Madam, – The Rev Ian Paisley claimed on last Friday's Late Late Showthat the "official teaching" of the Roman Catholic Church was that "only Roman Catholics will go to Heaven". This statement is completely untrue.
The Catholic Church believes that God gives sufficient grace for salvation to all human beings, including those who, through no fault of their own, have never heard the name of Jesus Christ (Titus 2:11). For, ultimately and finally, every human being will be judged on love in action (Matt 25:31-46 and Gal 5:6).
Such is the infinite mercy and love of God towards all humanity that God desires that “all people be saved and come to knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4). St Paul describes God as the Saviour not exclusively of “believers” but of all humanity (1 Tim 4:10).
As regards other Christian churches and communities, the official teaching of the Catholic Church is clear. We believe they "have been by no means deprived of significance and importance in the mystery of salvation" and that "the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as a means of salvation" (Vatican II Decree on Ecumenism, Unitatis redintegratio, 1, 3).
In contrast, Ian Paisley would claim that Christians who love and confess Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, unless they conform to the Calvinist notions which he espouses, are destined to burn in Hell forever.
Of course he is entitled to hold such views. Faithful Catholics will go to Heaven anyway and I hope Ian won’t walk out in protest when he meets them there. – Is mise,
Fr PATRICK McCAFFERTY,
Lower Rathmines Road,
Dublin 6.