Q. 1173. {324} Who are they who neglect to profess their belief in what God has taught?  A. They who neglect to profess their belief in what God has taught are all those who fail to acknowledge the true Church in which they really believe.

Q. 1174.  How do persons who are members of the Church neglect to profess their belief?  A. Persons who are members of the Church neglect to profess their belief by living contrary to the teachings of the Church:  that is, by neglecting Mass or the Sacraments, doing injury to their neighbor, and disgracing their religion by sinful and scandalous lives.

Q. 1175.  What chiefly prevents persons who believe in the Church from becoming members of it?  A. A want of Christian courage chiefly prevents persons who believe in the Church from becoming members of it.  They fear too much the opinion or displeasure of others, the loss of position or wealth, and, in general, the trials they may have to suffer for the sake of the true faith.

Q. 1176.  What does Our Lord say of those who neglect the true religion for the sake of relatives or friends, or from fear of suffering?  A. Our Lord says of those who neglect the true religion for the sake of relatives or friends, or from fear of suffering:  “He that loveth father or mother more than Me, is not worthy of Me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me, is not worthy of Me”; also:  “And whosoever does not carry his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”

Q. 1177.  What excuse do some give for neglecting to seek and embrace the true religion?  A. Some give as an excuse for neglecting to seek and embrace the true religion that we should live in the religion in which we were born, and that one religion is as good as another if we believe we are serving God.

Q. 1178.  How do we show that such an excuse is false and absurd?  A. We show that such an excuse is false and absurd because (1) It is false and absurd to say that we should remain in error after we have discovered it; (2) because if one religion is as good as another, Our Lord would not have abolished the Jewish religion, nor the apostles have preached against heresy.

Q. 1179. {325} Can they who fail to profess their faith in the true Church in which they believe expect to be saved while in that state?  A. They who fail to profess their faith in the true Church in which they believe cannot expect to be saved while in that state, for Christ has said:  “Whosoever shall deny me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven.”

Q. 1180. {326} Are we obliged to make open profession of our faith?  A. We are obliged to make open profession of our faith as often as God’s honor, our neighbor’s spiritual good or our own requires it.  “Whosoever,” says Christ, “shall confess me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven.”