20 world religions and faith practices 52

The Search for Peace in Times of Chaos—Volume 1

Judgment and Salvation
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 i ts p unishments—eternal f i re
(Catechism paragraph 1035). The chief punishment of hell is eternal
separation from God for which we long.
Catholics believe salvation is only available through the one true
church, that being the Roman Catholic Church. Outside the church,
there is no salvation. Basing itself on scripture and tradition, the council
teaches that the church is necessary for salvation. They believe that if
a person knows of the Catholic Church and either chooses not to join
or joins and leaves, that person will not be saved. Those who, through
no fault of their own, have never heard of the Gospel of Christ or His
church, but who seek God with a sincere heart and try to do what’s
right as they understand it, through the dictates of their conscience,
may achieve eternal salvation. Catholics do believe that works will get
them to heaven accompanied by faith and God’s grace.

Special Doctrine
Prayers to the Saints: Catholics ask the saints to mediate for them.
A saint is someone who has lived their life so perfectly in the service
of God that they changed others around them while they were alive
on earth. Their example was exemplary. The logic is that the saints are
closer to God than we are here on earth. They feel that the saints’
prayers are a lot stronger than our own because they are perfected
and in heaven with God.

The Pope Roman Catholics believe that the pope is head over the
church in all authority and power and is infallible when it comes to

doctrine.
The office of the pope is known as the Papacy. His ecclesiastical
jurisdiction is often called the “‘Ž›‡‡” or the “’‘•–‘Ž‹…‡‡” (meaning
the See of the Apostle Saint Peter).  The pope is also head of state
of Vatican City State.  Following the  death or  resignation of a pope,
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