Catholics, please answer!?

Question

If Catholics believe that you must use a priest to ask the Lord for forgiveness, then do Catholics believe standard Christians, who believe we are to ask the Lord personally (no priest involved) are unsaved?

Answer 1

+ Reconciliation +

The Catholic Church believes that "Only God forgives sin."

When a penitent person asks God for forgiveness, his (or her) sins are immediately forgiven.

Catholics also believe that when someone sins they not only hurt their relationship with God, they also injure the entire church, the body of Christ.

Jesus said, "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19)

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,"Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." (Luke 20:22-23)

The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation with a priest ordained in the name of Jesus Christ not only reconciles the sinner to God but with the entire church, including you and me.

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt2.htm

+ Non-Catholic Christians +

Non-Catholic Christians can be saved.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states,

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.

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p3.htm#819


+ With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Catholics believe that you can ask the lord for forgivness anytime even without a priest aslong as you are sincere, However they also believe that going to a priest shows your sincerity better becuase In the act of reconciliation. The priest takes the place of Jesus.

Answer 3

That's God's call, nobody else's.

Catholic know and believe that sins are forgiven via the Sacrament of Confession.

When it comes to non-Catholic Christians whom don't subscribe to belief in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, proper Catholics do not find it unreasonable to assume a non-Catholic Christians sins can be forgiven so long as one's heart is truly repentant.

Answer 4

the process of confessing our sins to the priest is a mere act of accountablilty...which may lead us not to commit the sin again and again..we can directly ask God for forgiveness. In an other prespective, cosidering the ancient Christianity, the people(pagans etc..) did not know how to approach or pray directly to god, since anything related to God or the church was so secretive..hence came up with an idea of helping people to confess the sins to the preist who inturn asks for forgiveness from Christ.
Modern generation are very much exposed to christianity and can read and understand Bible well, which leads to self praying to god for forgiveness

Answer 5

As a person who was brought up in the Catholic faith, and has made excursions back at times. The priest's role is that of a mentor, one who guides a person back onto the right path. Any who seek forgiveness may receive it through the Holy Spirit. Sharing our faults with others does help us become more humble though. YBIC

Answer 6

>>do Catholics believe standard Christians, who believe we are to ask the Lord personally (no priest involved) are unsaved?<<

Not necessarily, but I think you have made it far more difficult for yourselves by rejecting a sacrament instituted by Christ Himself for the purpose of helping us get to Heaven. Jesus said, "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few." (Matthew 7:13-14). It breaks my heart that you reject the tools He left for us. It is like you are trying to climb Mount Everest without proper gear.

Answer 7

The Catholic Church teaches that minor, veniel sins may be forgiven by going directly to God and asking for forgiveness. It is only mortal sins that MUST be confessed to a priest.

Does this mean that the mortal sins of non-Catholics are not forgiven?

I do not know, but that is a VERY good question.

Answer 8

Sad but true that is why I often answer to other questions that I think only Catholics are going to heaven. Of course almost all religions believe that there way is the only right way which only shows the problems with religions.

Answer 9

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven (CAtholic Church on St. Peter); and whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19)

"Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 18:18)

Jesus gave authority to the Church to forgive sins, just as the father gives authority to Jesus to forgive sins. To answer your question, Non-catholics can still be saved, but we believe the sacrements in catholicims strengthen the faith.

Answer 10

Depends on if you are wrapped up in the dogma, or if you believe that God loves everyone whether they eat meat on Friday or not.