[SoothingDave]

How does this language leave anything open for allowances? "Absolutely necessary.......every human creature..." seems to include even the Invincibly Ignorant.

Not at all. Any religious obligation is grounded in the fact that one must be cognizant of the obligation. It is also "absolutely necessary" for one to be properly Baptized before one can be saved. But there are exceptions.

SD

[ksen]

Not at all. Any religious obligation is grounded in the fact that one must be cognizant of the obligation.

Not according to Boniface VIII. Don't you think that if he meant to include an out he wouldn't have been so absolute in his language?

It is also "absolutely necessary" for one to be properly Baptized before one can be saved.

No it isn't.

But there are exceptions.

Maybe to you, but Boniface VIII was quite clear in what he said. Unless you submit to the Roman Pontiff, you cannot be saved.

As an aside, do you think he wrote this to try to bring the Orthodox into line?

-ksen