I have e-mailed Cardinal Law's Secretary. The last two posts, on this blog, which mention Cardinal Bernard Law (Tel: (+39) 06.698.86800, fax (+39) 06.698.86817 e-mail: sagrestiasmm@org.va), have been sent to his Secretary Msgr. Paul B. McInerny.Comments, clarifications or criticisms were invited.
There is no text in Vatican Council II which contradicts the ex cathedra dogma extra ecclesiam nulla salus.None.
Here is the ex cathedra dogma. It is saying everyone with no exception needs to de facto enter the Catholic Church to go to Heaven and avoid Hell.
THE EX CATHEDRA DOGMA EXTRA ECCLESIAM NULLA SALUSSo which text in Vatican Council II contradicts this dogma?’
• “There is but one universal Church of the faithful, outside which no one at all is saved.” (Pope Innocent III, Fourth Lateran Council, 1215.)
• “We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff.” (Pope Boniface VIII, the Bull Unam Sanctam, 1302.)
• “The most Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics, can have a share in life eternal; but that they will go into the eternal fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless before death they are joined with Her; and that so important is the unity of this ecclesiastical body that only those remaining within this unity can profit by the sacraments of the Church unto salvation, and they alone can receive an eternal recompense for their fasts, their almsgivings, their other works of Christian piety and the duties of a Christian soldier. No one let his almsgiving be as great as it may, no one, even if he pour out his blood for the Name of Christ, can be saved, unless he remain within the bosom and the unity of the Catholic Church.” (Pope Eugene IV, the Bull Cantate Domino, 1441.)- from the website Catholicism.org and “No Salvation outside the Church”: Link List, the Three Dogmatic Statements Regarding EENS) : http://nosalvationoutsideofthecatholicchurch.blogspot.com/
LG 16? Nostra Aetate?
Those also can attain to salvation who through no fault of their own do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, yet sincerely seek God and moved by grace strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience.(19*) Nor does Divine Providence deny the helps necessary for salvation to those who, without blame on their part, have not yet arrived at an explicit knowledge of God and with His grace strive to live a good life…- Lumen Gentium 16,Vatican Council IIThere is no text in Vatican Council II which says de facto everyone does not have to enter the Catholic Church to avoid Hell. This is not mentioned in any specific text.
Someone estimated that there are some 30-plus interpretations of Vatican Council II. So one may interpret LG 16 as one likes, including wild interpretations-but the text no where say de facto everyone with no exception does not need to enter the Catholic Church, the Mystical Body of Jesus, to avoid Hell.
The dogma says everyone does need to enter the Church.
So all the propaganda about Vatican Council II saying that those in invincible ignorance, a good conscience or with a baptism of desire do not have to de facto enter the Church are mere personal interpretations .There is no substance. No text.No proof.
‘Those also can attain to salvation…’(LG16) refer to de jure salvation. In theory, at the intellectual level, the level of theology it is possible as an exception for a non Catholic to be saved. This would only be known to Jesus.
De facto, the church teaches that everyone with no exception needs to enter the Catholic Church to be saved. This is the interpretation according to Sacred Tradition. It also is the ex cathedra infallible teaching of the dogma.
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