On Jan 4(Saturday) I was telling an Italian sister with the community of St.Jeanne Antide that there are only Catholics in Heaven.
There was no time to explain it to her. Those who die with the baptism of desire I mentioned are not exceptions to the dogma extra ecclesiam nulla salus or Ad Gentes 7, Vatican Council II which says all need Catholic Faith and the baptism of water for salvation. All.
So the person who dies with a genuine desire for the baptism of water, has charity and other conditions for salvation needed before entering Heaven could have 1) a preacher sent to him who baptizes him with water (St.Thomas Aquinas) 2) could be sent back to earth only for the baptism of water (St.Francis Xavier) 3) or could go to Purgatory and return to earth to make expiation , as the saints Padre Pio and others have observed. So all who are in Heaven have received the baptism of water and have Catholic Faith.
When the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1257) states that 'God is not limited to the Sacraments', this is how I understand it.With or without the baptism of water, CCC 1257 does not contradict itself when it says that 'the Church knows of no means to eternal beatitude other than the baptism of water' and also states 'God is not limited to the Sacraments'.Neither does CCC 1257 contradict Ad Gentes 7, Vatican Council II or the dogma extra ecclesiam nulla salus on exclusive salvation in the Catholic Church.It is when Catholics assume that those saved without the Sacraments are visible to us, that the confusion begins. De jure, God is not limited to the Sacraments. De facto all need the baptism of water for salvation in 2014.It is given to adults with Catholic Faith. Explicitly, in the present times 'the Church knows of no means to eternal beatitude other than the baptism of water'. Hypothetically 'God is not limited to the Sacraments'.Since one is objective and the other is accepted subjectively it does not contradict the Principle of Non Contradiction.
Christ affirmed the necessity of faith and baptism (AG 7, John 3:5 etc). The baptism of desire without the Sacrament of baptism cannot be an exception,since we do not know any such case in the present times.This would have to be a theoretical, in principle, de jure case, accepted in faith.Something abstract.If there was a known case it would contradict Christ's saying all need faith and baptism.
The baptism of desire is a non issue.It is irrelevant to Ad Gentes 7 and the dogma extra ecclesiam nulla salus.
So when it is said that they could not be saved who are not ignorant that the Catholic Church was founded by God , through Jesus Christ, (LG 14,CCC 846) these persons saved are known only to God, as also are those saved with the baptism of desire.
Every one still needs Catholic Faith and the baptism of desire and not just those who 'know'.In other words defacto, practically in 2014 every one needs faith and baptism to go to Heaven.In theory and known only to God those who 'know' and do not enter the Church cannot be saved.While those who have not heard of the Gospel through no fault of theirs can be saved. AG 7 refers to defacto cases. LG 14 refers to hypothetical cases.Real for God but hypothetical for us.
So in Heaven there are only Catholics. Since the only way to go there is with Catholic Faith and the baptism of water. Outside the Church there is no known salvation without the baptism of water and Catholic Faith. Outside the church there is no salvation.
The confusion increases when the Catechism of the Catholic Church refers to outside the church no salvation (846) as an 'aphorism' and not a dogma.It also does not clarify that the baptism of desire or being saved in invincible ignorance are not exceptions to the dogma nor to Ad Gentes 7.They are irrelevant to the dogma on exclusive salvation as it was traditionally interpreted over the centuries.
So there can be no new ecclesiology, theology of religions or new salvation theology unless of course, one assumes there is known salvation outside the church.
-Lionel Andrades
So in Heaven there are only Catholics. Since the only way to go there is with Catholic Faith and the baptism of water. Outside the Church there is no known salvation without the baptism of water and Catholic Faith. Outside the church there is no salvation.
The confusion increases when the Catechism of the Catholic Church refers to outside the church no salvation (846) as an 'aphorism' and not a dogma.It also does not clarify that the baptism of desire or being saved in invincible ignorance are not exceptions to the dogma nor to Ad Gentes 7.They are irrelevant to the dogma on exclusive salvation as it was traditionally interpreted over the centuries.
So there can be no new ecclesiology, theology of religions or new salvation theology unless of course, one assumes there is known salvation outside the church.
-Lionel Andrades
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