September 23, 2005
“I would appreciate your comments concerning salvation. I have a different answer than my Pentecostal friends and I find this is a real conflict”.
From the Friars recently received this question and I am happy to offer some thoughts about this and other related misunderstandings. Yet, before attempting to answer questions concerning our Catholic beliefs, I think it would be helpful to understand a few fundamental facts. Here are some of the things that I’ve learned over the years.
There are many sincere, devoted, God-fearing Christians, most notably Pentecostals and Evangelicals, who are both very nice people and also very misinformed. A good number of them, if they seem angry or have a sharp edge, are often former Catholics who were poorly catechized and therefore don’t really understand the Catholic Faith and/or they had a bad experience of the Church.
This shouldn’t surprise us when we consider our own families. The wounds we receive on the battlefield of family disputes can be quite painful, indeed deadly. We can shrug off or finally forget an insult inflicted by a total stranger, but when it comes from a sibling – watch out! As the old song goes, “we always hurt the ones we love.” I am convinced that some people who pull out their super long list of reasons for leaving the Catholic Church could write the real reason on an index card. It would say, “I was disappointed” or “I was treated unkindly”. This is why sincere attempts to dialogue are almost immediately derailed; the root problem isn’t doctrinal but rather emotional.
Another ingredient in the whole mix is misinformation, which feeds prejudice. Not only are we pre-judged, but much of the evidence against us is simply not true. The fact is Catholics don’t pray to idols, worship Mary, work our way to heaven, or give minds and wills over to the pope in Rome. However, the truth is many people – many people – sincerely believe these things. Tryingto tell them they are misinformed often only compounds their belief that we are deceived by both the devil and “the Vatican”.
No doubt, the poor example and irreligious witness of many baptized Catholics certainly figures into the equation. Let’s be honest, you drive past a Baptist Church and you see a sign about next Sunday’s sermon; drive past a Catholic Church as you read a sign which says “BINGO” or “Casino Night - cash prizes!” While this makes other Christians cringe, it should make us cry. Besides, the Catholic Church is the big boy on the block; and when he’s knocked down a few notches, everyone else feels a few inches taller. Here’s the see-saw as I see it: stupidity sits on one side and jealousy on the other.
Another problem lies in education – or the lack thereof. The sad truth is many Catholics simply don’t know the gift they were given at baptism. It’s like a dirt-poor blind person who uses thousand dollar bills for book marks or a powerful king sadly afflicted with Alzheimer’s. In short, we don’t know what we have or who we are. If we knew our family history, our chin would be angled up and we would have a spring in our step – and I’m not talking about being proud! I’m simply talking about being informed, and getting the information from the right place. Too many Catholics get their facts from the wrong place – go to the horse’s mouth – not the other end!
Now, about the subject of salvation… Salvation is a free gift given by the Father to all of His children through the redemption offered all through His only begotten Son. Although the gift is given, it must be unwrapped – every day. Yes, I am saved (Acts 4:12), being saved (Phil. 2:12), and hope to be saved (Rev. 20:11-13). Salvation is a rocky path, not a comfortable place. It’s an onion – not a banana; that is, a slow, graced process of pealing which lasts a lifetime, never lacking in tears. (Peter 1:3-9).
Fr. Glenn Sudano, CFR
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