The Catholic Church, contrary to what some critics might think, teaches that non-Christians, including Muslims, can be saved by God and enter heaven some day.
Now this isn’t to say that Muslims are saved by following the Islamic religion – no – but that those Muslims who follow the natural law that God has “written on their hearts,” can be saved. And that “saving action” is done through the grace that flows through the Catholic Church.
The Catechism states regarding Muslims:
841 “The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day.”
Catholics, like all Christians, should admire the dedication that Muslims have toward daily prayer. Additionally, many traditional Muslims share many of the moral concerns that Catholics have regarding abortion, gay marriage, birth control and sexual license in our day.
Many Catholics will discover that, although there are profound theological differences between Catholics and Muslims (which can never be minimized or dismissed), talking to a traditional Muslim is rather refreshing because they do not hesitate to talk of God, sin or the devil.
In an increasingly secular culture like America, Catholics can find much in common with a people who acknowledge the authority and blessings of God in our daily world.
Yet having acknowledged our common ground, we must also note that there are some real problems with Islam’s current “dialogue” with democratic, pluralistic societies.
The Catholic intellectual George Weigel puts it this way:
“Catholics should try to help Islamic religious leaders, scholars, and lawyers develop an Islamic case for the acceptance of pluralism, for a commitment to the method of persuasion in politics, and for the other basic elements of what we call ‘civil society.’ The great question for Islam as a culture-forming religion — a question whose resolution will shape a lot of 21st century history — is whether Muslims can develop a genuinely Islamic case for civility amidst diversity in society by drawing on their own sacred texts and legal codes.”
And we must also be truthful that, as Weigel notes, “the overwhelming majority of terrorist mayhem in the world is committed by Muslims, who all too often cite religious motivations and religious legitimation for their deeds.” And clearly the “role” if you will, of Catholic martyrs and Muslim martyrs is profoundly different in each faith’s teaching.
Jesuit Fr. John Harden has written a classic and short Catholic history of Islam, which will help Catholics understand the doctrines and practices of Islam.
