Bishop Athanasius Schneider said that it is not contrary to Vatican Council to have a Catholic State in which the Government recognizes true worship and tolerates other religions and does not persecute them. It would be recognized that the majority of the people of that state are Catholic and they want to hand this Tradition to their grandchildren.So they also have some privileges. This is the rule of democracy where the people are in a majority.(31.44)
To recognize true worship, a Catholic State, it is necessary also to recognize that Vatican Council II affirms outside the Church there is no salvation. When we recognize that the Council is affirming the literal interpretation of the dogma extra ecclesiam nulla salus in Ad Gentes 7, then Vatican Council II is also saying that other Christian communities and churches need Catholic Faith for salvation (AG 7).Christian religions are not paths to salvation and their members need to convert into the Church. With extra ecclesiam nulla salus the Council is traditional on other religions and ecumenism.
In principle a Christian could be saved but defacto in the present times all Christians need Catholic Faith for salvation. Catholic Faith includes the faith and moral teachings of the Catholic Church and the Sacraments.Vatican Council II no where states that defacto a Christian does not have to convert into the Church in the present times for salvation.
In principle a Christian could be saved but defacto in the present times all Christians need Catholic Faith for salvation. Catholic Faith includes the faith and moral teachings of the Catholic Church and the Sacraments.Vatican Council II no where states that defacto a Christian does not have to convert into the Church in the present times for salvation.
When we accept that outside the Church there is no salvation and there are no known exceptions to this traditional teaching in Vatican Council II (LG 16,LG 8 etc not being known exceptions but refer to in principle cases) we have a moral right to affirm that though there is tolerance and freedom for other religions, true worship is there in only the Catholic Church.Though de facto other religions do exist, de jure the only way to salvation is in the Catholic Church.So there is a Constitution of a Catholic State in which the centre is not man, but God as understood by the Catholic Church.
This is the basis for a Catholic State and the non separation of Church and State. All this follows when we accept that Vatican Council II is affirming the literal interpretation of the thrice defined dogma on exclusive salvation in only the Catholic Church.-Lionel Andrades
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