Expert: Sal - 2/8/2006

Question
Hello, and thank you for this service. I am a young Christian; a protestant. I am very interested in the Catholic Church, our similarities and our diferences. I suppose my question is very vague, but here goes: I'd like you to explain your (the Church's) beliefs about predestination, and foreknoledge. Thank you  

Answer
Dear Samuel:

The Catholic Church does teach predestination to heaven. It does not teach what is called “Blind Predestination”. The Catholic Church believes that God desires the salvation of all persons (I Tim. 2:4). Therefore, if a person cooperates with the graces he is given he will be saved by the merits of Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church teaches that God gives everyone sufficient graces to obtain heaven. However, not all people receive the same graces nor the same amount of graces. For example the Virgin Mary received the special grace of being born without Original Sin. St. Paul received the grace of conversion so that this man that had hated the Church became one of its great early leaders.

The Catholic Church has not defined every aspect of predestination. Therefore, the Church allows a certain amount of liberty on what an individual Catholic believes on this subject. In order to be an acceptable theory to the Church, one's theory on predestination must contain the following:
1.   It must emphasize the Free Will of man.
2.   It must acknowledge that man must cooperate with the graces God has given him.
3.   It must admit that Jesus' sacrifice has the potential to save all persons.
4.   It must affirm that God does not predestine anyone to hell.

The theory of “Blind Predestination” was popularized first by Luther and then Calvin. Blind Predestination means that it makes not difference how one lives one's life because God has already determined whether that person is going to heaven or hell. God blindly decides one's eternal fate according to this theory. This type of predestination has been condemned by the Catholic Church.

If I can be of further help do not hesitate to ask.

God Bless You,
Sal