment of Judaism.

for the person(s) claiming you don't need a religion, Christianity is a religion, to follow Jesus is a religion learn your dictionary. You confuse the word religion with denomination. Denominationalism is a product of Protestantism. Catholicism has never claimed to be anything but the Church founded upon Peter by Jesus Christ.

addition: for Seig Heil , you'll find your naughty baptist (priests) ministers at this website http://www.reformation.com get some better matterial little man.

Answer 2

I was an active member of the Roman Catholic Church and I am the one you need to receive an answer from. I can give you two answers to your question. As an insider and an active member, it is natural for me to say "yes you have to be a member and (not or) follow the rules of the Catholic Church because that is what was taught to us." To follow such rules without belonging does not mean anything for the church.
Now as an outsider, it does not matter whether you are a Catholic or not; as long as you live righteously as a righteous man should, you will live in the grace of God. Of course, your wickedness if you are wicked shall be charged against you.
Roman Catholics was formerly a religion that originated from Judeo-Christian religion in the middle east where Christ was born and crucified by the Romans. Rome had been persecuting this religion everywhere they went but to their amazements that developed into fear, it kept on growing and converting most of their own captived citizens. And out of that fear, Constantine made a decision that will bring their citizens to a settlement. He made a decree to make Christianity as the official religion of the Empire. He did not establish it in Rome because he has to give a way to real Romans in Rome an assurance that it will not in anyway distort their pagan practices. What Constantinople did was to inject many Roman pagan myths that made the Judeo-Christian separated with the Rome creating the Roman Catholic Church. RCC is the start of the biggest lie in the life of the faithfuls. It is up to you now to make your decision. For me, the Old Testament is where I will base my belief on because from it, God promised that He will make a New Testament not written in any Book but in the hearts and mind of everyone. No brother will any longer say to another, "Know Thy God because they will all know me." Book of Isaiah and Jeremiah.
This could only mean that New Testament we presently have is a deception.

Answer 3

First, is the reality foremost? Let’s don't forget John eight:32 “And the reality shall set you loose” (John eight:32) When requested what He supposed by way of “set you loose” Jesus solutions “I am telling you the reality: everybody who sins is a slave of sin. A slave does now not belong to a loved ones completely, however a son belongs there perpetually. If the Son units you loose, then you'll be fairly loose.” (35-36) In different phrases, the reality will set you loose from sin. We can already evidently see that in actual fact a lovely foremost suggestion. Another verse to don't forget: “I am the way in which, the reality and the existence, no person involves the Father however by way of me” (John 14:6) The reality isn't just a suggestion, this is a man or woman (I am the way in which, the reality and the existence). “No one involves the Father”, Where is the Father? The Father is in Heaven. Therefore we're to grasp the reality if we're to arrive Heaven. Pretty valuable factor to have the reality don’t you consider? Second, we see that in actual fact a important commodity. But how do we all know the reality? Where can we pass? We pray to the Holy Spirit and seek the Bible and we're assured a victorious seek of the reality? Reality proves that notion fallacious. Most reality-seekers suppose they have got determined the reality and but we uncover that their notion is entirely contradictory to different honest reality-seekers. Nowhere in Scripture are we assured to be infallible interpreters. two Pet three:sixteen This is what he says in all his letters whilst he writes at the field. There are a few complex matters in his letters which ignorant and risky folks give an explanation for falsely, as they do with different passages of the Scriptures. So they deliver on their possess destruction. A unsuitable interpretation of the Scriptures can deliver on our possess destruction. This additionally implies that different religions can get to the reality despite the fact that the Catholic Church is the one assured to be guided into ALL reality. So, to grasp best elements of the reality of God is to grasp best elements of Jesus himself. How utterly do you want to grasp Jesus? God Bless Robin

Answer 4

All salvation is through the Holy Catholic Church. Now, what this means is that there is no other salvation than what is proclaimed by the Church. Remember the woman who appealed to Solomon because her baby had died and she was trying to take the other Mothers child because it was alive and the Mother said "For the life of the child, let her have it" This is much like the Catholic Church. If one were to look up all the doctrines on faith and salvation they would see how it is very possible for other Christian denominations to go to heaven.When the Apostles were on the veranda that Pentecost morning and they were accused of being drunk because they were speaking in everyone's tongue, the question was asked what must we do? The answer was simple "Repent and be Baptized for the forgiveness of sins" This is what is important.

Answer 5

No.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

+ About Non-Catholic Christian Churches: Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: the written Word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope, and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements. Christ's Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities as means of salvation, whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the Catholic Church. All these blessings come from Christ and lead to him.

+ About Judaism: "The Jewish faith, unlike other non-Christian religions, is already a response to God's revelation in the Old Covenant. To the Jews "belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ"; "for the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.

+ About Islam: The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day.

+ About other non-Christian religions: All nations form but one community. This is so because all stem from the one stock which God created to people the entire earth, and also because all share a common destiny, namely God. His providence, evident goodness, and saving designs extend to all against the day when the elect are gathered together in the holy city.

With love in Christ.

Answer 6

I really do not understand why one needs an answer from a Roman Catholic. The pope, who is a former Hitler Youth, can only give you answers about Hitler Theology. So you need to get answers elsewhere.

You have a better chance to be saved in the Baptist church. They do not have priests who are pedophiles. Also, Baptist is in the bible; Catholic is not. I have never read anything about Mary being holy. But the misguided Catholics pray to Mary. They say, “Holy Mary, mother of Christ.” In the Baptist Church, prayer is through Jesus Christ, not Mary.

With love in Christ.

Answer 7

Former Catholic.... Children still are.

Catholic teaching is that a person who is not Catholic, through no fault of their own, is still saved. More recently, they have adopted the position that other Christians are saved (through the grace of the church). Many ministers of other churches who convert to Catholocism are even accepted as priests in the Church.

Teachings over the years have become much less stringent than they were even 30 years ago though some Catholics still adhere to pre Vatican 2 teachings.

If you wish to know more, look in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Answer 8

Roman Catholics and Catholics are the same thing . Yes and no to your question we belong to the Catholic Church and as long as we believe in God and follow His teachings we will be saved

Answer 9

Although it is the stated will of God that all men belong to the One Church He personally founded for them, the Catholic Church; and although it is not the will of God that any unauthorized manmade churches should exist, nevertheless ...

"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 be saved." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 847)

Salvation is only through the Catholic Church, but this salvation is extended to those who possess a measure of the truth, received from the Catholic Church, the sole repository of the fullness of Christian truth, and who do their best to live according to that truth, within the limitations of their particular denominational affiliation. However, anyone who recognizes that the Holy Catholic Church is the One True Church founded by Christ, yet stubbornly refuses to enter it, cannot be saved. (Section 846) .
.

Answer 10

No. I've been a Roman Catholic all my life and I was never told I had to go to church to be saved. Church is a learning tool. God is in my heart.