A Question for Catholics?

Question

I am a Christian...I have read the Bible, also works by St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila and others...I am baptized...My question is: will I go to hell if I don't convert to Catholicism? I respect the Church, but feel uncomfortable because of social anxiety and other reasons to enter a new environment.

This question is very important to me...I hope someone can give me a good answer with links as proof.

Answer 1

Non-Catholic Christians do not have to convert to Catholicism to go to heaven.

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.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

You won't go to hell simply because you're not Catholic.

However, if you truly believe the Catholic Church is the One, Holy, Universal, and Apostolic faith, you do need to become Cathoilc.

Having said that, if your social anxiety condition is real; that is to say clinically determined to exist by a medical profesional, then you are allowed certain dispensations on account of your condition. You could become Catholic and not have to tolerate uncomfortable social situations if they make you too anxious due to a condition beyond your control.

You might want to call a local Catholic parish and talk to a priest. He could give you far more detailed information, and explain how you could become a Catholic (if you chose to) without any interference from your social anxiety.

Answer 3

Prior to Vatican II the Church had a doctrine which said that there is no salvation outside of the Catholic Church. Although, there is a Biblical warrant for this doctrine the Church has not invoked it since Vatican II.
Nonetheless, I don't think you will go to hell if you believe in Jesus Christ and the one who sent him. My suggestion, however, is you see a priest about your concerns.
If it means anything to you, I was once a Presbyterian Protestant before I converted to Catholicism. (See my profile) I understand your situation perfectly well because I experienced it myself. After a while though my family and friends realized that they had to respect my decision.
Peace and every blessing!

Answer 4

sure, i'm a practising Catholic. I do sense undesirable even as, at Christmas and Easter, all those "two times a twelve months" Catholics come out - yet then I comprehend that it would nicely be worse. it ought to all precise be a danger they don't come out in any respect. it truly is uncomplicated for someone, who attends Church a week, to pass to Mass on Christmas, Easter, and Holy Days of legal responsibility. I many times ask your self purely how a lot more beneficial tricky it truly is for human beings, who do not attend Mass generally, to get out and pass to Mass some time in line with twelve months. we are able to not imagine it, because all of us recognize what we will be lacking. i don't think of those "two times a twelve months" varieties can completely take excitement in what it truly is they're lacking. in the experience that they did, that they'd be at Mass more beneficial than two times a twelve months. i'm proud to be Catholic, so it is each and every of the more beneficial disappointing when I see human beings taking an "oh hum: body of ideas in the route of their vocation as lay Catholics. All we may be able to fairly do about it truly is pray, and want that they party we set will, sometime, inspire them to commence residing the Catholic way of existence all twelve months round.

Answer 5

Ahh, the old Catholic Guilt... I am also a Christian, and I don't think God wants us to be unhappy.
The bible says nothing about going to hell if you aren't a Catholic, Protestant,or Baptist. What it does tell us, is that Jesus died for our sins, and that he was taken up to heaven and one day he will return for the rest of us.
I go to "Church of the Yard"... Every day I go into my back yard (cuz God is there too) and we have this little talk. I say thanks for everything He has given me, and to forgive me when I do things wrong....
As for going to hell for not converting.. that is such hell fire and brimstone stuff.. Its a scare tactic that churches use to try to keep you in line, and to make you come in and put money in the basket..
Believe in the bible.. believe that Jesus died for the forgiveness of our sins,and be excellent to each other.

Answer 6

Non-Catholic Christians do not have to convert to Catholicism to go to heaven. As a matter of fact, they have a better chance in they are not Cath-lick, because they will not be under the direction of a former Nazi.

With love in all the Cath-lick mens, cause imacathlictwo

Answer 7

The Catholic Church does not teach that you will go to hell simply because you have not converted to Catholicism.

Answer 8

According to The Catholic Catechism, "Many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church." It other words heaven can still be obtained by non-Catholics. See paragraphs 818-822 in the catechism.

Answer 9

I am going to answer based on your hesitations.... if you are uncomfortable in a social environment, I suggest talking to a good priest about learning more about the faith. They are very busy, so it may be difficult to find one who has time for private instructions- be sure you discuss your anxiety. He can also help you meet people slowly who can help you learn the faith.

We believe that people who truly do their best to live as God intends and to please Him are good candidates for Heaven. God chooses hell for no one- we choose it for ourselves. He knows each of our hearts.


If by chance you are in Ohio, southern Michigan or western Indiana, contact me and I'll help you find a priest

Answer 10

The Bible says that we are saved by grace. It does not say that we are saved by being Catholic.
We are saved by grace, not by works, so that no one can boast.
We are saved by grace alone. Recall that in Acts 16:31 the jailer asked Paul and Silas how to be saved. They responded, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." The jailer believed and immediately became saved.
Close to 200 times in the New Testament salvation is said to be by faith alone - with no works in sight. Consider the following:
John 3:15 tells us that "everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."
John 5:24 says, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my words and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."
In John 11:25 Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies."
John 23:46 says, "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness."
John 20:31 says, "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."
If salvation were not by faith alone, then Jesus' message in the Gospel of John - manifest in the above quotations - would be deceptive, stating that there is one condition for salvation when there are allegedly two - faith and works.
I must emphasize that we are saved by faith for works. Works are not the condition of our salvation, but a consequence of it We are saved not by works, but by the kind of faith that produces works.

Eph 2:8-10 God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this: It is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.