Following the announcement on February 11, 2013 that His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI would resign from the papacy, Fr. Rosica was invited by the Vatican to join the staff of the Holy See Press Office and serve as one of the official spokespersons for the transition in the papacy that included the resignation, Sede Vacante, Conclave and election of the new Pope. Appearing at daily news briefings and giving over 160 interviews in English, French, Italian, Spanish and German to news networks and media outlets from around the world, Fr. Rosica assisted the Vatican during a critical period in Church history. He completed his service upon the election and inauguration of Petrine Ministry of Pope Francis.
In May, 2013, Father Rosica made newspapers for issuing statements which appeared to explain or contradict recent words by Pope Francis. In a Vactican Radio address on May 22, the Pope said, "The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! ‘Father, the atheists?’ Even the atheists. [...] We must meet one another doing good. ‘But I don’t believe, Father, I am an atheist!’ But do good: we will meet one another there." [3]. Father Rosica wrote that people who are aware of the Catholic Church, but do not accept it, "cannot be saved", and that Pope Francis had "no intention of provoking a theological debate on the nature of salvation through his homily or scriptural reflection" [2]. This was widely interpreted as an official Vatican response to the Pope's homily [4] [5]. However, as Fr. Rosica was not a Vatican spokesman at the time, this was not an official Vatican position. Regarding the fates of those who die without believing in God and in the core beliefs of the Church (which would be considered a more or less sinful and serious lapse, depending on the individual context), it should be remembered that, under church law, it is generally held to be true that even if a person has mortal sins that they have not confessed and he or she dies, they may still hope to be forgiven. Forgiveness may be obtained if before they died, they expressed perfect contrition (sorrow) for each of their mortal sins and, they expressed a desire (even if not possible) to go to sacramental confession and do proper penance and restitution. This exception is based on the belief that God, in his love and mercy and in his utmost desire for all to be saved, knowing that they are sorry will allow them to formally apologize and make reparation (in some way) when they are judged.[6]-Wikipedia
Fr.Rosica is a controversial liberal priest. I had been in correspondence with him. He rejects the dogma on salvation,extra ecclesiam nulla salus and assumes there are known exceptions in the present times. This would also be a rejection of Vatican Council II (AG 7) etc.
The ordinary means of salvation is Catholic Faith and the baptism of water. There is no other means to go to Heaven in the present times.
An atheist, pagan or other non Catholic needs Catholic Faith and the baptism of water for salvation. So even if an atheist just had faith, it is not enough. He needs the Sacraments of the Catholic Church for salvation.
Fr.Rosica in the passage quoted above, seems to say that God's Mercy and grace is there for every one and every one will make a perfect contrition or do what has to be done to be saved, to have Catholic Faith or what is needed for salvation.So even if one is a sinner, at the last moment something will happen for their conversion.
God is Mercy but God is also Just.His Justice has sent the bad angels to Hell and they are still there.
So Fr.Rosica's view is false. The exception is not the norm. Also the exception if it existed, would not be known to us.In general those with mortal sin are going to Hell.(Veritatis Splendor,Catechism of the Catholic Church etc).If there is an exception with perfect contrition we would not know about it. So it would not be an exception to the need for all to have Catholic Faith and the baptism of water for salvation(AG 7).
'Rosica wrote that people who are aware of the Catholic Church, but do not accept it, "cannot be saved"', Yes. But we do not know any of these cases.So they are not exceptions to the dogma extra ecclesiam nulla salus which states all need to convert into the Church for salvation.
Those who are aware or in incuplable ignorance are not an exception also to Ad Gentes 7 which says all need faith and baptism for salvation.CCC 846 on Outside the Church No Salvation cites Ad Gentes 7 which says all need faith and baptism for salvation.There is nothing mentioned in CCC 846 which contradicts this teaching, on all needing to convert into the Catholic Church for salvation.
The Catechism and Vatican Council II says all while Fr.Rosica says only those who are aware.
-Lionel Andrades
Vatican does not clarify Pope Francis' remarks on atheists: negligent CDF still teaching factual error
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