I had an
interesting discussion yesterday with a Carmelite priest at their church near
the Vatican.
He wanted to
know why I say outside the Church there is no salvation.So I cited Vatican
Council II ( AG 7, LG 14) and the Catechism of the Catholic Church ( 845,846).
I explained
that LG 8, 14 and 16, UR 3, NA 2, GS 22 etc refer to physically invisible cases
in 2023. So they could not be practical exceptions for AG 7, LG 14, CCC 845,846
etc.
The
Council is only Feeneyite and not Cushingite. Vatican Council II is
traditional for me.So based upon Vatican Council II, I say extra ecclesiam nulla salus (EENS).
We agreed
that there was only one Revelation and no new revelation. So LG 8,14 and 16, UR
3, NA 2, GS 22 etc interpreted irrationally was a not a new revelation in the Church. It could not contradict the dogma EENS.There are no physically visible examples
of salvation outside the Church for us human beings. So the Council is not ‘ a new revelation’ or 'a revolution'.
A lot of this was new for him. He had a doctorate and no one had told him about all this.
This was
also the teachings of the popes and saints over the centuries. It is now
supported by Vatican Council II and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.They are supported by the Conciliar Church, the post-Vatican Council II Church, only when Vatican Council II is interpreted rationally and not irrationally.
WHEN I MEET A HINDU OR BUDDHIST
So I told him that when I meet a Hindu or Buddhist I know he or she is oriented to Hell without ‘faith and baptism’ (AG 7, LG 14, CCC 845,846, 1257 etc).This is what the Catholic Church teaches in its Magisterial Documents.These are the Documents before and after Vatican Council II. So this is not just a personal view. It can be verified with Church Documents.
I could provide references. However those who say that outside the Church there is salvation cannot do so. They can only cite Vatican Council II if they confuse invisible cases as being visible.
The Catholic
Church in its Magisterial Documents today teaches that other religions are not
paths to salvation.
However, from what has been stated above about
the mediation of Jesus Christ and the “unique and special relationship”84 which the Church has with the kingdom of God among men
- which in substance is the universal kingdom of Christ the Saviour - it is
clear that it would be contrary to the faith to consider the Church as one way of salvation alongside those constituted by
the other religions, seen as complementary to the Church or substantially
equivalent to her, even if these are said to be converging with the Church
toward the eschatological kingdom of God.- Dominus Iesus n.21, 2000, Pope
John Paul II
If it is true that the followers of other religions
can receive divine grace, it is also certain that objectively speaking they are in a
gravely deficient situation in comparison with those who, in the Church, have
the fullness of the means of salvation.- Dominus Iesus n.22.
Pope John Paul II also said in Dominus Iesus that other religions have errors, superstition and deficiencies.They are not an equal path to salvation as the Catholic Church.
Dominus Iesus also says that salvation is open for all, it is universal, in potential, but membership in the Church is also necessary for salvation. The institutional Church is necessary.
Cardinal Ratzinger said that the members of other religions are oriented to the Catholic Church (CDF, Notification on Fr. Jacques Dupuis sj, 2001 during the pontificate of Pope John Paul II).Nostra Aetate 4 says Catholics are the new people of God.
They are the elect. They are the new Chosen People. They have the Messiah promised by the Jewish prophets.
So when I read
the Catechisms, I am told that non Christians will be lost forever to Hell
unless they accept Jesus in the Catholic Church ( Catechism of Pope Pius X (24
Q, 27Q),Catechism of the Catholic Church ( 845,846,1257).
Most people on
earth are going to Hell is the constant teaching of the Catholic Church. Jesus
said enter through the narrow gate for the road to Hell is wide and most people
take it (Matthew 7:13-14).
Jesus told Louisa
Piccaretta that most people go to Hell.Most people are damned.
This was also the
teaching of the Carmelite saints. St. Teresa of Avila said Lutherans are going
to Hell.
The Orthodox
Christian Church does not accept Catholic teachings and Sacraments. For them we
are in schism. We did not discuss this subject yesterday.
I told this good Carmelite priest that I
accept Pope Francis’ Fratelli Tutti and I love non Catholics and non
Christians because this is what Jesus asks of us.
I support inter-religious dialogue and ecumenism.I would interpret Vatican Council II and the Creeds, Catechisms and Councils, rationally. So dialogue would be part of the traditional mission of the Catholic Church.This is recommended by Pope John Paul II in Dominus Iesus.
It would be mission for me, which
would not only be Christocentric but also ecclesiocentric. It would be traditional mission of the 16th century missionaries based
upon there being exclusive salvation in only the Catholic Church and supported by Vatican Council II.
I say all this in
Rome where there is a Concordat.The Catholic religion has a historical and
special status. This is a Catholic country.It's Constitution allows the
freedom of religious worship and expression for Catholics.
I am affirming the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.This is the Magisterium according to Church Documents and Church teachings of the popes up to John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Pope Francis denies the dogma EENS, when he interprets Vatican Council II irrationally. So he has changed the interpretation of the Creeds. This is first class heresy according to Ad Tuendem Fidem of Pope John Paul II.
Pope John
Paul II was Magisterial in Ecclesia di Eucharestia when he stated that
Orthodox Christians who do not accept the Catholic pope should not receive the
Eucharist. He was saying that outside the Catholic Church there is no salvation.
This is also the message of Vatican Council II (AG 7, LG 14) I repeat.
Pope Francis and
the cardinals and bishops would be Magisterial on Vatican Council II only when
they interpret the Council rationally. They are irrational presently.
When they
interpret the Creeds, Councils and Catechisms irrationally they are not
magisterial. Instead they are heretical and schismatic. This is a mortal sin of
faith.
They are also unethical when they choose an irrational premise (invisible people are visible, LG 16 refers to a visible non Catholic saved outside the Church), irrational inference (LG 8, 14, 16 etc are visible examples of salvation outside the Church and so are objective exceptions for the dogma EENS) and non-traditional conclusion (Vatican Council II is a rupture with Tradition, EENS, original interpretation of the Creeds etc).
I am ethical when I choose a rational premise (invisible people are invisible, LG 16 refers to an invisible non Catholic saved outside the Church), irrational inference (LG 8, 14, 16 etc are invisible examples of salvation outside the Church and so are non objective. Invisible cases cannot be practical exceptions for the dogma EENS. I choose the rational and non-traditional conclusion (Vatican Council II is not a rupture with Tradition ( EENS, original interpretation of the Creeds etc).It has the hermeneutic of continuity with the Fourth Lateran Council II ( 1215) and the Council of Florence (1442) which defined the dogma EENS.
- Lionel Andrades