Then Ad Gentes 7 also says those who know about the Catholic Church and yet do not enter are oriented to Hell. The Prophet Muhammad the Quran shows knew about the Catholic Faith and yet he did not enter. According to Vatican Council II he is in Hell.
ASIA/PAKISTAN - Life imprisonment for two Christians accused of blasphemy, amidst deceit and falsehoodThe new archbishop of Rawalpindi –Islamabad was the Rector of the National Catholic Theological Institute, Christ the King Major seminary, Karachi, Pakistan. It was known for its irenicism (giving up Catholic principles for the sale of peace and survival) and dissent.
Lahore (Agenzia Fides) – The Christian community in Pakistan has responded with indignation and bitterness to the sentence of life imprisonment for two young Christians accused of blasphemy. "The accusations are unjust, manipulated and unproven," Fides has been told by a source from the Catholic Church in Pakistan. "The Christian community is very sad. This law does not help dialogue and harmony in society in any way. The Church calls for its cancellation," Fides was told by Archbishop Rufin Anthony, the new Archbishop of Islamabad-Rawalpindi.
Yesterday Qamar David, a Christian from Lahore, in prison since 2006, received the verdict of the Court which sentenced him to life imprisonment for blasphemy. For three years, his family and his lawyer have been subject to threats and intimidation. "The conviction was based only on statements and testimonies that were made up as a result of hatred and prejudice," notes Parvez Choudry, lawyer of Qamar David.
Local sources reported a second incident to Fides: that of Imran Masih, 26, of Faisalabad, sentenced to life in prison for blasphemy on January 11. A neighbor accused him of burning a copy of the Koran. It seems the young man was framed. In cleaning his shop, he wanted to get rid of some books written in Arabic (a language he does not understand) and asked a neighbor to examine to see whether the books were not on religion or Islamic prayer. The neighbor has assured him that they were not, so Imran Masih went and burned them. But then he faced a complaint of blasphemy made by the same neighbor, on charges of desecrating and incinerating a Koran.
"We are fighting for the withdrawal of this unjust law, along with many other activists of Pakistani society," Fides learned from Francis Mehboob Sada, Director of the Christian Study Center in Rawalpindi, an ecumenical center for studying and monitoring human rights. "This law has been abused for far too long and Christians are victims. It should be noted that until 1986, there were no cases in Pakistan of blasphemy. From 1986 onwards - when General Zia-ul-Haq promulgated the law - the cases of blasphemy have appeared everywhere."
"The nation does not need this law. The National Commission for Human Rights and other civil society groups, including Muslims, openly say so. There are certainly fundamentalist Islamic groups that support it and the government is under their influence and pressure. But we will continue our struggle, hoping for good news." (PA) (Agenzia Fides 27/2/2010)
So if archbishop Rufin Anthony would be asked if the Catholic Faith (Ad Gentes 7) says Islam is not a path to salvation and Muslims needs to convert to go to Heaven would he answer YES?
If he was asked if the Catholic Church indicates that the Prophet Mohammad was oriented to Hell would he answer YES?
The priest-professors at the seminary and the Archbishops friends would interpret Vatican Council II Lumen Gentium 16 as saying those Muslims in invincible ignorance, with the Baptism of desire or a good conscience do not have to convert into the Catholic Church to go to Heaven. This is irrational! Since it is saying that we are able to judge who has a baptism of desire etc. If we cannot judge then how can we know anyone specifically, a particular Muslim, who has the baptism of desire etc. So if we do not know any specific, particular case then why mention that those with the baptism of desire etc, do not have to convert. It is irrelevant
It is not only irrational it contradicts Ad Gentes 7 of Vatican Council II which states ‘all people’, all, need Catholic Faith and the Baptism of water to go to Heaven.
A.The traditional teaching of the Church according to Pope Pius XII is that with implicit faith/desire a person can be saved in ‘certain circumstances’(Letter of the Holy Office 1949).
So in ‘certain circumstances’, and not in general, according to the Traditional teaching of the Catholic Church there can be persons,Muslims, saved.
In His infinite mercy God has willed that the effects, necessary for one to be saved, of those helps to salvation which are directed toward man's final end, not by intrinsic necessity, but only by divine institution, can also be obtained in certain circumstances when those helps are used only in desire and longing.-Letter of the Holy Office 1949Since only God can judge who these persons are , we do not know them personally or specifically. So their salvation and God’s Judgement can only remain a concept for us.
It is something known only in principle, as a thought, intellectually. I call it collectively De jure Salvation. The word may be new but in essence it is a traditional teaching.
B.In contrast those Muslims whom I meet face to face and know personally and who do not enter the Catholic Church, I know first hand, they are oriented to Hell. I know this because the Church says they need to convert to be saved. So this knowledge is concrete. It is not a concept. It is also based on a Traditional Catholic teaching. I call this De facto Salvation. The word may be new but in essence it refers to a traditional teaching.
A and B are not opposed to each other.
B refers to the dogma in actual fact at the Absolute Level and its expression in word and thought at the human level.
A refers to a concept at the human level of a possible fact that I cannot concretely know but of a possibility all the same.
You could reject A and agree it can be a concept a thought but an erroneous one. Fine. We still agree on the dogma, B.
Congregation for the doctrine of the faith endorses ‘strict interpretation’ of extra ecclesiam nulla salus
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Vatican and the Orthodox Churches have endorsed the ‘strict interpretation’, the literal and only interpretation of outside the Church there is no salvation (extra ecclesiam nulla salus).
• “There is but one universal Church of the faithful, outside which no one at all is saved.” (Pope Innocent III, Fourth Lateran Council, 1215.)During the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI the CDF issued Responses to Some questions regarding certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church which affirmed the dogma extra ecclesiam nulla salus. It was a repetition of Pope John Paul II’s teaching in Dominus Iesus and the Notification on the book by Fr. Jacques Dupuis S.J. It was in accord with Pope Paul VI's Evangelii Nuntiandi and Vatican Council II‘s Ad Gentes 7 and Lumen Gentium 14.Pope Pius XII called it our ‘infallible’ teaching. (Letter of the Holy Office 1949).
• “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, 302.)
• “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://nosalvationoutsideofthecatholiicchurch.blogspot.com/
Christ “established here on earth” only one Church and instituted it as a “visible and spiritual community”, that from its beginning and throughout the centuries has always existed and will always exist, and in which alone are found all the elements that Christ himself instituted. “This one Church of Christ, which we confess in the Creed as one, holy, catholic and apostolic […].So Responses repeats the message of Vatican Council II that the Church is a necessity for salvation (Ad Gentes 7, Lumen Gentium 14). De facto everyone needs to enter the Catholic Church; it is a necessity for salvation.
This Church, constituted and organised in this world as a society, subsists in the Catholic Church, governed by the successor of Peter and the Bishops in communion with him”.the word “subsists” can only be attributed to the Catholic Church alone precisely because it refers to the mark of unity that we profess in the symbols of the faith (I believe... in the “one” Church); and this “one” Church subsists in the Catholic Church.-Responses to Some Questions Regarding certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church.(June 29, 2007 )
De jure (conceptually, in theory, intellectually, in theology) we could debate or discuss exceptions to the need of salvation, those without the baptism of water. However these are exceptions known only to God. They are unknown to us. They are unknown to us since only Jesus can judge. He will decide.
Responses states
“It follows that these separated churches and Communities, though we believe they suffer from defects, are deprived neither of significance nor importance in the mystery of salvation... ”In ‘certain circumstances’ as Pope Pius XII states (Letter of the Holy Office 1949) those with implicit faith, those who are not Catholics ,can be saved (without Catholic Faith and the Baptism of water).So we cannot interpret ‘It follows that these separated churches and Communities….’ as referring to the ordinary way of salvation. Since only in 'certain circumstances’; exceptionally and known to God only can members of separated Churches and communities be saved without Catholic Faith in the Catholic Church. The ordinary way of salvation is the baptism of water and Catholic Faith. For example the Catechism states that the Catholic Church knows of no way to eternal beatitude other than the baptism of water (given to adults with Catholic Faith). So this is the ordinary way. Yet CCC 1257 also says salvation is not limited to the Sacraments. So here we have the dejure, extraordinary,exceptional means of salvation. In a way it is irrelevant to us since it will be judged only by Jesus.
If ‘“It follows that these separated churches and Communities…’ was a reference to the ordinary way of salvation then it would contradict Vatican Council II. Since Ad Gentes 7, states “all people” need Catholic Faith and the Baptism of water for salvation. All.
If de facto we know specifically, personally, that someone in ‘these separated churches and Communities’ can be saved, then it would contradict the dogma extra ecclesiam nulla salus.
So dejure, conceptually we know “It follows that these separated churches and Communities,...''- is possible. De jure we could debate or discuss this possibility.
De facto it is clear that there are no exceptions to ' Christ “established here on earth” only one Church...'
De facto (in evangelising, in personal contact with non-Catholics) there is no one (Muslim) who specifically has the baptism of desire, who I know is in invincible ignorance or who I can judge has good conscience.
VATICAN COUNCIL II SAYS OUTSIDE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH THERE IS NO SALVATION
Vatican Council II says outside the Catholic Church there is no salvation. Extra ecclesiam nulla salus.
The Catholic Church teaches after Vatican Council II (1965) that all people need to enter the Catholic Church to go to Heaven (Ad Gentes 7, Vatican Council II). Catholic Faith with the Baptism of water is the normal, ordinary way of salvation for all people (Lumen Gentium 14, Vatican Council II).The Catholic Church is the ordinary way of salvation for all people (Lumen Gentium 14).Non Catholics however can be saved through the extraordinary means of salvation (Lumen Gentium 16).Only God knows who are the non-Catholics saved through the extraordinary means of salvation; the exceptions. We do not know who the exceptions are. We cannot judge. Jesus, the Church, Scripture and Vatican Council II indicate that the priority is Catholic Faith and the Baptism of water for all people.
So everyone needs to enter the Catholic Church which is the like the only Ark of Noah that saves in the Flood (CCC).Non Catholic religions have good things in them. However they are not paths to salvation. All salvation comes through Jesus and His Mystical Body the Church. Those non-Catholics who know the above information and yet do not enter the Church are oriented to Hell (Ad Gentes 7, Lumen Gentium 14).Those non-Catholics participating in inter religious dialogue, are educated. They know. They are oriented to Hell.
Outside the Church there is no salvation. Catholic Faith and the Baptism of water are needed for all people. This is Vatican Council II.
No where in Nostra Aetate, Vatican Council II is it said that non Catholic religions are paths to salvation.
Vatican Council II is in harmony with John 3:5, the Church Fathers, the ex cathedra councils on extra ecclesia nulla salus, the Council of Florence, Evangelii Nuntiandi, Redemptoris Missio, Catechism of the Catholic Church, Dominus Iesus, Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, Notification on Fr. Jacques Dupuis etc.
Don’t let people fool you about Vatican Council II. Check the details and affirm the Faith which does not change.
Jesus called the Catholic Church “…my church…” He told St. Peter that it would prevail against Satan and be there for all time.
So immagine the next time someone is arrested in Pakistan and he says this is what the Catholic Church teaches and this is what I believe too- how would the Archbishop defend him? Would he agree with the accused or deny the Faith?
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