No where in Vatican Council II is this theology presented. There is no text which claims this. It is an interpretation. Just one interpretation.
It is heresy since it rejects an ex cathedra dogma which states everyone needs to enter the Church with no exceptions to avoid Hell (Cantate Domino, Council of Florence). (1)
It is also irrational since how can you say everyone needs to enter the Church and yet there are people one can know who do not have to enter the church for salvation?
It is also contrary to the Principle of Non Contradiction. Since the USCCB is implying that explicitly everyone needs to enter the Church for salvation and explicitly there can be people saved with the baptism of desire, inivincible ignorance etc.
It’s a straw man since explicitly we do not know any case in the present times of someone with the baptism of desire etc. Neither can we implicitly (in principle) know of any such case.
The baptism of desire etc is accepted only as a concept a probability, known to God only. It is not an actuality for us, never.
The USCCB ‘line’ is not part of the Catholic tradition and was gifted to us in the 1950’s by Cardinal Cushing and the Jesuits.
Yet Catholics United for the Faith, Steubinville,USA and Catholics Answers will repeat the USCCB ‘mantra’ and say this is what the Church teaches.
In reality they are mocking the Faith since they are implying that the three Councils which defined an ex cathedra dogma extra exclesiam nulla salus were wrong and so an infallible teaching can be changed with an interpretation of Vatican Council II.
CUF and Catholics Answers are implying that the pope is not infallible ex cathedra and so this is a rejection of another dogma.
The ‘virus’ has been picked up by Jeffery Mirus of Catholic Culture and spread through his propaganda-piece on the Internet Tragic Errors of Leonard Feeney. It is endorsed by EWTN. Also by the American Mons. Arthur B. Calkins, Under Secretary Pontificial Ecclesia Dei, Vatican which is a part of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. It is also shared by some members of his community, Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate.
They do not realize that the USCCB ‘line’ is not there in Vatican Council II and is only an interpretation, one interpretation, in also the Catechism of the Catholic Church. There is enough material in the Catechism and Vatican Council II to say
1) Those in invincible ignorance, the baptism of desire or blood can be saved and it will be only known to God.
2) Everyone with no exception needs to be a formal, visible member (with Catholic Faith and the Baptism of water) to be saved from Hell and threre are no exceptions.
This - is not heresy since I am affirming here the infallible teaching and also acknowledging there can be persons saved with the baptism of desire or blood or invincible ignorance.
This is - what the Church teaches if you use a second interepretation of the same text (LG 16 etc) according to tradition and not as a break from tradition. This is how the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has asked us to interpret the Council.
The USCCB 'line' is heresy and a break with tradition. The Church cannot teach this interpretation. It is also a break between Faith and Reason (Fides et Ratio). It is the secular left media and Catholic religious and lay persons who have brought ideology into religion, the Church, who accept it as the the teaching of the Catholic Church.
Vatican Council Ii indicates that the educated Muslims, the Imams in Florida and New York are on the way to Hell.
'Therefore those men cannot be saved, who though aware that God, through Jesus Christ founded the Church as something necessary, still do not wish to enter into it, or to persevere in it.'
Vatican Council II indicates all Muslims are on the way to Hell.
Therefore, all must be converted to Him, made known by the Church's preaching, and all must be incorporated into Him by baptism and into the Church which is His body. For Christ Himself "by stressing in express language the necessity of faith and baptism (cf. Mark 16:16; John 3:5), at the same time confirmed the necessity of the Church, into which men enter by baptism, as by a door.
The USCCB ‘mantra’ indicates that there can be the ‘strict interpretation’ of the dogma extra ecclesiam nulla salus and also ‘developed versions’. There can be two or more interpretations it would seem of an infallible teaching.
Mons. Ignacio Barreiro would agree with the USCCB. He told me that the does not accept the ‘rigorist interpretation’ of the dogma extra ecclesiam nulla slaus. He offers the Tridentine Rite Mass in Rome, like Mons, Arthur Calkins. And they do not believe that the denying or changing of an infallible teaching is a mortal sin.They will not affirm the dogma in public.
Neither is the ex cathedra dogma endorsed by the USCCB, CUF, Karl Keating’s Catholic Answers, Real Catholic TV’s Simon Rafe, Catholic Culture, Human Life International (Barreiro) and perhaps the Thomas More Law Centre, USA (Thompson) and UK (Addison). In error with the 'mantra' are also apologists Patrick Madrid, John Martigioni, Mark Shea, Art Sippo etc.
It was Fr. Leonard Feeney who once shouted that the Emperor has no clothes(2). Someone has to do it today.
Fr. Peter Phan, heretic, who still promotes his heresies including 'the theology of religions' and is not excommunicated, could be laughing to himself.
Archbishop Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington and head of the USCCB Doctrinal Committee permits Fr. Peter Phan to teach and offer Holy Mass in Washington.
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1.“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.) Ex cathedra (Emphasis added)
2.The Emperor's New Clothes
Many years ago, there was an Emperor, who was so excessively fond of new clothes, that he spent all his money in dress. He did not trouble himself in the least about his soldiers; nor did he care to go either to the theater or the chase, except for the opportunities then afforded him for displaying his new clothes. He had a different suit for each hour of the day; and as of any other king or emperor, one is accustomed to say, "he is sitting in council," it was always said of him, "The Emperor is sitting in his wardrobe."
Time passed merrily in the large town which was his capital; strangers arrived every day at the court. One day, two rogues, calling themselves weavers, made their appearance. They gave out that they knew how to weave stuffs of the most beautiful colors and elaborate patterns, the clothes manufactured from which should have the wonderful property of remaining invisible to everyone who was unfit for the office he held, or who was extraordinarily simple in character.
"These must, indeed, be splendid clothes!" thought the Emperor. "Had I such a suit, I might at once find out what men in my realms are unfit for their office, and also be able to distinguish the wise from the foolish! This stuff must be woven for me immediately." And he caused large sums of money to be given to both the weavers in order that they might begin their work directly.
So the two pretended weavers set up two looms, and affected to work very busily, though in reality they did nothing at all. They asked for the most delicate silk and the purest gold thread; put both into their own knapsacks; and then continued their pretended work at the empty looms until late at night.
"I should like to know how the weavers are getting on with my cloth," said the Emperor to himself, after some little time had elapsed; he was, however, rather embarrassed, when he remembered that a simpleton, or one unfit for his office, would be unable to see the manufacture. To be sure, he thought he had nothing to risk in his own person; but yet, he would prefer sending somebody else, to bring him intelligence about the weavers, and their work, before he troubled himself in the affair. All the people throughout the city had heard of the wonderful property the cloth was to possess; and all were anxious to learn how wise, or how ignorant, their neighbors might prove to be.
"I will send my faithful old minister to the weavers," said the Emperor at last, after some deliberation, "he will be best able to see how the cloth looks; for he is a man of sense, and no one can be more suitable for his office than be is."
So the faithful old minister went into the hall, where the knaves were working with all their might, at their empty looms. "What can be the meaning of this?" thought the old man, opening his eyes very wide. "I cannot discover the least bit of thread on the looms." However, he did not express his thoughts aloud.
The impostors requested him very courteously to be so good as to come nearer their looms; and then asked him whether the design pleased him, and whether the colors were not very beautiful; at the same time pointing to the empty frames. The poor old minister looked and looked, he could not discover anything on the looms, for a very good reason, viz: there was nothing there. "What!" thought he again. "Is it possible that I am a simpleton? I have never thought so myself; and no one must know it now if I am so. Can it be, that I am unfit for my office? No, that must not be said either. I will never confess that I could not see the stuff."
"Well, Sir Minister!" said one of the knaves, still pretending to work. "You do not say whether the stuff pleases you."
"Oh, it is excellent!" replied the old minister, looking at the loom through his spectacles. "This pattern, and the colors, yes, I will tell the Emperor without delay, how very beautiful I think them."
"We shall be much obliged to you," said the impostors, and then they named the different colors and described the pattern of the pretended stuff. The old minister listened attentively to their words, in order that he might repeat them to the Emperor; and then the knaves asked for more silk and gold, saying that it was necessary to complete what they had begun. However, they put all that was given them into their knapsacks; and continued to work with as much apparent diligence as before at their empty looms.
The Emperor now sent another officer of his court to see how the men were getting on, and to ascertain whether the cloth would soon be ready. It was just the same with this gentleman as with the minister; he surveyed the looms on all sides, but could see nothing at all but the empty frames.
"Does not the stuff appear as beautiful to you, as it did to my lord the minister?" asked the impostors of the Emperor's second ambassador; at the same time making the same gestures as before, and talking of the design and colors which were not there.
"I certainly am not stupid!" thought the messenger. "It must be, that I am not fit for my good, profitable office! That is very odd; however, no one shall know anything about it." And accordingly he praised the stuff he could not see, and declared that he was delighted with both colors and patterns. "Indeed, please your Imperial Majesty," said he to his sovereign when he returned, "the cloth which the weavers are preparing is extraordinarily magnificent."
The whole city was talking of the splendid cloth which the Emperor had ordered to be woven at his own expense.
And now the Emperor himself wished to see the costly manufacture, while it was still in the loom. Accompanied by a select number of officers of the court, among whom were the two honest men who had already admired the cloth, he went to the crafty impostors, who, as soon as they were aware of the Emperor's approach, went on working more diligently than ever; although they still did not pass a single thread through the looms.
"Is not the work absolutely magnificent?" said the two officers of the crown, already mentioned. "If your Majesty will only be pleased to look at it! What a splendid design! What glorious colors!" and at the same time they pointed to the empty frames; for they imagined that everyone else could see this exquisite piece of workmanship.
"How is this?" said the Emperor to himself. "I can see nothing! This is indeed a terrible affair! Am I a simpleton, or am I unfit to be an Emperor? That would be the worst thing that could happen--Oh! The cloth is charming," said he, aloud. "It has my complete approbation." And he smiled most graciously, and looked closely at the empty looms; for on no account would he say that he could not see what two of the officers of his court had praised so much. All his retinue now strained their eyes, hoping to discover something on the looms, but they could see no more than the others; nevertheless, they all exclaimed, "Oh, how beautiful!" and advised his majesty to have some new clothes made from this splendid material, for the approaching procession. "Magnificent! Charming! Excellent!" resounded on all sides; and everyone was uncommonly gay. The Emperor shared in the general satisfaction; and presented the impostors with the riband of an order of knighthood, to be worn in their button-holes, and the title of "Gentlemen Weavers."
The rogues sat up the whole of the night before the day on which the procession was to take place, and had sixteen lights burning, so that everyone might see how anxious they were to finish the Emperor's new suit. They pretended to roll the cloth off the looms; cut the air with their scissors; and sewed with needles without any thread in them. "See!" cried they, at last. "The Emperor's new clothes are ready!"
And now the Emperor, with all the grandees of his court, came to the weavers; and the rogues raised their arms, as if in the act of holding something up, saying, "Here are your Majesty's trousers! Here is the scarf! Here is the mantle! The whole suit is as light as a cobweb; one might fancy one has nothing at all on, when dressed in it; that, however, is the great virtue of this delicate cloth."
"Yes indeed!" said all the courtiers, although not one of them could see anything of this exquisite manufacture.
"If your Imperial Majesty will be graciously pleased to take off your clothes, we will fit on the new suit, in front of the looking glass."
The Emperor was accordingly undressed, and the rogues pretended to array him in his new suit; the Emperor turning round, from side to side, before the looking glass.
"How splendid his Majesty looks in his new clothes, and how well they fit!" everyone cried out. "What a design! What colors! These are indeed royal robes!"
"The canopy which is to be borne over your Majesty, in the procession, is waiting," announced the chief master of the ceremonies.
"I am quite ready," answered the Emperor. "Do my new clothes fit well?" asked he, turning himself round again before the looking glass, in order that he might appear to be examining his handsome suit.
The lords of the bedchamber, who were to carry his Majesty's train felt about on the ground, as if they were lifting up the ends of the mantle; and pretended to be carrying something; for they would by no means betray anything like simplicity, or unfitness for their office.
So now the Emperor walked under his high canopy in the midst of the procession, through the streets of his capital; and all the people standing by, and those at the windows, cried out, "Oh! How beautiful are our Emperor's new clothes! What a magnificent train there is to the mantle; and how gracefully the scarf hangs!" in short, no one would allow that he could not see these much-admired clothes; because, in doing so, he would have declared himself either a simpleton or unfit for his office. Certainly, none of the Emperor's various suits, had ever made so great an impression, as these invisible ones.
"But the Emperor has nothing at all on!" said a little child.
"Listen to the voice of innocence!" exclaimed his father; and what the child had said was whispered from one to another.
"But he has nothing at all on!" at last cried out all the people. The Emperor was vexed, for he knew that the people were right; but he thought the procession must go on now! And the lords of the bedchamber took greater pains than ever, to appear holding up a train, although, in reality, there was no train to hold. (Anderson)
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