8.51. Aren’t all religions just different paths to God, as long as we’re sincere and love others?
This is one of the most widespread errors in the modern world—and tragically, it’s now taught or implied by the Vatican II “church” itself. Nostra Aetate, Lumen Gentium (§16), and nearly every post-Vatican II “pope” have suggested that non-Catholic religions can be means of grace or salvation, and that all sincere believers are “on a path to God.” Francis has even said,
“We are all children of God, whatever our religion.”
But this is the heresy of religious indifferentism—the idea that one religion is as good as another, or that salvation is possible in any religion. The Catholic Church has always condemned this lie. There is only one true religion, founded by Jesus Christ, outside of which no one can be saved. All false religions are deceptions, no matter how sincere their followers. To promote the idea that “all paths lead to God” is to deny Christ, mock His Cross, and encourage souls to remain in darkness.
Below is a doctrinal comparison between the Catholic Faith and the Vatican II error of religious indifferentism.
| Category | Traditional Catholic Doctrine | Vatican II / Modern Indifferentism | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truth | Only the Catholic Church teaches the fullness of revealed truth | All religions contain “elements of truth” and lead to the divine | Truth is one; partial truths mixed with error cannot sanctify or save |
| Path to God | Christ is the only way to the Father (John 14:6) | Every religion is a “path to God” if followed sincerely | This contradicts divine revelation and leads souls to remain in falsehood |
| Salvation | Outside the Church there is no salvation (*Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus*) | People can be saved in any religion through sincerity and love | This is heresy condemned by popes and councils from antiquity through Pius XII |
| False Religions | Are man-made errors or diabolical deceptions | Are worthy of respect and considered “means of grace” | To call error good is to insult God, who is Truth itself |
| Evangelization | All must be converted to the Catholic Faith to be saved | Conversion is not necessary; dialogue and coexistence are preferred | This denies the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19–20) |
| Interreligious Prayer | Condemned as sacrilegious and scandalous | Encouraged at Assisi, in synagogues, mosques, temples, and UN meetings | To pray with heretics and pagans is to deny the One True God |
| Mission of the Church | To convert the nations, baptize, and teach all to obey Christ | To accompany and affirm all peoples in their chosen religions | This humanistic approach replaces salvation with inclusivity |
| View of Jesus Christ | The only Savior and King; all must believe in Him to be saved | One of many “encounters” with the divine; not strictly necessary | Denies Christ’s divinity, uniqueness, and salvific mission |
| Fruits | Martyrs, conversions, saints, religious orders, clarity of doctrine | Indifferentism, loss of faith, apostasies, syncretism | The post-Vatican II “fruit” is visible apostasy in practice and belief |
Summary:
The claim that “we’re all on different paths to God” is a lie from hell. There is only one path: Jesus Christ, through His one true Church, the Catholic Church. All other religions are false paths that cannot save—no matter how sincere their followers may be. This truth is not harsh, but merciful, because it calls souls out of error and into salvation.
Vatican II’s indifferentism contradicts:
Scripture: “He that believeth not shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16)
Tradition: “Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus”
Councils: Florence, Trent, Vatican I
Popes: Pius IX, Leo XIII, Pius XI, and Pius XII
As Pope Gregory XVI declared:
“This shameful font of indifferentism gives rise to that absurd and erroneous proposition which claims that liberty of conscience must be maintained for everyone. It spreads ruin in sacred and civil affairs.”