The following report available on the internet shows you the familiar propaganda directed against Catholics.

My Comments in red.

ONTARIO CONSULTANTS ON RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE REACTING TO RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY:
Can non-Catholics be saved, according to the Roman Catholic Church?

Overview:

Christian denominations, whether Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant, have historically taught that an afterlife awaits everyone. All people will eventually spend eternity in either:

Heaven, where the rewards are beyond our wildest dreams, or Hell, where unbelievable levels of pain and suffering will last forever without any hope of relief.

Various denominations have taught that their particular followers have a better chance at attaining heaven, and that believers in other faith groups are either totally excluded from heaven or, at least, are more likely to go to Hell.


The author, who was brought up a Protestant, can recall a conversation over five decades ago with some Catholic friends from the neighborhood. He was taught in Sunday School that Catholics automatically go to Hell; his friends were taught in separate (Catholic, parochial) school that all Protestants end up in Hell.

These beliefs have since changed on both sides of the divide, as Christian faith groups have become more accepting of other denominations. Even beliefs about Hell itself have moderated; it is now seen by many religious groups to be simply a place of isolation from God.

There has been considerable movement by the Roman Catholic Church concerning the salvation status of non-Catholics. The church has gradually changed from an exclusivist to an inclusivist position, thus becoming more accepting of the validity of other Christian denominations and of other religions.

(The Church has not changed from an exclusivst to inclusivist position.)[/b]

The fate of non-Catholics, as stated prior to Vatican II:

Before Vatican II, the Church consistently taught that only Roman Catholics had a chance to be saved and attain Heaven. Followers of other Christian denominations and of other religions would be automatically routed to Hell for all eternity:

Pope Innocent III (circa 1160 - 1216 CE) is considered "one of the greatest popes of the Middle Ages..." 1 At the Fourth Lateran Council (a.k.a. the General Council of Lateran, and the Great Council) he wrote:

"There is but one universal Church of the faithful, outside of which no one at all can be saved."

Pope Boniface VIII (1235-1303 CE) promulgated a Papal Bull in 1302 CE titled Unam Sanctam (One Holy). He wrote, in part:

"Urged by faith, we are obliged to believe and to maintain that the Church is one, holy, catholic, and also apostolic. We believe in her firmly and we confess with simplicity that outside of her there is neither salvation nor the remission of sins...In her then is one Lord, one faith, one baptism [Ephesians 4:5]. There had been at the time of the deluge only one ark of Noah, prefiguring the one Church, which ark, having been finished to a single cubit, had only one pilot and guide, i.e., Noah, and we read that, outside of this ark, all that subsisted on the earth was destroyed....Furthermore, we declare, we proclaim, we define that it is absolutely necessary for salvation that every human creature be subject to the Roman Pontiff." 2

The last sentence in the original Latin reads: "Porro subesse Romano Pontifici omni humanae creaturae declaramus, dicimus, definimus, et pronuntiamus omnino esse de necessitate salutis." 3

Pope Eugene IV, (1388-1447 CE) wrote a Papal bull in 1441 CE titled Cantate Domino. One paragraph reads:

"It [the Church] firmly believes, professes, and proclaims that those not living within the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jєωs and heretics and schismatics cannot become participants in eternal life, but will depart 'into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels' [Matt. 25:41], unless before the end of life the same have been added to the flock; and that the unity of the ecclesiastical body is so strong that only to those remaining in it are the sacraments of the Church of benefit for salvation, and do fastings, almsgiving, and other functions of piety and exercises of Christian service produce eternal reward, and that no one, whatever almsgiving he has practiced, even if he has shed blood for the name of Christ, can be saved, unless he has remained in the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church." 4

The fate of non-Catholics, as expressed at Vatican II:

The "Dogmatic Constitution on the Church - Lumen Gentium" (1964) is one of many docuмents to come out of the Second Vatican Ecuмenical Council (often referred to as "Vatican II"). The Council was held in Rome between 1962 and 1965. Lumen Gentium" contains in its Chapter 1 an essay on "The Mystery of the church." Sections 14 to 16 describe the potential for salvation of:

Followers of the Catholic Church,

Members of other Christian denominations, and

Believers of non-Christian religions. 5

[b](Yes, in 'certain circuмstances'(Letter of the Holy Office 1949) and so known only to God. In general the ordinary way of salvation is Catholic Faith and the Baptism of water.Non Catholics need to convert to avoid Hell and go to Heaven according to Vatican Council II)[/b]

The language is difficult to follow for a lay person. However, an "Assessment of this Council" was written "as an AID to study by Catholic Students of the Second Vatican Council. They contain material, some written in a journalistic style, for the American reader." In the section "The Constitution of the Church" the assessment reads:

"The Catholic Church professes that it is the one, holy catholic and apostolic Church of Christ; this it does not and could not deny. But in its Constitution the Church now solemnly acknowledges that the Holy Ghost is truly active in the churches and communities separated from itself. To these other Christian Churches the Catholic Church is bound in many ways: through reverence for God's word in the Scriptures; through the fact of baptism; through other sacraments which they recognize."

5. The non-Christian may not be blamed for his ignorance of Christ and his Church; salvation is open to him also, if he seeks God sincerely and if he follows the commands of his conscience, for through this means the Holy Ghost acts upon all men; this divine action is not confined within the limited boundaries of the visible Church." 6

This statement would seem to include the possibility that seekers after God may attain salvation, even though they have not concluded that God exists.

[color=red](There is a possibility, 'in certain circuмstances'(Letter of the Holy Office 1949) but only God knows who these cases are. This is a conceptual subject. The ordinary means to go to Heaven for all non Catholics is Catholic Faith and the Baptism of water (Dominus Iesus 20, Ad Gentes 7, Vatican Council II)[/color]

Presumably, the authors of this docuмent define "God" in Roman Catholic terms as a super-human intelligence and personality with specific attributes, such as being omnipotent, omniscient, omnibeneficient, omnipresent, etc. This statement indicates that even some Agnostics and Atheists could be saved and attain heaven, if they sincerely sought this Christian God. It also seems to imply that many Buddhists -- those who follow traditions that have no concept of such a deity -- will be relegated to Hell after death.

[b](Ad Gentes 7,Vatican Council II says those who know about the Catholic Church and yet do not en
ter are oriented to Hell. Millions of non Catholics in modern cities of the world know about Jesus and the Catholic Church according to Vatican Council II they are on the way to Hell.)[/b]

The "Decree on Ecuмenism: Unitatis Redintegratio" (1964) is one of nine decrees of Vatican II. It deals with Ecuмenism, which the Catholic Church defines as the reuniting of all Christian faith groups under the authority of the pope. This includes Eastern Orthodox churches, the Anglican Communion, and Protestant denominations -- those who "came to be separated from full communion with the Catholic Church." Section 3 deals with "separated brethren" -- followers of Christian denominations which The docuмent repeats the belief that the Roman Catholic church is the only true Christian church -- the only denomination which "has been endowed with all divinely revealed truth and with all means of grace." Other Christian denominations are considered deficient. But the docuмent does recognize that salvation is possible through the Catholic church for followers of those separated faith groups.

[b](It is only a possibility known to God. It is not the ordinary way of salvation) [/b]

 It recognizes other denominations as fellow Christians:

"The children who are born into these Communities and who grow up believing in Christ cannot be accused of the sin involved in the separation, and the Catholic Church embraces upon them as brothers, with respect and affection. For men who believe in Christ and have been truly baptized are in communion with the Catholic Church even though this communion is imperfect. ...it remains true that all who have been justified by faith in Baptism are members of Christ's body, and have a right to be called Christian, and so are correctly accepted as brothers by the children of the Catholic Church."

[b](The communion is not perfect. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ but they are on the way to Hell according to Vatican Council II which says all need Catholic Faith.(Lumen Gentium 14, Ad Gentes 7)[/b]

Moreover, some and even very many of the significant elements and endowments which together go to build up and give life to the Church itself, can exist outside the visible boundaries of the Catholic Church: the written word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, and visible elements too. All of these, which come from Christ and lead back to Christ, belong by right to the one Church of Christ."


"The brethren divided from us also use many liturgical actions of the Christian religion. These most certainly can truly engender a life of grace in ways that vary according to the condition of each Church or Community. These liturgical actions must be regarded as capable of giving access to the community of salvation."

"It follows that the separated Churches and Communities as such, though we believe them to be deficient in some respects, have been by no means deprived of significance and importance in the mystery of salvation. For the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as means of salvation which derive their efficacy from the very fullness of grace and truth entrusted to the Church."

 (The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith's Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church (June 29, 2007) on the subsistit it issue indicates that the members of these Churches and communities need to be united with the Catholic Church for salvation.)[/b]

'... are not blessed with that unity which Jesus Christ wished to bestow on all those who through Him were born again into one body, and with Him quickened to newness of life- that unity which the Holy Scriptures and the ancient Tradition of the Church proclaim. For it is only through Christ's Catholic Church, which is 'the all-embracing means of salvation,' that they can benefit fully from the means of salvation. We believe that Our Lord entrusted all the blessings of the New Covenant to the apostolic college alone, of which Peter is the head, in order to establish the one Body of Christ on earth to which all should be fully incorporated who belong in any way to the people of God." (Footnote references deleted) 7

(Note emphasis added)

The "Declaration on the relation of the Church to non-Christian religions: Nostra Aetate," (1965) is one of three declarations of Vatican II. 8 It states that:

"[The Christian] God made the whole human race to live over the face of the earth."

"The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these [non-Christian] religions."

[b](True but it does not say that they are paths to salvation)[/b]

"God holds the Jєωs most dear for the sake of their Fathers..."

"...the [Roman Catholic] Church is the new People of God..."

(The ex cathedra dogma says outside the church there is no salvation, extra ecclesiam nulla salus, everyone needs to join the new People of God, the Elect for salvation.)[/b]

"...the Church has always held and holds now, Christ underwent His passion and death freely, because of the sins of men and out of infinite love, in order that all may reach salvation."

(Salvation is offered to all but to receive it one needs to enter the Catholic Church for salvation. Dominus Iesus 20)

The fate of non-Catholics, as expressed after Vatican II:

[b](It is the same as before Vatican Council II according to Ad Gentes 7 and Lumen Gentium 14)[/b]

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994), deals with the relationship of the Roman Catholic Church to non-Catholics in Topics 839 to 845. 9 Some points are:

839: Followers of other religions are referred to as "Those who have not yet received the gospel..." The implication is that they will eventually become united with the Roman Catholic Church.


The implication is that these are exceptional persons known to God only. They are not the majority of non Catholics who need to convert for salvation)[/[/color]

839 to 841: The Roman Catholic Church has a special relationship to Jєωs and Muslims because of the common reverence for the patriarch Abraham.

843: Other religions contain "goodness and truth" which are "a preparation for the Gospel."

845: God wishes to "reunite all his children," of all religions who are "scattered and led astray by sin...together into" the Catholic Church.

" 'Dominus Iesus' on the unicity and salvific universality of Jesus Christ and the Church" was published on 2000-AUG-6 by Cardinal Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. It was released on SEP-5. The docuмent had been ratified and confirmed by the Pope John Paul II on JUN-16 "with sure knowledge and by his apostolic authority." 10 The docuмent appears to have been triggered by the growth in acceptance of "relativistic theories which seek to justify religious pluralism." 12 It states that:


"The full revelation of divine truth is given" in the "mystery of Jesus Christ." No additional revelation is expected in the future.

Elements of Christianity were placed in other religions by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is the only savior of mankind.

All who are saved achieve this status through the Roman Catholic Church.

Salvation is possible to those who are not Roman Catholics or Eastern Orthodox.

[b](It is possible 'in certain circuмstances'(Letter of the Holy Office 1949).It is not the rule. In general everyone needs Catholic Faith which includes the Baptism of water. This is the reequirement  for salvation according to Vatican Council II ).[/b]

The prayers and rituals of other religions may help or hinder their believers. Some practices may prepare their membership to absorb the Gospel. However, those rituals which "depend on superstitions or other errors... constitute an obstacle to salvation."

Members of other religions are "gravely deficient" relative to members of the Church of Christ who already have "the fullness of the means of salvation."

More details, including negative reactions by non-Catholics

Has the position of the Roman Catholic Church changed?

[b](No).[/b]

At first glance, the Church has changed its teachings about whether a non-Catholic can be saved:

In the past, the Church seems to have taken an exclusivist position on the validity of other faith traditions. Numerous popes in the Middle Ages seem to have stated clearly that anyone who is "outside" the Church, who is "not subject to the Roman Pontiff" or is "not living within the Catholic Church" cannot be saved and will not attain Heaven.

Numerous statements since the 1960's seem to have stated clearly that the Church has switches to an inclusivist position. They now believe that non-Catholics can have indirect access to salvation, but that their faith may well place serious roadblocks on the path to salvation.

(This is not taught by the Catholic Magisterium. However this is the political position of the Jєωιѕн Left Media. We need to differentiate between the two).iT IS HERE THAT WE SEE THE ERRORS OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF BOSTON RICHARD CUSHING. THE CUSHING DOCTRINE SAYS THERE IS EXPLCIT BAPTISM OF DESIRE AND SO IT NEGATES THE INFALLIBLE TEACHING EXTRA ECCLESIAM NULLA SALUS. YETR THE BAPTISM OF DESIRE IS ALWAYS IMPLICIT. IT CANNOT BE ADMINISTERED LIKE THE BAPTISM OF WATER WHICH IS EXPLICIT.
THE SOCIETY OF ST.PIUS X ALSO SAYS THAT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO ENTER THE CATHOLIC CHURCH FOR SALVATION AND THEN SUCcuмBS TO THE CUSHING DOCTRINE. THE SSPX ADDS THE MANTRA 'EXCEPT FOR THOSE IN INVINCIBLE IGNORANCE AND THOSE WHO HAVE THE BAPTISM OF DESIRE'
THIS IS HERESY IT IS REJECTING OR CHANGING THE EX CATHEDRA DOGMA WHICH SAYS EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE AN EXPLICIT MEMBER OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH FOR SALVATION AND THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS.
IT ALSO INDICATES AN IRRATIONAL TEACHING THAT THE BAPTISM OF DESIRE AND INVINCIBLE IGNORANCE ARE OBJECTIVE, SEEABLE,JUDGEABLE AND AS EXPLICIT AS THE BAPTISM OF WATER.
IT ALSO WOULD MEAN THAT THE POPE IS NOT INFALLIBLE EX CATHEDRA AND SO THIS WOULD BE THE REJECTION OF ANOTHER DOGMA).

[/b]


The church tackles this apparent conflict in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Items 846 and 847 attempt to harmonize ancient and recent statements on salvation of non-Christians.

Section 846 by making the following points:

In ancient times, the Church Fathers often said that "Outside the [Catholic] Church there is no salvation."

The church has always taught that:

"...all salvation comes from Christ...through the [Catholic] Church..."

[b](Explicit and implicit)[/b]

"...the [Catholic] Church...is necessary for salvation..."

(Explicit entry into the Church, for salvation, is needed for all without exception)[/b]

"...Christ ...affirmed...the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door."

[color=red](Extra ecclesiam nulla salus, outside the Church there is no salvation. An ex cathedra dogma)[/color]

Those who realize the Church's role and who "refuse either to enter it or to remain in it" cannot achieve salvation or attain Heaven after death.

This is what various popes meant when they said that there was no salvation outside the church.

(No.

Those who know and do not enter the Church are on the way to Hell, definitely.(Ad Gentes 7).

However all non Catholics are also on the way to Hell and if there is anyone among them who has the Baptism of Desire or is in genuine invincible ignorance it will be known only to God.

This is the teachings of popes and Councils over the centuries.This is Vatican Council II which says ALL need  Catholic Faith and the Baptism of water for salvation.Ad Gentes 7, Lumen Gentium 14)[/color]

Section 847 states that:

The above "...is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church."

"Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience -- those too may achieve eternal salvation." 9

(In certain circuмstances, as a possibility and known only to God. It is not the ordinary means of salvation for non Catholics).[/b]

This attempt at harmonizing leaves many Anglicans, Muslims, Protestants, Wiccans, and followers of other religions in an awkward situation.

[color=red](They are on the way to Hell according to Vatican Council II ).[/color]

 Many know of the claims of the Roman Catholic Church and reject them in favor of the teachings of other groups. That would seem to eliminate any possibility for them to be saved and attain Heaven, according to the Roman Catholic Church.

(True)[/b]

The Catechism's explanation is difficult to harmonize with very specific statements by past popes, which were often referred to by the phrase : "Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus" ("Outside the Church there is no salvation").

(It is difficult to harmonize if the Catechism is minsinterpreted as shown above)[/color]

 According to the Saint Benedict Center, this doctrine of the Catholic Faith "...was taught By Jesus Christ to His Apostles, preached by the Fathers, defined by popes and councils and piously believed by the faithful in every age of the Church." 13

Pope Innocent III: "There is but one universal Church of the faithful, outside which no one at all is saved." Fourth Lateran Council, 1215.
EX CATHEDRA

Pope Boniface VIII: "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." From his Bull Unam Sanctam, 1302.EX CATHEDRA.

Pope Eugene IV: "The most Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jєωs 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." From his Bull Cantate Domino, 1441.) EX CATHEDRA.
[b](The above three definitions are ex cathedra.So they cannot be contradicted by the ordinary Magisterium of the Catholic Church i.e Catechism etc)[/b]

Protestant denominations and the Anglican Communion would presumably fall under the category of "heretics and schismatics."

(Protestants are heretics and Orthodox Christians are schismatics according to the ex cathedra teaching above.They are not members of the Catholic Church)[/b]

 Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, Zoroastrians, etc would presumably be considered "Pagans."

[b](They are not members of the Catholic Church and so are not on the way to Heaven at the time of their death according to Vatican Council II, the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the infallible, ex cathedra dogma extra ecclesiam nulla salus)[/b]

An attempt to harmonize Pope Boniface VIII's Unam Sanctam Bull is available online. It raises a number of points. One is that this bull was directed at Catholics in France during the 14th century who were not submitting to the Pope. Thus, it would not apply to Protestants.

(Pope Eugene IV repeats the message of Pope Boniface VIII and it also is ex cathedra)
Author: B.A. Robinson

Postal Addresses:

Our main office is in Canada. We have a PO Box:

OCRT

Box 27026,

Kingston ON Canada K7M 8W5

OCRT

PO Box 128

Watertown NY

13601-0128

__________________________________________________________________________________