d 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."

Q. 1181. When does God's honor, our neighbor's spiritual good, or our
own good require us to make an open profession of our faith?
A. God's honor, our neighbor's spiritual good, or our own good requires
us to make an open profession of our faith as often as we cannot conceal
our religion without violating some law of God or of His Church, or
without giving scandal to others or exposing ourselves to the danger of
sinning. Pious practices not commanded may often be omitted without any
denial of faith.

Q. 1182. {327} Which are the sins against hope?
A. The sins against hope are presumption and despair.

Q. 1183. {328} What is presumption?
A. Presumption is a rash expectation of salvation without making proper
use of the necessary