Cardinal Joseph Coutts and the Pakistani bishops could proclaim the Faith honestly even if they could be martyred

Cardinal Joseph Coutts is in Rome for the Synod of the Youth. In Pakistan the tension increases as a Supreme Court decision is awaited on the appeal of Aasia Bibi, a Christian.

 The lawyer of the Pakistani Christian who could be hanged,  told the judges that the testimony of the accusers differed.They were also instigated to file a complaint with the police days after the incident.It was a Muslim cleric who encouraged them to file the blasphemy charge.He was not present at the scene of the arugument among the women.

So the women could be testifying against Aasia , to prove that they themselves are good Muslims and in this way they save their own lives and interests and have a right to live.Similarly if there are Muslims in the villages of Pakistan who say that Aasia Bibi should be forgiven their lives could be in danger.

During the controversy over 'The Satanic Verses' written by Salman Rushdi, a Muslim Imam in Denmark, who was a convert from Christianity, it was reported called for forgiving Rushdi. He was murdered.

So if Aasia Bibi said that Jesus is the Son of God, it could be miscontrued as an attack on Islamism.

If she said God is One, there is One God  and Three Persons, it could again be mistaken as blasphemy by some Muslims.

If Cardinal Joseph Coutts the Archbishop of Karachi, Pakistan said Vatican Council II tells us that all need faith and baptism for salvation, and this includes those who know and do not know about the Faith, he could be misunderstood.

If he said that most people in Pakistan are oriented to Hell since they die outside the Church without faith and baptism, he could be 'offending the feelings of Muslims' according to Pakistan law.

But this is the Catholic Faith.

The Athanasius Creed begins:-

Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith. Which faith unless every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church ( n.1257) says the norm for salvation is the baptism of water. The Archbishop of Karachi does not know of any exceptions.Practically, literally he cannot judge anyone to be an exception.

The Catechism of Pope Pius X says :

From the Catechism of Pope Pius X

16 Q. Is Baptism necessary to salvation?

A. Baptism is absolutely necessary to salvation, for our Lord has expressly said: 

"Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into 

the Kingdom of God."

The Church in Particular

9 Q. State distinctly what is necessary to be a member of the Church?

A. To be a member of the Church it is necessary to be baptised, to believe and 

profess the teaching of Jesus Christ, to participate in the same Sacraments, and

 to acknowledge the Pope and the other lawful pastors of the Church.

24 Q. To be saved, is it enough to be any sort of member of the Catholic Church?

A. No, to be saved it is not enough to be any sort of member of the Catholic 

Church; it is necessary to be a living member.

27 Q. Can one be saved outside the Catholic, Apostolic and Roman Church?

A. No, no one can be saved outside the Catholic, Apostolic Roman Church, 

just as no one could be saved from the flood outside the Ark of Noah, 

which was a figure of the Church.

Cardinal Joseph Coutts and the Pakistani bishops could proclaim the Faith honestly even if they could be martyred.

-Lionel Andrades

In the midst of the evening’s frivolities (similar to a TV variety show, complete with gregarious emcee), this young man provided a sobering reminder that the bloody persecution of Christians is real and that Islam is most certainly not a religion of peace, contrary to what Pope Francis and numerous other prelates would have us believe (see, for example, Evangelii Gaudium, n. 253).

Providentially, I ended up speaking with one of the Synod Fathers after the event, His Eminence Cardinal Joseph Coutts (Archbishop of Karachi in Pakistan), and our discussion included the topic of Islam (I asked him about the situation he faces back home in a predominantly Muslim country, in light of the young Iraqi’s testimony). Cardinal Coutts graciously accepted a copy of my booklet Fatima, Islam, and Our Lady’s Coming Triumph and was pleased to hear me bring up Our Lady of Fatima.

His Eminence Cardinal Joseph Coutts (Archbishop of Karachi in Pakistan) with CFN Managing Editor Matt Gaspers after the Meeting of Young People (aka “Saturday Night Circus”).

https://www.catholicfamilynews.org/blog/2018/10/9/synod-2018-weekend-highlights-vigan-developments