AMERICAN CATHOLICS, second try... what does your Church and priests say there?

According to most all of the Catholics I've spoken to, and my own understanding, the only way to salvation is according to them by accepting Jesus Christ as your lord and savior.

They often get quieter when I ask what happens to all the good people of other religions.

I have also heard that God will forgive nearly anything, except for the EXPLICIT rejection of Jesus. Blasphemers don't go to Heaven, they will all be damned to eternal suffering in hell.

The Church teaches that persons outside the Church, while their ecclesial communities and religious entities do not possess the fullness of the means of salvation entrusted by Christ to the Church, may still attain salvation. Many people seek God with a sincere heart, even if they have never known the Gospel or the fullness of His Church. This is traditionally called "Baptism by desire."

Christ did die for all people and does not close the doors to heaven to those who have not known the Church.

Where one gets into serious trouble is where one knows Christ, and knows that His Church is the means of salvation, and chooses not to accept the invitation to salvation.

It is the duty of every person to seek the truth.

It is the duty of every member of the Church to evangelize, that all may come to know the truth.

Saying that all people have to follow their own religion well and that will win them salvation is imprecise at best. All people have to seek the truth, and continue seeking until they have found it. To paraphrase St. Augustine, their hearts are restless until they rest in Christ. Saying that people should simply follow their own religion the best they can is the same as saying that all religions are the same and you'll end up in heaven anyway. That's not true ecumenism. That's indefferentism. There's no place for that in God's holy Church.

Salvation Comes from Christ's Sacrifice on the Cross; from eating His Body & drinking His Blood in Holy Communion; & remaining faithful to His Church.

Anonymous Christian is the controversial notion introduced by the Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner (1904 - 1984) that declares that people who have never heard the Christian Gospel or even rejected it might be saved through Christ.

The long ranging impact of this notion influenced the ecumenism of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI

edit: Yes, "might be," because no one can say they know the mind of God; and only God can pardon the unpardonable.

Within the Holy Liturgy are prayers for the entire world.

Every Sunday, and every day if you wish, there is "Lord, have mercy." at the beginning of every single day, prayed by millions of people, who are Catholic.

Jesus does not want to force anyone to worship God.

The Catholic Church does not force anyone to worship God if they do not want to. However, if they keep away from it, they also lose the benefits. Yet God always gives a way for His children to find Him. There is always a window that opens when a door is closed.

Christ shows us the way when He gave His Life on the cross. As Catholics, we are called to give our lives for the life of the church, and to entrust to God those who cannot come there.

The prayers of the Mass are all-encompassing, from a Loving God, who wishes all good things for His children.

It states quite clearly that there is no salvation outside of the church.

That being said, one then has to contemplate upon exactly how large and encompassing is a Universal Church?

He has other sheep and never told of their salvation...

It states quite clearly that there is no salvation outside of the church...

Thats for Catholics who know the truth and left the Catholic Church not for ohter believers

"Altar rails have been bumped off." maximum church homes I even have been in, sure. "The dedicated now no longer kneel to get carry of Holy Communion on the tongue." some nevertheless do, on their knees with out the rail. Many others get carry of on the tongue nevertheless. "The tabernacle has been bumped off off the altar." that's off to the area in many places, in an adoration chapel; and likewise at the back of the altar. "Statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saints, crucifixes, and different non secular icons and relics have been removed from maximum parishes." no longer in any church homes i've got been in, and that i've got been in many. "The priest now no longer faces the tabernacle, yet faces the persons quite." sure, it particularly is authentic. "Parishes at the instant are not any further built with the altars dealing with east in the direction of the Holy Land." an staggering many nevertheless are. discover a parish on your area that has the Mass in Latin. All isn't misplaced. :)