Can a CATHOLIC help me understand what the Pope recently said?

Question

Did he mean that all non-catholics go to hell, or what? Catholics answer only please.

Answer 1

The pope definitely did not say that non-Catholics necessarily go to Hell. He said that there are deficiencies of one sort or another in non-Catholic communities, but the Church always holds out the hope of salvation for all.

Answer 2

No, that's not what he said. For awhile now the leaders of the Orthodox church have wanted to merge with the Catholic church, but they've been turned down.

Benedict said that the Orthodox church does have bishop lineage that can be traced back to the original apostles, but it's too defective in how it runs business now.

Protestant churches CANNOT trace their lineage back to the apostles and are thus not real churches since their clergy are not appointed accordingly.

The Pope never said that non-Catholics go to hell. NEVER. As a matter of fact, Pope John Paul II used to say that all Christians will deserve paradise. TRUE Christians. That is to say that you've accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

It's major Protestant figures that have said that Catholics will go to hell. Pat Robertson was once asked if he thinks Mother Teresa will go to heaven. He said no because she's not a "born-again Christian".

Haha... Well, if Mother Teresa ain't going to heaven, I don't think the rest of us have any good chances. She lived her life like Jesus. Full of compassion and selflessness, which is what Jesus preached.

SIDE NOTE: Man, I've been reading some of the other answers... Why do you even leave an "answer" if you don't know what you're talking about? It truly amazes me how IGNORANT people can be.

Answer 3

Catholics don't believe all non-Catholics go to Hell. We believe non-Catholics can get to Heaven but we have the shortest route. The Catholic church has never ever proclaimed any individual to be in Hell. We also believe that God can infuse all of the knowledge about Himself into a persons thinking in an instant so that a person can make a decision about whether he chooses to follow God or not. Faith and belief in God is the primary criteria. We Catholics do not have a corner on the market any more than anyone else does.

Answer 4

I am Catholic but I don't agree with him on non-catholics going to hell and I don't believe that is what he said exactly.

Also, why do non-catholics get so angry and hateful about a religion claiming to be the one and only truth. Every religion claims this. Why care what the pope says if Catholicism is not your faith?

Answer 5

The Pope did not say anything. He simply approved a new document that states nothing new: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20070629_responsa-quaestiones_en.html

Most Christian denominations believe that each of them is the fullest version of the Church of Christ.

While the Catholic Church also believes that she is "the highest exemplar" of the mystery that is the Church of Christ, she does not claim that non-Catholic Churches are not truly Christian. The Catholic Church teaches:

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.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 819: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p3.htm#819

With love in Christ.

Answer 6

koolk100 said it very well and i second his explaination. i hope you will understand that you asked this of catholics and from just the sampling i see now, you do not have answers from only catholics or even practicing catholics. the word catholic is in the universal sense -- as is Christian. the Rcc teaches and professes that the only way to escape the torments of hell is to repent and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord & Saviour. this can be done by any person within any denomination.

Answer 7

No, he did not mean that all non-catholics go to hell. In fact, Vatican II clearly states that although the RC church is supposedly the only "true" church, those who truly accept Christ will be saved, regardless of what denomination they are. The Pope believes that the RC church is the most correct in its doctrines and interpretations, but not that everyone else is wicked and destined for hell.

God bless!

Answer 8

I am Catholic, went to Catholic school and I still practice the religion. Remember one thing, God, not man will be your ultimate judge. I am very troubled by this Pope and some of his stances.If all non-Catholic are going to hell, then I want no part of a God that would condemn them like that.

Answer 9

I think he was just conferming what the catholic faith has always taught that unless you follow their rules you are damned although I do believe he tried to include some Christians out side the Catholic do do Gods work.

Answer 10

The Pope did NOT say that Protestant and other Christian denominations did not have the “means of salvation.”

In fact, what the document says is:

“It follows that these separated churches and Communities, though we believe they suffer from defects, are deprived neither of significance nor importance in the mystery of salvation. In fact the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as instruments of salvation,

The full document can be read at http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20070629_responsa-quaestiones_en.html