Who is saved (a question especially for Catholics)?

Question

This is not meant to be offensive to Catholics...but recently the Pope came out reaffirming the Church's position that the Catholic Church is the only "true church" (insinuating its necessity for salvation, and that therefore protestants are not saved). Yet at the same time in Vatican II the Catholic church goes on to say that Muslims who do not believe Jesus is God are saved...

Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium 16, November 21, 1964: “…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…”

Surely, they are not saying Lutherans are condemned, but Muslims saved? Can someone clarify this for me?

Answer 1

Let me preface my answer with the following quotation from the document in question "RESPONSES TO SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING CERTAIN ASPECTS
OF THE DOCTRINE ON THE CHURCH" released by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith" (found here: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20070629_responsa-quaestiones_en.html):

"It is possible, according to Catholic doctrine, to affirm correctly that the Church of Christ is present and operative in the churches and ecclesial Communities not yet fully in communion with the Catholic Church, on account of the elements of sanctification and truth that are present in them.[9] Nevertheless, the word “subsists” can only be attributed to the Catholic Church alone precisely because it refers to the mark of unity that we profess in the symbols of the faith (I believe... in the “one” Church); and this “one” Church subsists in the Catholic Church.[10]"

In Catholic theology, there is a distinction between ordinary and extraordinary means of salvation. Ordinarily, the Sacraments are necessary for our salvation. That is the usual, normal mode of sanctification and salvation. Because the Sacraments, most of all the Eucharist, are necessary for salvation so too is validly ordained priests through apostolic succession, meaning that these ministers must be ordained from those who can trace their succession back to the Apostles. Because only the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church have valid apostolic succession, the Pope is stating that only they can be called true "Churches" in the fullest sense. Protestant ecclesial communities lack apostolic succession, thus lack true sacrament of Holy Orders, and thus are lacking in Sacraments - chiefly in a valiud Eucharist. These aspects are all part of the ordinary way man is saved.

Now, there is yet the extraordinary means of salvation. In the early Church there was always understood the baptism of blood, that martyrs could be saved even though they weren't baptized (since baptism was viewed as a necessity). Because of their willingness to die rather than deny Christ, they received the effects and grace of baptism without ever having it. That is one example of extraordinary means of salvation. The Church says that those outside of the Catholic Church can be saved through extraordinary means, by God giving them grace and by these individuals responding even if they have yet to enter the visible confines of the Church. Ultimately God knows each persons heart and only He is the final judge. That isn't to say it is okay to be outside of the one Church but rather to say that those outside may be ignorant of the truth and God is yet working in them. That is why the Church can believe Muslims may be saved by an extraordinary work of God while also affirming that Islam is ultimately not salvific, lacking much truth and the means of grace.

The Church does not say that Lutherans or Protestants are absolutely condemned. See above where the CDF states that there are "elements of sanctification and truth that are present in them". The Catholic belief is that any elements of truth or of grace that exist outside of the Catholic Church are really aspects of the Church and that they lead towards union with the Church. These elements of truth and grace existing outside of the visible confines of the Catholic Church are used by God to bring those outside to salvation. It must be stated however that the Church says (reference Dominus Iesus, a document released during John Paul II's papacy) that those outside of the Church are in a deficient state. It is more difficult for them to attain to salvation because they lack the fullness of truth and of grace which is available within the safe confines of the Catholic Church (i.e. they lack the fullness of the truth of the faith, they lack all 7 valid sacraments which are means of grace).

Does that help at all? Feel free to contact me if you'd like to discuss the issue more. The Church acknowledges all aspects of truth and grace outside of her visible confines. As St. Augustine stated in the City of God, there are many outside of the visible structure of the Church who will be saved and many within the visible structure of the Church who ultimately will be lost. That is not a reference to an "invisible church" but rather an acknowledgment of the fact that God alone is the judge. There is still the one visible Church which subsists in the Catholic Church. The CDF document clarifies what it means that the one Church of Christ subsists in the Catholic Church:

"Christ “established here on earth” only one Church and instituted it as a “visible and spiritual community”[5], that from its beginning and throughout the centuries has always existed and will always exist, and in which alone are found all the elements that Christ himself instituted.[6] “This one Church of Christ, which we confess in the Creed as one, holy, catholic and apostolic […]. This Church, constituted and organised in this world as a society, subsists in the Catholic Church, governed by the successor of Peter and the Bishops in communion with him”.[7]

"In number 8 of the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen gentium ‘subsistence’ means this perduring, historical continuity and the permanence of all the elements instituted by Christ in the Catholic Church[8], in which the Church of Christ is concretely found on this earth."

There is then an endurance, historical continuity and permenance of all Christ itended in the one Catholic Church yet there can exist elements of truth and grace outside of her visible confines. While the Catholic Church is the ordinary means of salvation (since she has all 7 valid sacraments, has the fullness of truth, and has the successor of St. Peter has established by Christ) God yet works in extraordinary ways to save some outside of her visible members. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: God has bound Himself to His Sacraments but He Himself is not bound by them. While God promises grace in the sacraments, He also grants grace outside of them to whomever He wishes.

Hope this explanation helps a bit.

Answer 2

We Catholics do not use the terms "saved" and "not saved". The Pope's recent document did not say anything about who is and who is not saved. You have insinuated that the Pope said this, but he did not.

What the Pope said is the same thing Catholics have been saying for 2,000 years: 1) We are the church which was founded by Jesus upon the rock that is Peter.

We feel that we are following the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Good people of other faiths can also go to heaven, that is for God to decide.

Answer 3

The same vatican II document states the following:

"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"

The news reports of the document recently approved by the Vatican was horribly misquoted and the interpretation by the news serevices was actually OPPOSITE of what the document actually said.

You can read the actual document by going to http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20070629_responsa-quaestiones_en.html

Answer 4

Your reiteration of the Pope's statement is correct. Your subjective interpretation as to the "insinuation" contained therein is incorrect. The Catechism of the Catholic Church clearly states the Church's teaching on both points. Yes, the Catholic Church is indeed the only Church founded by Jesus Christ, and the only Christian Church He ever intended to exist. History plainly demonstrates that the Catholic Church is the only Church that can trace its history directly back to the Apostles and to Christ Himself; and we know that Christ approved no other churches to be founded in His name because He plainly said so. No, that does not mean that non-Catholics cannot be saved. That teaching is also plainly stated in the Catechism.

Answer 5

The Catholic Church teaches:

+ 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.

For more information, see:
+ 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
+ The Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 819 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p3.htm#819

With love in Christ.

Answer 6

Anyone can be saved whether he is a Christian or Non-Christian through God's grace. What the Vatican II documents are saying is the fact that it is only in the Catholic Church where one can find the fullness of truth and saving grace. You failed to cite the specific Church documents so it is difficult for me to accept your thesis.

Answer 7

I do believe our pope has since his becoming the pope put his foot in his mouth several times now, so to speak the truth in today's world is committing suicide, and that goes for anyone out there, when any form of injustice is over looked because of truth, then one needs to ask them selves is this the kind of world we want to live in, I know as a catholic that we do not believe in the Islamic religion in any way shape or form, because our world is absolutely full of false prophets today, as to who will be saved all that ask god will be saved, God has never separated man from man because of what he believes in, all one needs to do is ask, may God bless.

Answer 8

Sure, easy...I am Christian, Episcoplian, and attended mostly Catholic schools growing up and even as a child of seven, I was struck by the hubris and intolerance of the Catholics. As for the Vatican, anything that comes out of that particular haven of hypocrisy, I would take with a grain or twelve of salt! Catholics believe they are supreme in God's eyes and hold the only key to Heaven; NOTHING could be further from the truth! God did not create us and religion and beliefs solely for the benefit of the Catholics; He created all for all, not all for one.
God loves ALL of us, regardless of who what where or how we worship; those who transgress repeat their time on earth but eventually all get to Heaven. It is the Catholics who presume to speak for God out of their own egos and narrow minded intolerance; how I hated those beliefs and how relieved I always was to get to my own church on Sundays!

Answer 9

I don't think the Vatican has ever implied that only Catholics are saved since the Catholic Church believe that Christ died for all. the Pope just said the truth that Catholics have the fullness of truth.

Answer 10

God created us with a suggestions of our very own. we are in a position to be certain directly to be stable or evil. devil regulations over the earth, as a result we are tempted to do evil. some individuals face up to his temptations on a similar time as others supply in to evil. yet to no longer subject, God is conscious we are vulnerable, and we are sinners. If we settle for that Jesus died for our sins,we can be saved.

Answer 11

I personally don't care what it says. God is the Sole Judge, not the Vatican.

Muslims saved? Yes. Jews? Yes. Buddhists? Yes. Like I said, God is the only Judge.