> From: crobertshaw@nwu.edu (carolyn robertshaw)
> Subject: other faiths & the catechism
>
> what is the current stand of the church on other religions
> according to the present Catechism and how does it relate to
> "where do the unbaptized go after death" and being "saved"?
Dear Carolyn,
Your question is answered in these numbers of the "Catechism of
the Catholic Church":
Who belongs to the Catholic Church?
836 "All men are called to this catholic unity of the People of
God....And to it, in different ways, belong or are ordered: the
Catholic faithful, others who believe in Christ, and finally all
mankind, called by God's grace to salvation."
837 "Fully incorporated into the society of the Church are those
who, possessing the Spirit of Christ, accept all the means of
salvation given to the Church together with her entire organization,
and who - by the bonds constituted by the profession of faith, the
sacraments, ecclesiastical government, and communion - are joined in
the visible structure of the Church of Christ, who rules her through
the Supreme Pontiff and the bishops. Even though incorporated into
the Church, one who does not however persevere in charity is not
saved. He remains indeed in the bosom of the Church, but `in body'
not `in heart.'"
838 "The Church knows that she is joined in many ways to the
baptized who are honored by the name of Christian, but do not profess
the Catholic faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity or
communion under the successor of Peter." Those "who believe in
Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although
imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church." With the Orthodox
Churches, this communion is so profound "that it lacks little to
attain the fullness that would permit a common celebration of the
Lord's Eucharist."
The Church and non-Christians
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."
More in my next message.
Sincerely in Christ,
Father Mateo
-- Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit --
-- | Catholic Information Network (619-449-6030) | Fido: (1:202/1613) Internet: http://www.cin.org/cin