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WHY DO CATHOLICS...? ARCHIVE
The following question was answered as a part of our Why Do Catholics...? series. If you would like to submit a question for our Why Do Catholics...? series, email faithform@abecket.org or leave your question in the Faith Formation box in the Parish Office.

What does the Church think about religions, especially non-Christian?

Our world is getting smaller. There was a time, not really so long ago, when we lived in Catholic neighborhoods with the Catholic Church down the street where everyone met, and you and all your friends went to the same Catholic school. You became Catholic by osmosis! Now it is a very multi-cultural, multi-faith community in which we live. I think we need to teach acceptance, tolerance and respect of all faiths. In fact, Vatican II is the first Council in the history of the Church to speak positively of other religious traditions. Jews are acknowledged as "first receivers of God's covenant," Muslims as "followers of Abraham," Hindus and Buddhists as "advanced civilizations . . .with a deep religious sense" (LG, 16; NA 2). In its document on the Church’s relationship to non-Christian faiths it says,“the Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions… indeed Christians should "acknowledge, preserve and encourage the spiritual and moral truths found among Non-Christians, as well as their social life and culture."

But, this also does not mean we should have the view of religious relativism and any faith is a good as another. We Catholics believe that God will ultimately look at the heart and will ultimately judge us all on our love. But, be clear, that for us as Christians we have, through Jesus been shown the way, above others, to the Father. That by accepting Jesus died for our sins there is an assurance and peace. But also this comes with a responsibility—a responsibility to live into that faith fully and completely. We also have a responsibility to share the Good News of Christ by our witness and that if and when they see in us something –a fullness of truth and seem to desire it—then we should speak—witness in words to what and why we believe.

Laura Broyles, Adult Faith Formation Director
laura.broyles@abecket.org

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