Q:
As
Catholics, do you believe that non-Christians (ie, Muslims, Jews,
Hindus,
etc.) will go to heaven even though they haven't been baptized?
-A.
A:
I'm pretty sure people who aren't Christian
loooove being
called
"non-Christians". I
know I certainly
appreciate when people call
me "non-Hindu" or "non-funny"...
There's no need to remind me of what I'm not.
Anyway, Catholics believe
that yes, there will
be those in heaven who have not been baptized Christians. Now this
isn't
saying that baptism doesn't matter. And it's not an excuse for
someone
to avoid baptism because they figure they can get into heaven no matter
what they do.
But Catholic teaching is
that we all must respond
to the light that is given us. Because otherwise, think of all the
prophets
and holy men and women who lived before Jesus came to earth; seems a
bit
unfair to keep them out of heaven since they never even had a shot to
make
the decision in the first place.
So by responding to the
light that is given us,
it's a matter of being open to God and responding in the best way we
know
how.
As to who exactly will be
in heaven only God knows.
But put in a good word for me if you get a chance - because plenty of
us
have been baptized, and still could use the help.
