How far can a Catholic go . . .

[Greeter]

In reading the "Protestant and Catholic Marriage" thread something was brought to mind I wanted to ask everyone here about.

How far is a Catholic allowed to go by the RCC in their acceptance of someone from another Christian denomination?  I can't find it but I think I saw something brought up in another thread that the RCC considers members of the other Christian denominations to be simply misled(?- might be another word used).  If someone has an official post on the subject by the RCC please repost it here.

To clarify what I am asking, does the RCC allow Catholics to see Christians of other denominations, while misled, as equals?  Are all Christians, regardless of denomination, going to Heaven (after a possible time in purgatory)?  Or are Catholics called upon by the RCC to teach Christians of the other denominations and bring them into the fold of the RCC?

In reading the "Protestant and Catholic Marriage" thread it seems like a Catholic family couldn't accept that another Catholic would raise his kids not in accordance to the Catholic faith but in accordance to another faith.  This got me to thinking as to how far Catholics can accept the other Christian faiths.  Is there a limit?

 

[Wolseley]

From Unitatis Redintegratio, the Decree on Ecumenism; Documents of Vatican Council II, issued November 21, 1964:

"....in subsequent centuries much more serious dissensions made their appearance and quite large communities came to be separated from full communion with the Catholic Church---for which, often enough, men of both sides were to blame. The children who are born into these Communities and who grow up believing in Christ cannot be accused of the sin involved in the separation, and the Catholic Church embraces upon them as brothers, with respect and affection. For men who believe in Christ and have been truly baptized are in communion with the Catholic Church even though this communion is imperfect. The differences that exist in varying degrees between them and the Catholic Church---whether in doctrine and sometimes in discipline, or concerning the structure of the Church--do indeed create many obstacles, sometimes serious ones, to full ecclesiastical communion. The ecumenical movement is striving to overcome these obstacles. But even in spite of them it remains true that all who have been justified by faith in Baptism are members of Christ's body, and have a right to be called Christians, and so are correctly accepted as brothers by the children of the Catholic Church.

The brethren divided from us also use many liturgical actions of the Christian religion. These most certainly can truly engender a life of grace in ways that vary according to the condition of each Church or Community. These liturgical actions must be regarded as capable of giving access to the community of salvation. It follows that the separated Churches and Communities as such, though we believe them to be deficient in some respects, have been by no means deprived of significance and importance in the mystery of salvation. For the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as means of salvation which derive their efficacy from the very fullness of grace and truth entrusted to the Church."

Translated from Vaticanese, what this means is that all Christian churches are united, albiet imperfectly, with the Catholic Church, in faith of salvation through Christ. In addition, all non-Catholic Christians have the means of salvation available to them through their own faith communities and churches.

 

[kern]

Is there anywhere in these documents that more precisely defines who is considered Christian?

-Chris

 

[The Squalid Wanderer]

Here would be the Catechism's response:

II. "I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED"16

To believe in God alone

150 Faith is first of all a personal adherence of man to God. At the same time, and inseparably, it is a free assent to the whole truth that God has revealed. As personal adherence to God and assent to his truth, Christian faith differs from our faith in any human person. It is right and just to entrust oneself wholly to God and to believe absolutely what he says. It would be futile and false to place such faith in a creature.17

To believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God

151 For a Christian, believing in God cannot be separated from believing in the One he sent, his "beloved Son", in whom the Father is "well pleased"; God tells us to listen to him.18 The Lord himself said to his disciples: "Believe in God, believe also in me."19 We can believe in Jesus Christ because he is himself God, the Word made flesh: "No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known."20 Because he "has seen the Father", Jesus Christ is the only one who knows him and can reveal him.21

To believe in the Holy Spirit

152 One cannot believe in Jesus Christ without sharing in his Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who reveals to men who Jesus is. For "no one can say "Jesus is Lord", except by the Holy Spirit",22 who "searches everything, even the depths of God. . No one comprehends the thoughts of God, except the Spirit of God."23 Only God knows God completely: we believe in the Holy Spirit because he is God.


The Church never ceases to proclaim her faith in one only God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The two irrevocable definitions of the Christian faith are the Apostle's Creed and the Nicene-Constantinopitan Creed.

The first reads:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell.

The third day He arose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.

Amen.

And the other reads:

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible;

And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God, Begotten of the Father before all ages, Light of Light, True God of True God, Begotten, not made, of one essence with the Father, by Whom all things were made:

Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man;

And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried;

And the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures;

And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father;

And He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, Whose kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spoke by the Prophets;

And we believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins.

We look for the Resurrection of the dead,

And the Life of the age to come. Amen.