Brother Andre Marie MICM ,Prior at the St.Benedict Center has informed the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith that the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary interpret extra ecclesiam nulla salus based upon Vatican Council II(Ad Gentes 7), Dominus Iesus (20) and the Catechism of the Catholic Church (846 etc).In an excellent response he has not denied the possibility of salvation in hypothetical cases of invincible ignorance etc, whch would be known only to God.So invincible ignorance etc are not defacto, objective exceptions to the Church's perennial teaching on salvation.
He has not rejected the dogma extra ecclesiam nulla salus and neither Vatican Council II.Instead the Council in Ad Gentes 7, for him, supports the dogma extra ecclesiam nulla salus as it was interpreted over the centuries.
So he affirms the teaching of the Magisterium of the Church expressed in Vatican Council II, interpreted rationally, which has a continuity with the past popes and Church Councils on exclusive salvation in the Catholic Church.
He has supported dialogue with other religions while affirming the necessity of membership in the Church with 'faith and baptism'(AG 7) for salvation.
While accepting that salvation is open to all in potential, Jesus has died for all, he affirms that for this salvation all need to enter the Church; the Church is necessary for salvation( Dominus Iesus 20 etc).
He has acknowledged that physically and personally it is not possible for any of us humans to judge a particular non Catholic as being saved or about to be saved in invincible ignorance. This can only be known to God.
So the norm for salvation for him is Vatican Council II (AG 7) which says all need faith and baptism for salvation.It is the Conciliar Church which supports defacto exclusive salvation in the Church(AG 7).While it is a fact of life that there can be no defacto exceptions, in personal cases, of invincible ignorance etc.
So for him all need to enter the Church for salvation (AG 7), those who know and those who do not know(LG 14) while acknowledging that if anyone is saved in invincibe ignorance(LG 16) as a possibility, it would not be an exception to AG 7.Since obviously a theoretical possibility is not a concrete case in the present times(2019).
Brother Andre Marie was responding to a written query from Bishop Giacomo Morandi,Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
It may be mentioned that Brother Andre Marie has opened up a new precedent for Catholics all over the world. He has affirmed the dogma extra ecclesiam nulla salus, as it was interpreted over the centuries, by citing Vatican Council II (AG 7).He has also interpreted LG 16 etc as referring to a hypothetical possibility only. So LG 16 is not a practical exception to EENS as it was known to the Magisterium in the 16th century.Neither is it an exception to Vatican Council II, Ad Gentes 7.
He has not denied hypothetical cases of invincible ignorance(LG 16) etc and nor has he denied the practical norm for salvation being faith and baptism for all people (AG 7).So he supports Tradition ( EENS, Syllabus of Errors, past ecclesiology etc) and also the Conciliar Church.
He has acknowledged the Letter of the Holy Office 1949(LOHO) referenced in Vatican Council II(LG 16) and interpreted invincible ignorance, rationally.So his conclusion is that present- day magisterial documents do not contradict those of the past on extra ecclesiam nulla salus.There is a coherence.His principal document of support, is Vatican Council II.-Lionel Andrades
Letter Explaining Saint Benedict Center’s Doctrinal Stance
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