What is the official view of the Catholic church on other religions?

Answer 1

The current views of the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) concerning other Christian denominations and other religions are explained in a Vatican declaration Dominus Iesus. According to the Times News Service, the statement implies that "Churches such as the Church of England, where the apostolic succession of bishops from the time of St. Peter is disputed by Rome, and churches without bishops, are not considered 'proper' churches." They suffer from "defects."
Religions other than Christianity are considered to be "gravely deficient." Their rituals can constitute "an obstacle to salvation" for their followers. 1,2

Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faithsaid that the document was infallible since it was "explicitly approved and confirmed by the pope." The pope had said that it was "his will that what it contains be believed by all the church." 6

Since the Church teaches that a very lengthy interval in Purgatory or an eternity in Hell awaits the unsaved, the adverse consequences of an individual following another religion (or a Christian denomination other than the RCC) are severe -- perhaps infinite infinite in nature.

Answer 2

Pastor Billy says: read the Catholic Church Catechism, or any of the several Church documents such as Lumen Gentium

http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html

The Church teaches we are called to accept what is true in all religions as God is truth and absolutely never changing.
The Church teaches there is only one Christian Church not an invisible multitude. All other groups calling themselves Christian churches are acknowledged as communities some more true than others but never containing the fullness of God's revealed truth. Yahoo answers is riddled with anti-catholics who persecute the Church and her members one more sign of where truth is.


Don s is close minded little twerp. Without acknowledging it Don has already accepted Roman Catholic authority by accepting the NT canon of his bible which he loves to think he understands. Don get some better material what you whine about on here doesn't cut it with Catholics anymore. If you really want to evangelise you'll have to present something truthful and even than that would only guide people to Christ's one true Church. Still hoping you'll find it also Don.

Answer 3

THere are enitre documents from Vatican II on the Church's relationships with different religions:

on other Christians:
However, one cannot charge with the sin of the separation those who at present are born into these communities [that resulted from such separation] and in them are brought up in the faith of Christ, and the Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers . . . . All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church."272

they are definied as seperated brotheren

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

ON non Christian religions:

One is the community of all peoples, one their origin, for God made the whole human race to live over the face of the earth.(1) One also is their final goal, God. His providence, His manifestations of goodness, His saving design extend to all men,(2) until that time when the elect will be united in the Holy City, the city ablaze with the glory of God, where the nations will walk in His light.(3)

Men expect from the various religions answers to the unsolved riddles of the human condition, which today, even as in former times, deeply stir the hearts of men: What is man? What is the meaning, the aim of our life? What is moral good, what sin? Whence suffering and what purpose does it serve? Which is the road to true happiness? What are death, judgment and retribution after death? What, finally, is that ultimate inexpressible mystery which encompasses our existence: whence do we come, and where are we going?

2. From ancient times down to the present, there is found among various peoples a certain perception of that hidden power which hovers over the course of things and over the events of human history; at times some indeed have come to the recognition of a Supreme Being, or even of a Father. This perception and recognition penetrates their lives with a profound religious sense


ALL religions hold truth and good

http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decl_19651028_nostra-aetate_en.html


These are the official documents and teachings

EDIT:
Meg that s completely not true ALL are saved by the grace of God (Baptism of desire. . . living a life that is a testament of connecting with God's love, without having to be Catholic)

EDIT II: Don S everything from the Catholic Church can be found in the Bible. Read they documents they are cross reference and citation of mutliple scriptuarl passages for our beliefs. ( not just one but multiple for each belief)

Answer 4

In addition, to the quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church above, you might want to read the following documents from Vatican II:

+ Orientalium Ecclesiarum, Decree on the Catholic Churches of the Eastern Rite: http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19641121_orientalium-ecclesiarum_en.html

+ Unitatis Redintegratio, Decree on Ecumenism: http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19641121_unitatis-redintegratio_en.html

+ Nostra Aetate, the Declaration on the Relation of the church to Non-Christian Religions: http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decl_19651028_nostra-aetate_en.html

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

Officially the view is that there is only one Jesus and only one baptism. Denominations who validly baptize are saving their members. The Catholic Church believes that many denominations have portions of the Truth. The Body of Christ is all baptized persons in Sanctifying grace.

Answer 6

It is the belief of the Catholic Church that the "fullness of faith" resides in the Catholic Church. Protestant Christians are brothers and sisters in faith but imperfectly reconciled. From the Catholic Catechism (not to bore you but just to convince you that I am not making this up):

819 "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, and are in themselves calls to "Catholic unity."

822 Concern for achieving unity "involves the whole Church, faithful and clergy alike." But we must realize "that this holy objective - the reconciliation of all Christians in the unity of the one and only Church of Christ - transcends human powers and gifts." That is why we place all our hope "in the prayer of Christ for the Church, in the love of the Father for us, and in the power of the Holy Spirit."

Regarding non-Christians. We recognize that there are elements of truth in non-Christian traditions as well:

839 "Those who have not yet received the Gospel are related to the People of God in various ways."

The relationship of the Church with the Jewish People. When she delves into her own mystery, the Church, the People of God in the New Covenant, discovers her link with the Jewish People, "the first to hear the Word of God." 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."

840 And when one considers the future, God's People of the Old Covenant and the new People of God tend towards similar goals: expectation of the coming (or the return) of the Messiah. But one awaits the return of the Messiah who died and rose from the dead and is recognized as Lord and Son of God; the other awaits the coming of a Messiah, whose features remain hidden till the end of time; and the latter waiting is accompanied by the drama of not knowing or of misunderstanding Christ Jesus.


841 The Church's relationship with the Muslims. "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."

842 The Church's bond with non-Christian religions is in the first place the common origin and end of the human race:

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. . .

843 The Catholic Church recognizes in other religions that search, among shadows and images, for the God who is unknown yet near since he gives life and breath and all things and wants all men to be saved. Thus, the Church considers all goodness and truth found in these religions as "a preparation for the Gospel and given by him who enlightens all men that they may at length have life."

Answer 7

They probably got a web site to find the answer for this.These people never use a Bible,just look at these answers.

Answer 8

They believe that only (baptized) Catholics will go to heaven and everyone else will go to hell.

Answer 9

Read this link and you will have all your answers before you make a choice. It's all yours!

http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/False%20Religions/false_religions.htm#rc

http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/False%20Religions/false_religions.htm

Answer 10

they're evil