Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Fr.Thomas Rosica on changes in church understanding of salvation

Following the announcement on February 11, 2013 that His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI would resign from the papacy, Fr. Rosica was invited by the Vatican to join the staff of the Holy See Press Office and serve as one of the official spokespersons for the transition in the papacy that included the resignation, Sede Vacante, Conclave and election of the new Pope. Appearing at daily news briefings and giving over 160 interviews in English, French, Italian, Spanish and German to news networks and media outlets from around the world, Fr. Rosica assisted the Vatican during a critical period in Church history. He completed his service upon the election and inauguration of Petrine Ministry of Pope Francis.


In May, 2013, Father Rosica made newspapers for issuing statements which appeared to explain or contradict recent words by Pope Francis. In a Vactican Radio address on May 22, the Pope said, "The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! ‘Father, the atheists?’ Even the atheists. [...] We must meet one another doing good. ‘But I don’t believe, Father, I am an atheist!’ But do good: we will meet one another there." [3]. Father Rosica wrote that people who are aware of the Catholic Church, but do not accept it, "cannot be saved", and that Pope Francis had "no intention of provoking a theological debate on the nature of salvation through his homily or scriptural reflection" [2]. This was widely interpreted as an official Vatican response to the Pope's homily [4] [5]. However, as Fr. Rosica was not a Vatican spokesman at the time, this was not an official Vatican position. Regarding the fates of those who die without believing in God and in the core beliefs of the Church (which would be considered a more or less sinful and serious lapse, depending on the individual context), it should be remembered that, under church law, it is generally held to be true that even if a person has mortal sins that they have not confessed and he or she dies, they may still hope to be forgiven. Forgiveness may be obtained if before they died, they expressed perfect contrition (sorrow) for each of their mortal sins and, they expressed a desire (even if not possible) to go to sacramental confession and do proper penance and restitution. This exception is based on the belief that God, in his love and mercy and in his utmost desire for all to be saved, knowing that they are sorry will allow them to formally apologize and make reparation (in some way) when they are judged.[6]-Wikipedia

Fr.Rosica is a controversial liberal priest. I had been in correspondence with him. He rejects the dogma on salvation,extra ecclesiam nulla salus and assumes there are known exceptions in the present times. This would also be a rejection of Vatican Council II (AG 7) etc.

The ordinary means of salvation is Catholic Faith and the baptism of water. There is no other means to go to Heaven in the present times.

An atheist, pagan or other non Catholic needs Catholic Faith and the baptism of water for salvation. So even if an atheist just had faith, it is not enough. He needs the Sacraments of the Catholic Church for salvation.

Fr.Rosica in the passage quoted above, seems to say that God's Mercy and grace is there for every one and every one will make a perfect contrition or do what has to be done to be saved, to have Catholic Faith or what is needed for salvation.So even if one is a sinner, at the last moment something will happen for their conversion.

God is Mercy but God is also Just.His Justice has sent the bad angels to Hell and they are still there.

So Fr.Rosica's view is false. The exception is not the norm. Also the exception if it existed, would not be known to us.In general those with mortal sin are going to Hell.(Veritatis Splendor,Catechism of the Catholic Church etc).If there is an exception with perfect contrition we would not know about it. So it would not be an exception to the need for all to have Catholic Faith and the baptism of water for salvation(AG 7).

'Rosica wrote that people who are aware of the Catholic Church, but do not accept it, "cannot be saved"', Yes. But we do not know any of these cases.So they are not exceptions to the dogma extra ecclesiam nulla salus which states all need to convert into the Church for salvation.

Those who are aware or in incuplable ignorance are not an exception also to Ad Gentes 7 which says all need faith and baptism for salvation.CCC 846 on Outside the Church No Salvation cites Ad Gentes 7 which says all need faith and baptism for salvation.There is nothing mentioned in CCC 846 which contradicts this teaching, on all needing to convert into the Catholic Church for salvation.

The Catechism and Vatican Council II says all while Fr.Rosica says only those who are aware.

 -Lionel Andrades


Vatican does not clarify Pope Francis' remarks on atheists: negligent CDF still teaching factual error

Saint Teresa of Avila Autobiography pt1 of 59 Youtube

Saint Teresa of Avila Autobiography pt1 of 59
http://youtu.be/TQpUGm-DMy8



Would St.Alphonsus Ligouri recommend going for the Sacraments to Fr.John George ?

St.Alphonsus Ligouri says that if you know that a priest is in public mortal sin do not go to him for the Sacraments. Since it would be a sin against religion and charity.It would be cooperating in 'sacrilegous communion'. It would be receiving the Eucharist unworthly.

He writes it would be an exception if you did not have  any other Mass or priest to go to, to meet your Sunday Obligation. If there was no other priest from whom you could receive the Eucharist at Sunday Mass, then one could go to the priest in mortal sin according to St.Alphonsus.

Of course even if the priest is in mortal sin, the Eucharist is still valid, it is the Body, Blood and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
In his Teologia Moralis (Bk3,N.46) he writes that the priest in public mortal sin is on the way to Hell. So by you going to him for the Sacraments you are tellling him that all is well. This is not charity on your part. It is contrary to the teachings of the Church to encourage someone in mortal sin.

There are of course some mortal sins which are secret and are known only to God.There are some sins which for us may be venial sins but in reality be mortal sins, and vice versa.

Then it is also a sin to falsely accuse someone and especially a priest. Especially a priest!

Fr.John George a priest in good standing in the Archdiocese of Sydney for years has been denying the dogma on salvation which Pope Pius XII called an' infallible teaching'.He has been demanding that it be banned on the Internet board True Catholic. Then he also denies Vatican Council II (AG 7) on the need for all to convert into the Catholic Church with faith and salvation. There is a similar denial of CCC 846 with the same message.

He is not willing to say that homosexual sexual relations and the homosexual act are mortal sins and neither is is willing to correct another priest of the Archdiocese who claims the sexual relations and act is not a sin.

Then he criticizes modesty and does not consider immodesty as a sin....

This is public mortal sin. It is not denied on the public forum by the priest.
Should Catholics recieve the Sacraments from him ? Would it be a sin against charity and religion ?.

Would St.Alphonsus Ligouri the father of moral theology approve of it ?.Would this be 'sacrilegous communion'?

If I was in Sydney, in conscience I would not go to him for the Sacraments.
-Lionel Andrades