Expert: Rev. Robert Woods - 1/29/2005

Question
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Dear Rev. Woods,

Thanks for your answer.  Let me correct a few of your comments regarding Catholicism.  The Catholic church does not state that everyone goes to purgatory.  There are some who are so pure they go straight to heaven.  If you read Revelation, it's stated clearly that you must be pure to enter heaven.  Also, Luke tells us that the Blessed Virgin Mary was 'full of grace'.  I understand that she was therefore without sin.  Of course this is because God made her so.  She was the Ark of the New Covenant and could not stain Jesus Christ with sin.  Nowhere does the Catholic church say that all sex is sin, only that sex which takes place outside of marriage.  God said, "Be fruitful and multiply", so clearly He approves of sex within matrimony.  The Catholic church also believes one must be saved to reach heaven, but teaches that salvation is a life-long process:  initial justification, progressive justification, and final justification.  The Catholic church teaches that non-Christians can also reach heaven, a position most Fundamentalist churches probably do not agree with.  Thanks for your answer.

Answer
Blessings and thank you again for your questions.

All of my previous answers concerning Catholic doctrine come directly from Catholic Church writings like Vatican Counsel 1 and 2.

Mary may have been full of grace but that doesn't mean she was without sin.  Hebrews 4:15 says there is only one who has been without sin and that is Jesus Christ.  

Non-Christians cannot go to heaven.  Jesus clearly said there is only one way to the Father and that was through Him (John 14:6).