The St.Benedict Center,NH,USA has commented on the statement of Archbishop Augustine Di Noia on extra ecclesiam nulla salus in the interview with the National Catholic Register.
The new Vice President of Ecclesia Dei tells Edward Pentin:
Ralph Martin agrees with that. We do have a crisis, because the Church has been infected with the idea that we don’t have to worry or be anxious or we don’t sufficiently take the mandate to proclaim Christ seriously. But it’s not because of Vatican II, but bad theology. That’s why Dominus Iesus was part of the response to all of that theology of religion. There is no question that the necessity of extra Ecclesiam nulla salus has a long history. But they were talking about heretics, not nonbelievers. That formula addresses the problems of heresies. It has its history.
The Council did say there are elements of grace in other religions, and I don’t think that should be retracted. I’ve seen them, I know them — I’ve met Lutherans and Anglicans who are saints.
Bro. Andre Marie says if the saintly looking Lutherans and Anglicans are cooperating with God's grace as given them in these "elements of sanctification and of truth", then they will end up in the bosom and untiy of Holy Mother Church, whither these elements "impel" them.Let us not forget that the One, Holy, Catholic,and Apostolic Church is the Communiton of Saints.
The Amercian Archbishop suggests he knows of saintly Protestants whom he judges will be going to Heaven and not Hell-he can judge.He comes across as a modernist saying that these Protestants do not have to convert into the Catholic Church for salvation.
Bro.Andre Marie cites the Council of Florence saying:
It firmly believes, professes, and proclaims that those not living within the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews 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.-Council of Florence(emphasis added)
Lumen Gentium 8 mentions elements of sanctification in other religions but does not state that we can identify this grace and know if it is sufficient for salvation. One has to assume that someone has this grace and then personally assume that we know this person is going to be saved even though he is a Protestant.
This is contrary to Ad Gentes 7 which says all need Catholic Faith for salvation.
Lionel Andrades
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