I am affirming the teachings of the Catholic Church
according to Vatican Council II and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The
Council says all need faith and baptism for salvation and the Catechism says
outside the Church there is no salvation. The Church is saying that all
Muslims, Jews and other non Christians need to convert into the Catholic Church
for salvation (to avoid Hell).This has been the consistent teaching of the
Church now supported by the Council and Catechism. It has been a dogma of the
Church- extra ecclesiam nulla salus – defined by three Church Councils (Fourth
Lateran Council, 1215 etc).
I respect the dignity of the other person and their
right to follow their religion in a secular non Catholic State. I also expect
others to respect my religious beliefs.
Instead I find myself discriminated against in Rome
because of my Catholic beliefs.
I appreciate the good things in other religions (NA 2)
and the elements of sanctification and truth in other religions (LG 8), but the
Church also teaches that other religions are not paths to salvation (AG 7, CCC
845,846, CDF Notification on Fr. Jacques Dupuis sj, 2001 etc). The Holy Spirit can act outside the visible boundaries of the Church but salvation is restricted to the Catholic Church ( AG 7, LG 14 etc).
As a Catholic, I believe, for example, that Islam is
not a path to salvation and their members are oriented to the Catholic Church
for salvation (CDF, Dupuis, 2001 etc). I have not criticized any religious leader or religion directly.
LG 8,14,15,16,UR3,NA 2, GS 22 etc, refer to
hypothetical and invisible cases in 2024 and so they do not contradict the
dogma extra ecclesiam nulla salus. Neither do they contradict Ad Gentes 7 ( all need faith and baptism for salvation) and
the Catechism of the Catholic Church 845( the Church is like the Ark of Noah that saves in the flood),846( outside the Church there is no salvation).
The norm for salvation is ‘faith and baptism’(AG 7) and
not the baptism of desire( BOD) and being saved in invincible ignorance(LG
16).The ordinary means of salvation is faith and baptism( Ad Gentes 7) and there is no extraordinary means of
salvation known to us in real life. We cannot meet or see someone saved with the
BOD or I.I or where the Catholic Church subsists outside the Church’s visible
boundaries (LG 8). We cannot see or meet someone saved in imperfect communion
with the Church (UR 3) or saved with good will (GS 22) etc.
Yet because of my Catholic beliefs there are people who believe I should be deprived of some right, guaranteed by the Italian Constitution. Vatican Council II and the Catechism of the Catholic Church are Magisterial for me, but for them, these Documents are ‘terrorist’.I have a right to follow these Church Documents and the Bible (John 3:5, Mark 16:16 etc).
My Parish Priest, Fr. Paolo Bomus, of the church Sant
Agapito, the priests of the Missionaries of Charity of Mother Teresa, Rome and the
Ecclesia Mater theologians for the Auxiliary Bishops of Rome, also follow the
Council and Catechism. For them too, LG 8, 14, 15, 16, UR 3, NA 2, GS 22 etc,
refer to physically invisible and not physically visible cases in 1965-2024.
So my Catholic beliefs are not just personal beliefs
but they are the official and Magisterial teachings of the Church, Councils and
Catechisms, interpreted rationally. I am only following the teachings of the
Catholic Church.
I am waiting for Pope Francis and the cardinals to
announce that LG 8, 14, 15, 16, UR 3, NA 2, GS 22 etc, in Vatican Council II,
refer to physically invisible and not visible cases in 2024.With this one
statement the Church returns to Tradition and is in harmony with the
Magisterium over the centuries, including that of the missionaries in the 16th
century.
When the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Vatican recognizes that LG 8,14,15,16 etc refer to hypothetical cases only, always, Catholics can affirm Vatican Council II (rational) and Tradition. They will not have to choose between the two. Since Vatican Council II with LG 8,14,15,16,UR 3, NA 2, GS 22 etc being hypothetical and physically invisible, does not support the familiar liberalism. There is no more conflict on doctrine and division among traditionalists and liberals. We have unity on doctrine once again. There is no more a development of doctrine and instead there is the hermeneutic of continuity with Tradition. The ecclesiology of the old Roman Missal will be the norm at the Novus Ordo Mass and all liturgies and rites.
-Lionel Andrades
Posts
