Hello,

I have recently been involved in discussion with a converted paedobaptist (to Roman Catholicism).

I would greatly appreciate it if you could direct me to answers to some questions that are raised in my mind?

1) Can a Catholic be saved? When I said that Catholics are under a curse by relying on works of the law, he says that Catholics do not rely on works of the law, but the grace of God alone, because (i) sacraments are not works but the means of God's grace as faith is, and (ii) they confer grace on you as a gift, and are not done by you. Now I understand that Catholics believe that the priest acts "in persona Christi" and that Christ is the author of the sacraments. So why then are they a work?

2) Why do the church fathers promote such things as baptismal regeneration (including Augustine, which I have read with my own eyes) and the real presence, and yet we still accept them as Christians, and derive so much of our doctrine from them? Indeed I must apply myself to study church history (which can't happen in a day!), but until I make more significant progress ... Is there a correlation between what we believe and what the fathers believed?

Please could you assist me, as I search more of the Scriptures. May the Lord grant the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.

Many thanks