Catechism of the Catholic Church
Compared To The Bible: Section 2

Catholic doctrine teaches that membership in the Catholic Church is necessary for salvation.

Catholic Catechism, par. 870 "The sole Church of Christ which in the Creed we profess to be one, holy, catholic, and apostolic, . . . subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter  [i.e., the pope] and by the bishops in communion with him. Nevertheless, many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside its visible confines'(LG 8).

Catholic Catechism, par. 846 How are we to understand this affirmation, often repeated by the Church Fathers? [Cf. Cyprian, Ep. 73.21: PL 3, 1169; De unit.: PL 4, 509-536.] Re-formulated positively, it means that all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body: Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it. [LG 14; cf. Mark 16:16; John 3:5.]

This isn't some five-hundred year-old "outdated" teaching. My copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church contains a copy of the signature of Pope John-Paul II "Given October 11, 1992, the thirtieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, in the fourteenth year of my Pontificate." (emphasis added)

THIS HAS BEEN THE CATHOLIC POSITION ALL ALONG:

1) "The holy universal Church proclaims that God cannot truly be worshipped save within herself, and asserts that all they who are without her pale shall never be saved." Pope Gregory the Great 540-604 A.D. 2) "The Church is like the Ark of Noah, outside of which nobody can be saved." St. Thomas Aquinas 1224-1274 A.D. 3) "That there is one Holy Catholic and apostolic Church we are compelled to believe and to hold, prompted by divine faith, and we do believe this firmly and confess it simply, outside of which there can be no salvation, or remission of sins…." Pope Boniface VIII 1235-1303 A.D., became Pope in 1294 4) "It is a sin to believe that there is salvation outside the Catholic Church." Pope Pius IX 1792-1878 A.D., became Pope in 1846, convened the first Vatican Council in 1869, which enunciated the Catholic doctrine of papal infallibility. 5) "We believe the Church is necessary for salvation because Christ, who is the sole mediator and exclusive way of salvation, renders Himself present for us in His body which is the Church. We must always remember the unity of the mystical body, without which there can be no salvation, is open to no one outside the Catholic Church." Pope Paul VI 1897-1978 A.D. became Pope in 1963 6) "For it is through Christ’s Catholic Church alone, which is the universal help towards salvation, that the fullness of the means of salvation can be obtained." Vatican II 1965

Romans 10:9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

"I'm Catholic, and I just don't believe that only Roman Catholics will go to Heaven."

Congratulations! All religions that consider themselves "Christian" consider you a heretic. Catholicism considers you a heretic because you don't accept this major Catholic doctrine, and the other religions consider you a heretic because you accept Catholicism.

It is important to understand that "Catholic doctrine", "Catholic teachings", "Methodist doctrine", "Calvinist doctrine", etc., are not about the personal beliefs of a few individuals. Society is affected by groups acting as a group, not by isolated individuals (except, of course, in rare cases involving assassinations). Even Jesus would have had virtually no effect on human society if He had not gathered around Him a group of followers who continued to spread His teachings.

It is well-known and well-documented that the Church of Rome has little tolerance for dissent and moves to take dissenters out of positions of influence.

Around 1000 A.D., attendance at Catholic Mass was made mandatory under penalty of mortal sin. In other words, -- according to the Roman Catholic Church -- if anyone misses just one CATHOLIC Mass (each Sunday and "holy days of obligation" such as Christmas) and does not have that sin forgiven by a Catholic Priest, that person (which includes all Protestants, Eastern Orthodox and Messianic Jews) will spend forever in Hell.

Catholic doctrine teaches that Muslims can be saved even though they deny the crucifixion and deity of Jesus Christ.

Catholic Catechism, par. 841 The Church's relationship with the Muslims. 'The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day.' [LG 16; cf. NA 3.]

Koran Sura (Chapter) 4 verse 157 "But they killed him [Christ] not nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them. They killed him not. Nay, God raised him up unto himself."

(Islam teaches that God transfigured someone else to look like Jesus and that person died on the Cross, not Jesus. Then, God raised Jesus the prophet and apostle bodily into heaven and said "You told people you are My Son. You lied! Why did you do this?" Jesus the prophet repented and God forgave him. In the last days, the final great Muslim prophet will come with Jesus, and this repentant Jesus will admit to people that he lied and is not the Messiah, that this final prophet is the Messiah.)

Koran Sura 5 verse 78 "Christ, the Son of Mary, was no more than an apostle."

Koran Sura 5 verse 75 "They do blaspheme who say God is Christ, the Son of Mary."

John 3:18 Whoever believes in him [Jesus] is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Acts 4:11-12 [11] He is "the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone [cornerstone of a building]." [12] Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.

John 5:22-23 [22] Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, [23] that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

As these verses indicate, the Koran, the scripture of Islam teaches and Moslems believe that Jesus Christ is not God. Sadly, this means that, like all others who don't believe in the deity of Christ, all Moslems who believe the teachings of their religion are condemned to eternal punishment.  Many people, both Christian and non-Christian, find this teaching offensive and call Christians bigots, prejudiced, and/or narrow-minded.  The Christian belief is based on the teachings of the Bible, not on personal likes or dislikes.  The vast majority of Moslems are nice, decent, kind, hard-working people.  No true Christian takes pleasure or joy in the thought of BILLIONS of people being punished for ETERNITY, but that is exactly what the New Testament says will happen. But the official Catechism of the Catholic Church denies this biblical teaching.

"Wait a minute! First you say that Catholic doctrine teaches the Catholic Church is necessary for salvation, then you say that Catholic doctrine teaches that Muslims will be saved, even though they aren't members of the Catholic Church!  That doesn't make sense!"

Hey, I'm not Catholic!  I claim they're wrong!

Catholic doctrine teaches that the lost go to Hell immediately upon death.

Catholic Catechism, par. 1035 The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity. Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, 'eternal fire.' [Cf. DS 76; 409; 411; 801; 858; 1002; 1351; 1575; Paul VI, CPG # 12.] The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs.

According to the Bible, nobody is in Hell yet.  The unsaved dead are held in Hades. Hell won't be "open for business" until the Second Coming, when Christ returns to Earth to stop the Battle of Armageddon. At that time the Beast and the False Prophet will be thrown alive into the Lake of Fire and Satan will be imprisoned in the Abyss.  Then Christ will rule the Millennial Kingdom from Jerusalem for a thousand years.  At the end of the thousand years, Satan will be released and will mislead many into rebelling, and Jesus will destroy the rebels.  Then Jesus will resurrect all unbelievers and judge them at the Great White Throne Judgment.  Those whose names are not found in the Book of Life will be thrown alive into the Lake of Fire.

Note: It is important to draw a technical distinction in terminology.  Some versions translate the Greek word as "Hell" and others translate it as "Hades".  Theologians and translators who consider the prejudgment prison to be "Hades" consider the term "Lake of Fire" to be synonymous with "Hell".  Theologians and translators who consider the prejudgment prison to be "Hell" call the Lake of Fire the Lake of Fire.  When I say "nobody is in Hell yet" I mean nobody is in the place of eternal fire.

See 'Hell', 'Hades' and 'the Lake of Fire'.

Revelation 1:17-18 [17] When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. [18] I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades."

Revelation 19:20 But the beast [the Antichrist] was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

Revelation 20:11-15 [11] Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. [12] And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. [13] The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. [14] Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. [15] If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Catholic doctrine teaches that when the priest blesses the bread and wine, they are miraculously transformed into the actual body and the actual blood of Jesus Christ.

Catholic Catechism, par. 1374 The mode of Christ's presence under the Eucharistic species is unique. It raises the Eucharist above all the sacraments as 'the perfection of the spiritual life and the end to which all the sacraments tend.' [St. Thomas Aquinas, STh III, 73, 3c.] In the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist 'the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained.' [Council of Trent (1551): DS 1651.] 'This presence is called 'real' - by which is not intended to exclude the other types of presence as if they could not be 'real' too, but because it is presence in the fullest sense: that is to say, it is a substantial presence by which Christ, God and man, makes himself wholly and entirely present.' [Paul VI, MF 39.]

Catholic doctrine demands that believers must worship the Eucharist.

Catholic Catechism, par. 1378 Worship of the Eucharist. In the liturgy of the Mass we express our faith in the real presence of Christ under the species of bread and wine by, among other ways, genuflecting or bowing deeply as a sign of adoration of the Lord. 'The Catholic Church has always offered and still offers to the sacrament of the Eucharist the cult of adoration, not only during Mass, but also outside of it, reserving the consecrated hosts with the utmost care, exposing them to the solemn veneration of the faithful, and carrying them in procession.' [Paul VI, MF 56.]

Catholic doctrine teaches that by the actions of the priest the bread and wine become the actual body and the actual blood of Jesus Christ.  At Mass, the priest blesses the bread.  He then holds it up to the congregation and declares "The body of Christ."  The congregation responds "Amen."  He then continues, blesses the wine, holds it up to the congregation and declares "The blood of Christ."  Again, the congregation responds "Amen."  The Catholic Church claims that this is a miracle called transubstantiation.

In fact, this same alleged miracle was taught by the ancient Egyptian religion that worshiped the pagan god Osiris.  See The Mystery of the Eucharist by former Roman Catholic priest, and now Baptist minister Dr. Bartholomew F. Brewer, Ph.D.  The article includes Canons from the Council of Trent.

In the Bible there isn't even one miracle that lacked visible , physical evidence. The Bible does not say "Jesus called 'Lazarus, come out.' Lazarus did not come out. Nothing happened.  However, everyone still realized Lazarus had been raised from the dead."  The Bible does not say "Jesus said to the little girl 'Talitha koum.' The little girl did not rise up. Nothing happened.  However, everyone still realized she had been raised from the dead."

Catholic doctrine teaches that anyone who does not accept the pronouncements of the Pope hates Christ, is not a believer and will not be saved.

Catholic Catechism, par. 882 The Pope, Bishop of Rome and Peter's successor, 'is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful.'[LG 23.] 'For the Roman Pontiff, by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, and as pastor of the entire Church has full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered.' [LG 22; cf. CD 2,9.]

Catholic Catechism, par. 891 'The Roman Pontiff, head of the college of bishops, enjoys this infallibility in virtue of his office, when, as supreme pastor and teacher of all the faithful - who confirms his brethren in the faith he proclaims by a definitive act a doctrine pertaining to faith or morals.... The infallibility promised to the Church is also present in the body of bishops when, together with Peter's successor, they exercise the supreme Magisterium,' above all in an Ecumenical Council. [LG 25; cf. Vatican Council I: DS 3074.] When the Church through its supreme Magisterium proposes a doctrine 'for belief as being divinely revealed,' [DV 10 # 2.] and as the teaching of Christ, the definitions 'must be adhered to with the obedience of faith.' [LG 25 # 2.] This infallibility extends as far as the deposit of divine Revelation itself. [Cf. LG 25.]

Regarding alleged papal infallibility, it is extremely important to realize three things: 

1. The Catholic Church did not claim papal infallibility until 1870, at the First Vatican Council.

2. Infallibility was declared by the Council, not by the Pope or by some other alleged divine revelation.

3. The Council was not unanimous -- some members did not believe papal teachings are infallible!

Catholic doctrine teaches that whoever does not follow Catholic bishops despises Christ.

Catholic Catechism, par. 862 'Just as the office which the Lord confided to Peter alone, as first of the apostles, destined to be transmitted to his successors, is a permanent one, so also endures the office, which the apostles received, of shepherding the Church, a charge destined to be exercised without interruption by the sacred order of bishops.'[LG 20 # 2.] Hence the Church teaches that 'the bishops have by divine institution taken the place of the apostles as pastors of the Church, in such wise that whoever listens to them is listening to Christ and whoever despises them despises Christ and him who sent Christ.'[LG 20 # 2.]

Again, the Roman Catholic Church considers the term "the Church" to mean only those who follow the Pope.

Romans 10:9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
 

The Catholic Church claims that God continues to give new Scripture, in the form of Catholic pronouncements.

See above regarding the teachings of the Pope and Catholic bishops.

The New Testament is the final revelation of God regarding things man needs to know to be saved:

Jude 3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

Malachi 3:6a "I the Lord do not change."

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

If God doesn't change, and the Catholic pronouncements are from God, then why do they contradict the Bible ???