The Catholic Church's Views

[19Bones79]

I wasn't sure which forum would be best used for this thread, any pointing in the right direction if necessary would be appreciated. 


Here follows a brief summary of the Catholic Church's Views on salvation as summarized by Elon's useful little chatbot:

 

The official stance of the Catholic Church is nuanced on this matter. Here's how it can be understood:

Jesus Christ as the Sole Mediator: 
The Catholic Church firmly holds that Jesus Christ is the sole mediator between God and humanity for salvation. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) states:

CCC 846: 
"How are we to understand this affirmation, often repeated by the Church Fathers? Re-formulated positively, it means that all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body."

CCC 161: 
"Believing in Jesus Christ and in the One who sent him for our salvation is necessary for obtaining that salvation."

Universal Salvific Will: 
However, the Church also teaches that God desires the salvation of all people and that His grace is not bound solely to the visible structures of the Church:

CCC 1260: 
"Since Christ died for all, and since all men are in fact called to one and the same destiny, which is divine, we must hold that the Holy Spirit offers to all the possibility of being made partakers, in a way known to God, of the Paschal mystery."

Salvation for Non-Christians: 
The Church acknowledges that those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ or His Church, but who seek God with a sincere heart and live according to their conscience, can be saved:

Lumen Gentium 16 from Vatican II: 

"Those also can attain to salvation who through no fault of their own do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, yet sincerely seek God and moved by grace strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience."

This teaching does not imply that there are multiple paths to salvation in the same way, but rather that God's grace and mercy can work through various circumstances known only to Him. Theologically, the Church maintains:

Salvation comes through Christ, but the means of grace can be mysterious and inclusive beyond the visible boundaries of the Church.
The Church sees itself as the primary and ordinary means by which Christ's salvation is mediated to humanity, but does not exclude the possibility of salvation for those not formally within its fold due to circumstances beyond their control.

Thus, while the Catholic Church affirms that Jesus Christ is essential for salvation, it also recognizes that God's salvific grace might reach people in ways that are not fully understood or visible to us, yet always through Christ, even if implicitly or indirectly.

 


This reminds me of the story of the Eskimo asking the missionary whether he would have gone to hell had the missionary not shown up to spread the Word of God.

The missionary responded by saying 'no'. 

The Eskimo clearly perplexed asked the missionary: 'Then why tell me?'.


This is the mother church of Christianity claiming that people who don't know Jesus Christ can still enter heaven. 


I have thoughts. 

While I'm permanently invested in Catholic Candace Owens' investigative series, I simply can't help thinking she's a plant, just like Russell Brand. 

And is salvation obtainable if you do not know Christ or do not know (of) Christ?

Because believers would contend that nobody who hasn't accepted Christ, knows Him. Am I wrong about that?

To me this is sneaky fine print with huge ramifications.

[FCD]

I have always been of the mind that true salvation knows no denominational boundaries.

One could even construct an argument which posits the establishment of any such alleged boundary is, in itself, a sin in the form of lust of money and/or greed.  I would even argue that the pillars within the construct of organized religion realize this better than anyone and, left to their own private consultation with their mirror on their wall, willingly choose to ignore this notion under the ruse of their self-proclaimed piety.

[19Bones79]

I have always been of the mind that true salvation knows no denominational boundaries.

One could even construct an argument which posits the establishment of any such alleged boundary is, in itself, a sin in the form of lust of money and/or greed.  I would even argue that the pillars within the construct of organized religion realize this better than anyone and, left to their own private consultation with their mirror on their wall, willingly choose to ignore this notion under the ruse of their self-proclaimed piety.

That's definitely one way to look at it, but this stretches way beyond denominations as you have also noted.