Can Protestants be saved?

[New_Found_Faith]

According to Catholic teaching, can Protestants also be saved? I have heard it said "outside the Church there is no salvation", etc. So I'm not sure.

I've also heard people say that those who were born Catholic but left the Church of their own free will cannot be saved, but Protestants that don't know any better can be.

Just curious what the official stance is. Thanks.

 

[Michie]

Yes they can. It's in the CCC. I was saved & Christian before converting to the RCC. Being Catholic you are exposed to the fullness of Faith. Thats the difference in being Catholic Christian or protestant Christian.

 

[MoNiCa4316]

the Church does teach that there is no salvation outside the Church, however - Protestants ARE in the Church they're just not in full unity with it, they're not in communion.. they are separated but not totally outside. It's not so black and white. And yes, they can be saved.

it's in the Catechism:


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."320
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.'"321 838 "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."322 Those "who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church."323 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."324

 

[MoNiCa4316]

Yes they can. It's in the CCC. I was saved & Christian before converting to the RCC. Being Catholic you are exposed to the fullness of Faith. Thats the difference in being Catholic Christian or protestant Christian.

yup

 

[New_Found_Faith]

Thanks, guys!

 

[Globalnomad]

"Outside the Church there is no salvation" is not meant to be interpreted literally. The Church is the communion of those whose souls are turned towards God. What that actually means, we have no way of knowing. Even a non-baptized, if s/he is a genuine seeker and a person of good will, could be part of the Church by the mysterious grace of God.

This is a subject about which the Catholic Church does NOT try to be clear-cut. Deliberately, and very wisely.

 

[Virgil the Roman]

According to Catholic teaching, can Protestants also be saved? I have heard it said "outside the Church there is no salvation", etc. So I'm not sure.

I've also heard people say that those who were born Catholic but left the Church of their own free will cannot be saved, but Protestants that don't know any better can be.

Just curious what the official stance is. Thanks.

Not, if they refuse to investigate the claims of the Catholic Church being the One True Church of Christ, which she is---or ignoring that the she is. For if one rejects or refuses to enter into the One Holy Catholic Church prior to death; then one cannot inherit eternal life. (Baptism of Blood and Baptism of Explicit and Implicit Desire aside, here.)

 

[Caedmon]

Not, if they refuse to investigate the claims of the Catholic Church being the One True Church of Christ, which she is---or ignoring that the she is. For if one rejects or refuses to enter into the One Holy Catholic Church prior to death; then one cannot inherit eternal life. (Baptism of Blood and Baptism of Explicit and Implicit Desire aside, here.)

That may have some scholarly merit, but it doesn't represent Church teaching in an adequately pastoral, publicly accessible form that promotes Christian unity:

"But we rejoice to see that our separated brethren look to Christ as the source and center of Church unity. Their longing for union with Christ inspires them to seek an ever closer unity, and also to bear witness to their faith among the peoples of the earth.... The daily Christian life of these brethren is nourished by their faith in Christ and strengthened by the grace of Baptism and by hearing the word of God. This shows itself in their private prayer, their meditation on the Bible, in their Christian family life, and in the worship of a community gathered together to praise God. Moreover, their form of worship sometimes displays notable features of the liturgy which they shared with us of old.... While it is true that many Christians understand the moral teaching of the Gospel differently from Catholics, and do not accept the same solutions to the more difficult problems of modern society, nevertheless they share our desire to stand by the words of Christ as the source of Christian virtue, and to obey the command of the Apostle: "And whatever you do, in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him".(41)... This Sacred Council exhorts the faithful to refrain from superficiality and imprudent zeal, which can hinder real progress toward unity.... It is the urgent wish of this Holy Council that the measures undertaken by the sons of the Catholic Church should develop in conjunction with those of our separated brethren so that no obstacle be put in the ways of divine Providence and no preconceived judgments impair the future inspirations of the Holy Spirit."

Unitatis Redintegratio. 20-24. emphasis mine.
http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_...ecree_19641121_unitatis-redintegratio_en.html

 

[Sianelle]

No it's terribly sad, but there is no hope for them at all. All doomed I'm afraid, all cast into the outer darkness where there will be gnashings of teeth (and if they haven't got any teeth, teeth will be provided).

 

[MoNiCa4316]

(and if they haven't got any teeth, teeth will be provided).

ROFL!!!

 

[Ave Maria]

Yes, Protestants can be saved. However, if a Catholic becomes a Protestant and that Catholic knew that the Catholic Church was true but left it anyway, their soul is in grave danger of Hell fire.

 

[QuantaCura]

All salvation comes from Jesus, the Head, through His Body, the Church. Baptism is the means by which we are born again into the Body. That Body, that Church, is the one entrusted by Our Lord to St. Peter and his successors the Roman Pontiffs. However, if we break the unity of faith through heresy, schism, or apostacy, we cut ourselves off from the Body and we will wither and die unless we are reconciled.

A Baptized Protestant is born again into the same Body. If that person is in good faith desiring and humbly seeking the truth above all, that person remains united to the Church (even though the visible bonds are obscured) and may be saved if they persevere in repentence, grace and charity. However, one who creates or perpetuates divisions (through culpable negligence, malice, obstinance, desire for human respect, convenience, obstinance, etc.) is separated from the Body.

Christ exhorts all men, especially those Baptized, for the good of their salvation to partake of that full and visble unity He has bestowed on His Church. The Catholic Church on her part then seeks to gather all men into that unity, and to strengthen those bonds that already exist, but may be obscure, so that there will be one flock, under one shepherd, preaching one faith with one voice.

 

[cowboysfan1970]

I think that if someone accepts the sacrifice of Christ, picks up their cross and follows him, then they are saved. I don't think that we can point the finger at Protestants the way some of them do at us and say that they aren't going to Heaven because they don't go to our church or worship just exactly as we do. People like that I really wonder if they have a true relationship with Christ. When we judge we are assuming spiritual powers that we don't have. I think we can question but I don't think we have the power to condemn. That is reserved for God alone.

 

[QuantaCura]

I think that if someone accepts the sacrifice of Christ, picks up their cross and follows him, then they are saved. I don't think that we can point the finger at Protestants the way some of them do at us and say that they aren't going to Heaven because they don't go to our church or worship just exactly as we do. People like that I really wonder if they have a true relationship with Christ. When we judge we are assuming spiritual powers that we don't have. I think we can question but I don't think we have the power to condemn. That is reserved for God alone.

We should have a deep concern which is the necessary fruit of charity and compassion, but right, not condemnation. There's an objective and subjective aspect. While some act or belief may be objectively contrary to truth and goodness (and therefore a potential obstacle to salvation), there is the subjective disposition of the intellect and will which only the God who reads hearts can properly judge.

We should not despair of anyone's salvation, but neither should we presume it--and that goes for our fellow Catholics and even ourselves! The Church has always had great missionaries to non-Christians (e.g. St. Francis Xavier), to separated Christians (e.g. St. Francis de Sales), and to Catholics (e.g. St. Anthony Mary Claret) exhorting all men to repentence and conversion. We all are always in need of further conversion to the truth for our salvation.

 

[kisstheson]

Yes, Protestants can be saved. However, if a Catholic becomes a Protestant and that Catholic knew that the Catholic Church was true but left it anyway, their soul is in grave danger of Hell fire.

When you go to Heaven Jesus is going to walk up to you and tap you on the shoulder. You'll see me hanging on His arm. smiling as pleased as punch.

Jesus will say, "Did I not say, as My dear apostle John so faithfully recorded, 'he who comes to Me I will in no wise cast out!"

Most Protestants don't leave the catholic church because they know it to be true. Here we get into the age old argument...who is the savior, Christ or the Church? If I lived on a desert island and there was no Church does this mean I'm not saved?

 

[MoNiCa4316]

Christ saves as He wills but He also leads people to unity with the Church.. if someone knows they're being lead, but refuse, that's a refusal of His will, - I can't say where this person will go cause I'm not God, and it is true that He doesn't reject anyone who comes to Him (in fact this is something that's always meant a lot to me..) ...but the person might regret later on not following what they knew in their heart was God's will.

this is assuming they do know it in their heart, and aren't ignorant.

the Church is both visible and invisible. All who believe in Christ and are baptized are part of it. But not necessarily in the 'visible' component - the one where everyone has unity of faith.. and the Sacraments..

I think that's the Catholic position on this..

it's not as simple as - "left the Church? you're going to hell."
God *does* want everyone to be saved.
But if they feel lead to the Church, but still refuse, their sin would be disobedience. They might have to do purgatory for that, I don't know, if they're open to repentance. There are people who are filled with so much utter hatred for the Church they'd never even want to consider it.

That being said, I'll probably be in purgatory till Judgement Day for my sins, so I'm not saying I'm any better as a Catholic, than Protestants are. Most Protestants sincerely love God. My point is that He really cares about unity, it hurts Him that there are so many denominations.

If you disagree with something the Church teaches, just pray about it sis. Try to stay open to God, whatever He might say.

I know you love Jesus a lot and I'd be surprised to not see you in heaven and from what I've seen of you I think you're closer to God than I am.

 

[MoNiCa4316]

We're all sinners in need of God's mercy.

He has created several ways for us to receive grace, to bring salvation to us..

there's Baptism, faith, Scripture (interpreted by Church), Confession, the Eucharist...

Protestants only have faith and their understanding of Scripture. Yup they can still be saved. But it's like they're missing pieces of the puzzle see..

God instituted the Sacraments cause He knew they would help us, He knew that's how the Saints would be made too.. He instituted Baptism when He was baptized in water, and you can see the Holy Spirit was there and then He instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper..

these Sacraments are in the Church. The Orthodox have them too but they left unity with the Pope, which means that some of the doctrines are missing - but they're very close.. in the Church too, but not in communion..

these are all gifts that God has made to help us, I don't understand why some fight so hard against them. (I mean the people who speak about them with hatred.. perhaps they just don't understand, or have been given the wrong idea).

God is merciful to Protestants because they're not the ones who broke away from the Church (Luther et al), they're just following what they believe and in many cases, what they were raised as. They obviously know Christ too. But because He loves them so much, He wants them to have the fulness of the faith too... fulness meaning what I said before: the Sacraments, correct interpretations of Scripture, etc. Of course Protestants who believe this are no longer Protestant but - I think we should all be open to God's will, and let Him lead us, if He wants anyone to change churches He will tell them, - but they must be careful to not block Him out. I honestly don't know why God lead me to the Church, I can think of many Protestants who are more worthy. I was against it at first, but now I'm glad He did.

 

[tadoflamb]

Most Protestants don't leave the catholic church because they know it to be true. Here we get into the age old argument...who is the savior, Christ or the Church?

If the Church is the Bride of Christ (which it is) then she is inseperable from the Bridegroom. There's a marriage here.

 

[MoNiCa4316]

I never thought I needed the Church, and now I see why, that's because I didn't have it.

the Church offers us ways to know God better.

What the Protestants have of the Faith, they got it all from the Church...Scripture (although altered..), the doctrines in the Nicene Creed, etc.

 

[tadoflamb]

I never thought I needed the Church, and now I see why, that's because I didn't have it.

the Church offers us ways to know God better.

What the Protestants have of the Faith, they got it all from the Church...Scripture (although altered..), the doctrines in the Nicene Creed, etc.

I look at it in the same way I look at my earthly relationships. My life comes from the Father, through the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit but that life is nutured by my mother, the Church.