Blessed Pope Pius IX on the Salvation of Non-Catholics

In today's world it is common to find people who believe that it really doesn't matter what religion you are, or what you believe, because all roads eventually lead one to God. This is based on the idea of relativism, which teaches that there is no absolute truth. Instead, each person, religion, or culture has their own truth, and that these truths are all equally valid and lead to salvation. In fact, one can even find this belief among some Catholics. But what does the Catholic Church actually teach concerning the salvation of those in other religions? Well, one can find the traditional Catholic teaching clearly spelled out in Blessed Pope Pius IX's encyclical titled, "On Promotion of False Doctrines." Blessed Pope Pius IX writes in this letter to the bishops of Italy:

"Here, too, our beloved sons and venerable brothers, it is again necessary to mention and censure a very grave error entrapping some Catholics who believe that it is possible to arrive at eternal salvation although living in error and alienated from the true faith and Catholic unity. Such belief is certainly opposed to Catholic teaching."

Here we see Blessed Pope Pius IX stating very clearly the Catholic dogma of "outside the Church there is no salvation." He says that it is a very grave error, and against Catholic teaching, to believe that one who is living in error and separated from the Catholic Church can be saved. Now, you may ask, "Wait a minute... is he saying that only Catholics are going to heaven?" No, he is not saying that at all, for he goes on and writes:

"There are, of course, those who are struggling with invincible ignorance about our most holy religion. Sincerely observing the natural law and its precepts inscribed by God on all hearts and ready to obey God, they live honest lives and are able to attain eternal life by the efficacious virtue of divine light and grace."

An Explanation of Purgatory

A couple of my friends have lately asked about the doctrine of purgatory, so I thought I would share a little about what the Catholic Church teaches about purgatory.

First, let’s state what purgatory is not. Purgatory is not a second chance at salvation after death. If a person dies without God's grace, we know of no other chance or opportunity for that person to be saved.  Instead, purgatory is for those who die in God's friendship, but have not yet achieved the holiness necessary to enter heaven.  In other words, since nothing impure can enter heaven (Revelation 21:27), if we die without being perfectly pure, a purification must happen after death before we can enter heaven.  So what things, one may ask, are purified in purgatory?


UNFORGIVEN VENIAL SINS ARE PURIFIED

The Catholic Faith teaches that when a person first comes to Christ, only their past and present sins are forgiven, but not their future sins (those sins that they are yet to commit).  For example, in 1st John the apostle John is writing to fellow believers, and he says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).  Now, if all of a believer's future sins are forgiven when they first come to Christ, then there shouldn't be any reason for a believer to have to confess his sins now, since they should already be forgiven.  In other words, the only way that this verse would make sense, is if our future sins are not forgiven with when we first come to Christ.