So you are now comparing yourself with Pagans.
Ok good job. You are now being true to yourself.

And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda. And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord. - Luke 1:39-45

This post has been edited by yeeck: Apr 26 2016, 12:06 AM

Sorry. Repeating what I wrote in previous entry.
Yes, of course one can go directly to God. But being humans, we also like to ask others to pray for us. Especially for the times when we are not able to pray for ourselves (too busy, asleep, sick, dying etc).
And it makes a lot of sense to ask those who have gone before us, those who have fought the good fight and run the good race and who are living in communion with our Heavenly Father, to be our main cheer leaders in running the race. You might recall, even the rich man in the story of Lazarus, who was condemned, wanted to intercede for his remaining family who were still on earth. How much more must is be for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are now with God.

The catholic church looks upon it all as a giant family. The church is also divided into the Church militant (Us), the church suffering (those who have died) and the Church triumphant (those who are Saints). Those who have gone before us to heaven is the church triumphant. We are in communion with them in worshiping our Heavenly Father. We believe that they are even more fully alive than us. Who better to pray for us than those who are closest (in being and in state) to God. See Revelations 5:8

>>So now you admit that this is something that "humans" like. Confirms everything right? The traditions that you are following are human made traditions. As humans, there are many things we like. We do not want our love ones to die. We understand that once our loved ones die, we will be separated from them until we ourselves die. But because we cannot accept this facts, we introduce traditions that overwrite the truth. Your traditions allow you to "imagine" that you can still have access to your dead ancestors. Let's face it. There needs to be some sort of communication in order for your dead relatives to pray for you. But inwardly, we understand that once someone dies, we will not meet that person until we dies. There is a seperation when someone dies. That's why we feel so sad. In the old testament and the new testament, there are no examples of anyone ever asking their dead ones to pray for them and the one example of a person who tried to talk to the dead one(Saul to Samuel), you know what happen.

So is it offensive to call Mary "the mother of our Lord"? Is it offensive to call Mary "the mother of Jesus"? Is Jesus truly God?
UK had a Queen and a Queen mother at the same time. Just language, my friend.
>>Did I ever imply that? It's because Jesus is God and that is why it is offensive calling Mary the Mother of Jesus which you guys do. I have said repeatedly that calling Mary the mother of Jesus is ok because that's what she really is. But nowhere in the bible that Mary is being refereed to as Mother of Jesus. It seems that you are already following the ways of yeeck who is falsely accusing me of something I never implied. Language and words and capitalization mean something. Note that in UK, the Queen Mother does not refer to Elizabeth as just a mother. The Queen Mother is also a title that gives respect and power to the entity. It's similar to say the empress dowager. The title means much more then just identifying the entity as the mother of the queen. It's also prestige and power. I really cannot believe that you cannot see that. Really. If you are still a young adult(20s) or younger, its understandable. But I guess you are not.

About Jesus addressing His mother as woman, see explanation at the bottom
>>Why dun you explain in your own words? So complicated? Anyway I will go through it.

Apologies. I thought you were mentioning that Elizabeth only called Mary "Blessed" after she was pregnant. I only wanted to point out the the Angle of the Lord called her the same thing even before she was pregnant. No big deal
>>And you still do not understand the gist. The fact of the matter is the angel of the lord only told her she was blessed because she was about to give birth to Jesus. And you conveniently evaded the point discussed earlier. But then I am not going to repeat myself. It's frustrating when you use insignificant things to evade the main question on hand.

By the way, since you are very interested in what Catholics belief in, I must ask you, have you read the Catechism of the Catholic Faith? Have you ever been to a Mass, the Eucharistic celebration, which is the pinnacle of Catholic prayer and worship?
I hope so because every now and again, Catholics come across people who mean well but who have a very confused idea about what the Catholic church teaches and what Catholics do. I would be the first to admit, there are even Catholics who are confused. Unfortunately sometimes people start questioning Catholics based on what they hear, on what they read on the internet forums or worst still, from avowed anti-Catholic literature (eg Chick's tracts and the like) or even ex-catholics who have a bone to pick.
Want to know the truth about the Catholic faith? Read the Catechism and come for a Holy Eucharist celebration and find out the meaning of the mass.
Otherwise if just concerned, pray for Catholics. And we will pray for you.
>>No. I am not at all interested in the Catholics ways. But I am just disgusted that you guys are starting to cover up your practices. You make the claims that you believe in salvation comes from God alone when in fact, in your actual practices, works is involved. I used to give catholics the benefit of the doubt, but I cannot do so anymore. Actually my exchanges with you and yeeck confirms everything that anti catholic literature says about Catholism. You guys are willing to give up your integrity just to protect the church. It's amazing actually.











By the way, I have read that article and I have to say that I am pretty impressed. This guy can really write a fairy tale. Questions. Have you actually read the article? Have you actually think through as you read? Have you actually compared scripture? And I mean actually thinking through the scripture this guy has referred to and actually understand the scripture that he is referring to? Or you just accept everything this guy has said. But I have to admit one thing. Many people would probably accept this writing as "scholarship" material but someone who has an understanding of scriptures and who actually check the scripture will see through this fraud easily.

If these articles are your basis of your biblical knowledge then I guess I now understand why this yeeck guy keeps on quoting scriptures wrongly. After all, without the holy spirit it is impossible to understand the scriptures.

This post has been edited by sylar111: Apr 26 2016, 11:26 PM

I think the simple question one is to ask "why was there reformation"?

Theological issues or political powers or moral corruptions or something else?

There are certainly good traditions and there are definitely bad traditions.

If I'm not wrong, Roman has many traditions which follows mythological beliefs.

Like I said before, there were abuses which Luther tried to address but he went too far. Please note that Catholics have Tradition and traditions Big T comes from the Apostles and is part of the deposit of faith (non-negotiable), while small t examples are cultural traditions.

19 There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen; and feasted sumptuously every day.
20 And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, full of sores,
21 Desiring to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table, and no one did give him; moreover the dogs came, and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died: and he was buried in hell.
23 And lifting up his eyes when he was in torments, he saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom:
24 And he cried, and said: Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, to cool my tongue: for I am tormented in this flame.
25 And Abraham said to him: Son, remember that thou didst receive good things in thy lifetime, and likewise Lazareth evil things, but now he is comforted; and thou art tormented.
26 And besides all this, between us and you, there is fixed a great chaos: so that they who would pass from hence to you, cannot, nor from thence come hither.
27 And he said: Then, father, I beseech thee, that thou wouldst send him to my father's house, for I have five brethren,
28 That he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torments.
29 And Abraham said to him: They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 But he said: No, father Abraham: but if one went to them from the dead, they will do penance.
31 And he said to him: If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe, if one rise again from the dead.

-- Luke 16:19-31

This post has been edited by yeeck: Apr 26 2016, 10:54 PM

Fascinating. Sorry if I sound insulting but may I know how old are you? If say you are 20 plus, I can probably understand because when I was that age, I can get carried away as well without thinking.

Revelations 5 and Revelations 7 are praises made to Christ and also to the Father. Again you proved nothing. I have acknowledged that the saints are alive in heaven. They are still able to praise God over there. Just that there is a seperation between us and the saints. My point is that the dead cannot pray for us, Saints or not Saints. It's that clear enough for you. Amazing really.

All you have done is just point to your church traditions which I have stated time and time over again I reject totally. If you want to proof something do so with scripture. You write as if I concur with your church tradition when I have stated time and time again that your church tradition is an abomination. Your church traditions can be compared with the taoist traditions actually but with a "Christian" veneer.

And you cannot even differentiate between Mother and mother even after multiple exchanges. I really do not think you are at this level but it's amazing how a person can be so brainwashed and the catholic church has done a really good job at this.

I end this with the views that I had about the article you told me to read.
By the way, I have read that article and I have to say that I am pretty impressed. This guy can really write a fairy tale. Questions. Have you actually read the article? Have you actually think through as you read? Have you actually compared scripture? And I mean actually thinking through the scripture this guy has referred to and actually understand the scripture that he is referring to? Or you just accept everything this guy has said. But I have to admit one thing. Many people would probably accept this writing as "scholarship" material but someone who has an understanding of scriptures and who actually check the scripture will see through this fraud easily.

If these articles are your basis of your biblical knowledge then I guess I now understand why this yeeck guy keeps on quoting scriptures wrongly. After all, without the holy spirit it is impossible to understand the scriptures.

Peter is the Rock, God called him the Rock, God named him the Rock when he first approached him, before giving him the keys of authority and dynastic succession of his Kingdom which signified his ambassadorship. He is the rock in the same church that God said is the pillar and foundation of truth and will teach the angels the manifold wisdom of God. He is the rock in the same church God said, “if they do not believe even the church treat them as heathens and publicans”. The same church he calls bread and wine his body and blood in, the same church that Paul calls the veil and the flesh of Christ his bride whom he loves and nurtures and the gates of hell will not prevail against. The truths of the manifold wisdom of God are brought out through his bride, according to Gods timeline not ours. “In the end all will be revealed.”

In Isaiah 22 the keys signify one who is to be a father (Papa, Pope) to his people. In the same way Abraham (father) was the rock and foundation of unity in the Old Testament Peter is the rock, father and foundation of unity in the new. (To Timothy my true son in the faith. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day)

“Bottom line: Christ spoke Aramaic and nicknamed Simon "Kepha," ("Cephas") which means "Rock." Most of the New Testament was written in Greek (or translated into Greek, as is possible in the case of Matthew's Book), and Kepha was translated as "Petros" or "Petra" (depending on stylistic needs of the context), which both mean "Rock." In our English Bibles, "Petros" and "Petra" get translated into "Peter." 1 Peter IS "the Rock," the earthly head of Christ's Church as Christ Himself states in Matthew 16. This would be as if you and I, speaking English and discussing someone named Mary, were quoted by an Italian who wrote her name as "Maria," which a Frenchman translated as "Marie".

(Although many Protestant scholars now agree with Peter being the rock, due to the fallacy of Sola Scriptura) “Many Protestants try to get around Matthew 16:15-19 by pointing to 1 Corinthians 10:3-5 "And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." But this is something no Catholic would disagree with! Yes, the SPIRITUAL Rock, Christ, the High Priest and Head of the Church, authorized Peter to be the earthly Rock, His Vicar, of the Church -- the father of the New Covenant, just as God the Father made Abraham the earthly father of the Old Covenant (Isaiah 51:1-2) while remaining the ultimate, SPIRITUAL Father of that Covenant.”

“For you are all the children of God by faith, in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as have been baptized in Christ, have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek: there is neither bond nor free: there is neither male nor female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you be Christ's, then are you the seed of Abraham, heirs according to the promise.”

Peter does not just hold authority over the Jews who he focused on but the Gentiles also. It was Peter who baptized the first Gentile into the church. It was Peters dream that led to the abolishment of the laws of the flesh in the mosaic law, for the entire church which is saved by grace.

“I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, (Peter you are rock, Peter feed my sheep that the Father has given me) for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of[b] your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.” One Lord one Faith One Baptism, One Doctrine One bread, one body one soul of the church in prayer.

“You are my friends, if you do the things that I command you…You have not chosen me: but I have chosen you; and have appointed you, that you should go, and should bring forth fruit; and your fruit should remain…

18If the world hate you, know ye, that it hath hated me before you. 19If you had been of the world, the world would love its own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you… If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you: if they have kept my word, THEY WILL KEEP YOUR ALSO. 21But all these things they will do to you for my name's sake: because they know not him who sent me. 22If I had not come, and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they HAVE NO EXCUSE FOR SIN 23He that hateth me, hateth my Father also. 24If I had not done among them the works that no other man hath done, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father. ( Those who partake of the one bread are part of the one body. Saul why do you persecute me?)

“And not for them only do I pray, but for them also who THROUGH THEIR WORD shall believe in me; 21That THEY MAY BE ONE, as thou, Father, in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us; that the world MAY BELIEVE thou hast sent me.”

Eastern Patriarchs looking to the rock
St. Epiphanius, Archbishop of Salamis (385)
Holy men are therefore called the temple of God, because the Holy Spirit dwells in them; as that Chief of the Apostles testifies, he that was found to be blessed by the Lord, because the Father had revealed unto him. To him then did the Father reveal His true Son; and the same (Peter) furthermore reveals the Holy Spirit. This was befitting in the First of the Apostles, that firm Rock upon which the Church of God is built, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The gates of hell are heretics and heresiarchs. For in every way was the faith confirmed in him who received the keys of heaven; who looses on earth and binds in heaven. For in him are found all subtle questions of faith. He was aided by the Father so as to be (or lay) the Foundation of the security (firmness) of the faith. He (Peter) heard from the same God, 'feed my lambs'; to him He entrusted the flock; he leads the way admirably in the power of his own Master. (Epiphanius, T. ii. in Anchor).

Sergius, Metropolitain of Cyprus (649)
Writing to Pope Theodore:
O Holy Head, Christ our God hath destined thy Apostolic See to be an immovable foundation and a pillar of the Faith. For thou art, as the Divine Word truly saith, Peter, and on thee as a foundation-stone have the pillars of the Church been fixed. (Sergius Ep. ad Theod. lecta in Sess. ii. Concil. Lat. anno 649)

BELIEVE IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND YOU WILL BE SAVED.

Every understanding that Catholics and Protestants agree on go back to the church of the first martyrs, everything we don't agree on, starts at the Reformation and gets more and distorted by denominations at that point. The fork in the road that created the new traditions is Sola Scriptura, which of course did not exist in the church of the first martyrs.

Man does not live by bread alone but by every word of God.

Hold fast to the traditions and the church is a pillar and foundation of truth are just a few of those words we are called to live by.

The verse to believe and you will be saved, is a summation of the entire word which includes baptism into the only church that existed at the time.

The just man liveth by faith because you cannot truly live in true faith unless you are a just man.

Charity does not rejoiceth in iniquity but rejoiceth in truth.

Faith without works is dead.
Dead works is the rituals of mosaic law, circumcision and sin and instantaneous grace given freely is baptism which destroys original sin and active sin up to the point of Baptism, giving you entrance through the narrow gate into the flesh of Christ which is the rule of heaven on earth.

We have been saved.
Baptism now saves you.

We are being saved.
This IS MY BODY.
I work out my salvation in fear and trembling.
The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the holy is prudence.
Without holiness no man shall see God.
Be holy as I am holy.
Obey your prelates who have the rule over you because they watch over your souls.
Receive the Holy Spirit whose sins you forgive are forgiven...
Is anyone sick among you call for the priest and he will anoint you with oil.

We can have eternal salvation.

Charity covereth a multitude of sins.
He who endures till the end will be saved.
I will come and judge everyone according to their works.
Love God with your whole heart whole soul whole mind and you will fulfill the law.
You cannot truly love God and not follow truth when exposed to it. The meek shall inherit the earth.

Repent and be baptized and your sins will be forgiven.

The church is the pillar and foundation of truth.

That the manifold wisdom of God may be made known to the principalities and powers in heavenly places through the church.

A new and living way through the veil which is His flesh.

Who ever hateth his own flesh no one loveth and nourisheth his own flesh as Christ does the church.

Those who partake of the one bread are part of the one body.

To believe is to believe in the flesh of Christ Gods church. Otherwise you believe in your own image of God through your own interpretation of scripture tainted by your own environmental influence and ego and concupiscence. 41000 different denominations and counting cannot be wrong.

Always understand the Gospels and letters are being written to those inside the church dedicated to the doctrine and the breaking of the bread and the prayers living according to one Lord one faith one baptism in which Paul calls us to obedience to the faith in charity in a church that as a sign of unity God told Peter to feed His sheep.

You cannot apply scripture to yourself unless you first read it through the eyes of the church God established.

You can quote verses until the cows come home but unless you start from the right foundation your interpretation will be lacking. The Bible is designed to be understood through the one church God established.

God said He will send the Holy Spirit the spirit of truth to His church which he calls His bride. 350 years after Christianity began the Catholic Church put the Bible together. The Holy Spirit needed to be with the church in order for this to have happen. The church is called the pillar and foundation of truth, God will be with this church for all time. Christ was born of a woman in the fullness of time. In the fullness of time prophecy is fulfilled. Isaiah prophesied that we will go up to the mountain of the Lord to learn the ways of God. Christ called the church a City on a hill that could not be hidden. James declares the the prophecy fulfilled that the Kingdom of David has been re established. God said He would build His church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Obviously His church is the pillar and foundation of truth which can only be one church existing in His truth since Pentecost. In this church the apostles established Bishops Presbyters/ priests and deacons and kept Gods precepts.

For as often as you shall eat this bread and drink this cup you shall show the death of the Lord until he comes again.

Where is this re established Kingdom of David on earth today that teaches us the ways of God for all time?

13And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying: Men, brethren, hear me. 14Simon hath related how God first visited to take of the Gentiles a people to his name. 15And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written:

16After these things I will return, and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and the ruins thereof I will rebuild, and I will set it up:

17That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, and all nations upon whom my name is invoked, saith the Lord, who doth these things.

18To the Lord was his own work known from the beginning of the world.

Unless you see scripture from this rock you will always destroy your clay pots on it.

Have a blessed day, my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ! Amen!

Woman behold your son.
Son behold your mother.
The disciple whom He loved took her into his home.

Woman what is there between me and thee?

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed.

26For you are all the children of God by faith, in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as have been baptized in Christ, have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek: there is neither bond nor free: there is neither male nor female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you be Christ's, then are you the seed of Abraham, heirs according to the promise.

And the dragon was angry against the woman: and went to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

If you love me you will keep my commandments.

Do this in memory of me.

He has done great things to me.

All generations shall call me blessed.

Hail you who have been perfected in grace.

How is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

He shall be a sign of contradiction and a sword will pierce your heart so that the thoughts of many may be revealed.

Acts 15:1-6
Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers,
“Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice,
you cannot be saved.”
Because there arose no little dissension and debate
by Paul and Barnabas with them,
it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others
should go up to Jerusalem to the Apostles and presbyters
about this question.
They were sent on their journey by the Church,
and passed through Phoenicia and Samaria
telling of the conversion of the Gentiles,
and brought great joy to all the brethren.
When they arrived in Jerusalem,
they were welcomed by the Church,
as well as by the Apostles and the presbyters,
and they reported what God had done with them.
But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers
stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them
and direct them to observe the Mosaic law.”

The Apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter.

It is interesting to read the discussions here where verses have been quoted but interpretations seem to be widely differed.

I guess the major disagreements between RCC and Protestants arise from Scriptures based interpretation or Church based traditions interpretation (doesn't matter big T or small t, still a t).

RCC call Protestants as dumb as "dodo" for not believing in RCC based traditions interpretations. I respect that. I also respect the thousand years of Church history filled with power struggles, abuse and corruptions.

The discussions will go nowhere since RCC will come forth with statement like we have thousand years of traditions while Protestant was only "founded" in 1700s and Luther went too far to address the abuse.

I will just leave this discussions with a question: "Why did the Israel took 40 years to travel from Egypt to promised land (or the generation never enter promised land)?"

Peace be upon you.

It's laughable that catholics like to view themselves as the one and only authority of scriptures when this yeeck guy quoted 2 verses in a totally wrong way. Note that I did not even say out of context, it's totally wrong.

Even in the scientific world, there are often different views as well in the same topic and it is up to the public to discern whether those views are well supported and logical. I think the same applies for Christianity as well. But then, I guess those people who do not follow the Catholic Church are in anathema. Even though their interpretation of many topics of the bible is totally wrong. But I guess, the only way they can protect their "traditions" is to pronounce those who disagree with them as heretics because otherwise, they can never justify their position through critical analysis of scriptural.

Non Catholics(Note not every Christians who are not catholics are protestants) whenever they publish their views have to align their views with scripture. Failure to do so will result in ridicules and harsh criticism. Now I do not deny that there are no denominations out there that doesn't take the scripture seriously but then those people joining those denominations are not looking for the truth anyway. Only the Catholic Church seems to be immune. It's no different from a dictatorship actually.But that's the spirit behind the catholic church all these while.

What "No Salvation Outside the Church" Means
By: Jim Blackburn

One of the most misunderstood teachings of the Catholic Church is this one:

"Outside the Church there is no salvation" (Extra ecclesiam nulla salus).

Those trying to grasp the meaning of this teaching often struggle with its formulations by various Church Fathers and Church Councils down through history. Of course, to understand an isolated formulation of any Church teaching, one must study the historical context within which it was written: why it was written, what was going on in the Church at the time, who the intended audience was, and so on. One must discover how the magisterium (teaching office) of the Church understands its own teaching. If someone fails to do this and chooses, rather, to simply treat a particular formulation as a stand-alone teaching, he runs the risk of seriously misunderstanding it.

In recent times, the Church has recognized that its teaching about the necessity of the Catholic Church for salvation has been widely misunderstood, so it has "re-formulated" this teaching in a positive way. Here is how the Catechism of the Catholic Church begins to address this topic: "How are we to understand this affirmation, often repeated by the Church Fathers? Reformulated positively, it means that all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body" (CCC 846).

In keeping with the Church’s current spirit of ecumenism, this positive reformulation comes across less harshly than previous negative formulations. Even so, it remains quite controversial. So, let’s see how this new formulation squares with Scripture.
Jesus, the Way

The first part of the reformulated teaching—"all salvation comes from Christ the Head"—is quite easy for all Christians, even non-Catholics, to understand and embrace. It echoes Jesus’ own words recorded by John: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me" (Jn 14:6). So, Christians unanimously agree on this first part. But is this all that needs to be said about how one may be saved? The Catholic Church has historically recognized the importance of explaining further the means through which salvation is offered through Christ.

When speaking of salvation, Jesus offered more details than just his words quoted above. For example, consider these three verses:

He who believes and is baptized will be saved. (Mk 16:16)
[U]nless you repent you will all likewise perish. (Lk 13:3)
[H]e who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. (Jn 6:54)

Notice that in these three verses Jesus associated salvation with baptism, confession, and the Eucharist, respectively. Catholics recognize that these sacraments are administered through the Church. In fact, in the case of the latter two, a validly ordained priest is necessary for their administration, so the sacrament of ordination must also be associated with salvation. A primary role of the Catholic Church in conjunction with salvation is becoming quite clear.

This brings us to the second part of the Catechism’s formulation of the doctrine being considered: ". . . through the Church which is his Body."
With Him or Against Him

Since the sacraments are the ordinary means through which Christ offers the grace necessary for salvation, and the Catholic Church that Christ established is the ordinary minister of those sacraments, it is appropriate to state that salvation comes through the Church.

This is not unlike the situation that existed prior to the establishment of the Catholic Church. Even before it was fully revealed that he was the Messiah, Jesus himself taught that "salvation is from the Jews" (Jn 4:22). He pointed the woman of Samaria to the body of believers existing at that time, through which salvation would be offered to all mankind: the Jews.

In a similar fashion, now that the Messiah has established his Church, Jesus might say, "salvation is from the Catholics"!

Recognizing this, we can see why the Church, especially during times of mass exodus (such as has happened in times when heresies have run rampant), has been even more forceful in the way it has taught this doctrine. Instead of simply pointing out how God offers salvation from Christ, through the Church, the Church has warned that there is no salvation apart from Christ, outside his Church.

Since Jesus established the Catholic Church as necessary for salvation, those who knowingly and willingly reject him or his Church cannot be saved. We see this in Jesus’ teaching: "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters" (Mt 12:30). Also: "[I]f he [a sinning brother] refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector" (Mt 18:17). Paul warned similarly: "As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned" (Ti 3:10-11).

Having said all this, we must recognize that this doctrine is not as far reaching as some imagine it to be. People will sometimes ask, "Does this means non-Catholics are going to hell?" Not necessarily.
Invincibly Ignorant

The Church recognizes that God does not condemn those who are innocently ignorant of the truth about his offer of salvation. Regarding the doctrine in question, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (quoting Vatican II document Lumen Gentium, 16) states:

This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church: Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience—those too may achieve eternal salvation. (CCC 847)

Vatican II document Gaudium Et Spesteaches similarly on the possibility of salvation:

All this holds true not only for Christians, but for all men of good will in whose hearts grace works in an unseen way. For, since Christ died for all men, and since the ultimate vocation of man is in fact one, and divine, we ought to believe that the Holy Spirit in a manner known only to God offers to every man the possibility of being associated with this paschal mystery. (22)

This teaching is consistent with Jesus’ own teaching about those who innocently reject him: "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin" (Jn 15:22).

But once a person comes to know the truth, he must embrace it or he will be culpable of rejecting it. We see this in Jesus’ words to the Pharisees: "If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains" (Jn 9:41). Paul taught likewise concerning the Gentiles:

When Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (Rom 2:14-16)

Notice Paul’s carefully chosen words: "their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them." Paul did not say that those who are innocently ignorant of the truth will be saved; he simply keeps open the possibility of it.

Similarly, he wrote: "[I]s God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one; and he will justify the circumcised on the ground of their faith and the uncircumcised through their faith" (Rom 3:29-30).
Necessary for Salvation

As we have seen, God introduced salvation to the world through his chosen people, the Jews. God’s revelation to the Jews found its fulfillment in Christ, the Messiah, who established the Catholic Church. The grace necessary for salvation continues to come from Christ, through his Church. Those who innocently do not know and embrace this might still attain salvation but those who knowingly and willingly choose to reject it, reject salvation on God’s terms.

The Catechism (once again quoting Lumen Gentium) summarizes all this as follows:

Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it. (CCC 846)

Source: http://www.catholic.com/magazine/articles/...he-church-means