Jews and Muslims Question

[SirFlea]

I remember a discussion where I asked if the Catholic Church teaches that Jews and Muslims are saved. If I recall, the short answer was that they are saved. Am I remembering this discussion correctly? If I am, what was the source of the answer?

I was discussing this question with a Catholic and he doesn't believe the Catholic Church teaches that Jews and Muslims are saved. Thank you.

[Joseph the Worker]

Short answer, from what I can tell you:

Jews and Muslims are outside the Church, thus we can't judge their salvation and leave that to God. As with anyone, whose choice is their salvation than God's?

If they are saved, it is only some way through the graces of Christ.

We used to pray for the "conversion of the Jews" on Good Friday. It got dropped from the liturgy and added back recently which caused a big stink.

[prairie]

A lot of anti-Catholics claim the Church teaches that Jews and Muslims are saved. They get this from some citations in the catechism that indicate exactly what JTW just said: God can save them if He chooses to, and we should hope that He does. But that's not the same thing as believing that they ARE saved.

[mllevaleur]

I think your short answer is a misunderstanding of the Catholic view.

I'd say our answer is, we don't claim to know either way, but we don't say it's impossible, and as others mentioned if they are saved it is through the grace of Christ.

This article is primarily concerning Muslims, but the same could be said of the Jews:

There should be no doubt that the Church recognizes that followers of Islam have elements of truth. But while it is possible for them—as for all men—to be saved if they live up to the light God has given them, it cannot be said that Islam is a path of salvation or that Muslims do not need to become Christians.

http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2002/0207bt.asp

[Marcus]

Sirflea,
I would be careful about where you obtain what the Catholic Church actually teaches. Most Catholics do not know what the Church actually teaches on most subjects. That is very embarrassing but a reality. During the 60's 70's and 80's partly, there were many dissenters that taught heresy. The charitable way is to say that they did not mean to. But the Church of Christer in me say balony they knew exactly what they were doing. They decided that if they pushed hard enough they could make the Catholic Church's teaching change. Many people, including clergy, jumped on board the heresy wagon. I could give my own dissertation about this and pray for those "knuckleheads" salvation...knuckleheads for those that intentionally misled people. So get your information from the Catechism, not other people.

As far as salvation is concerned, we have no authority to judge people to heaven or hell. Jews and Muslims are not one in the same. My spill on this is as I said. It is not up to me. But "IF" they are saved it will be through Christ's Church. I've read that the Orthodox teach basically the same thing, at least the one source I recall. Hope this helps.

[SirFlea]

I guess I remember it wrong. Thanks for your answers.