No Salvation Outside the Church

Catholic Answers ^ | 12/05 | Fr. Ray Ryland

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Is this a church headed by the "vicar of Christ" in Rome or not?

[Dr. Eckleburg]

God certainly sees all. I don’t know if those in heaven, like John Calvin, can see us on earth or not. Most likely the saints in heaven are too busy glorifying God and enjoying Him forever. We’ll have to wait to find out.

[Petronski]

The vicar of Christ is in Vatican City.

If you want to know what the Catholic Church calls itself, look it up.

[Petronski]

I don’t know if those in heaven, like John Calvin...

Ooooh, er, uh.

Yeah. Okay.

[backs away slowly]

[Centurion2000]

Why does the Catholic Church teach that there is "no salvation outside the Church"?

Because they are wrong. I have a Bible and a brain and my faith. That any church would try to tell me I need THEM to intercede for my soul is pretty damned offensive.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Nope. Those "blue and gigantic" eyes are...

[Petronski]

That any church would try to tell me I need THEM to intercede for my soul is pretty damned offensive.

I'm guessing you didn't read the article.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

As you illustrate, when you have no rebuttal you deflect into confusion.

[Petronski]

I’m talking about Eckleburg, you’re talking about his sign.

[Petronski]

...when you have no rebuttal you deflect into confusion...

Rebuttal against what?

Thanks to God, I'm not a "reformed" Calvinist.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

So you refuse to answer the question or you can't answer the question?

Is that "Roman Catholic" church sign at the door of one of your pope's churches or not?

[Dr. Eckleburg]

But you are a Roman Catholic. Whether or not you want to thank God for that one is up to you.

[Petronski]

I’m not in the business of playing your games. I told you where to find out what the Catholic Church calls itself.

[driftdiver]

You parse words almost as well as Obama does.

[Petronski]

But you are a Roman Catholic.

Nope. You claimed it, I informed you that you are wrong, you repeated it.

That makes you a liar.

[Petronski]

You parse words almost as well as Obama does.

How delightfully anti-intellectual that is.

[bdeaner]

I think you are jumping the gun a bit. Did you read the article, other than the first line?

Here is a short excerpt:

When the Church infallibly teaches extra ecclesiam, nulla salus [no salvation outside of the church], it does not say that non-Catholics cannot be saved. In fact, it affirms the contrary. The purpose of the teaching is to tell us how Jesus Christ makes salvation available to all human beings.

When you say the Catholic Church is "wrong," do you mean the above statement is wrong? Because that is the central point of the article. Please read the article before jumping to conclusions. You might be surprised at what you read.

God bless.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

I’m talking about Eckleburg, you’re talking about his sign.

And therefore, according to Fitzgerald, you do not know that Eckleburg was a "failed oculist." That's not in the text. The oculist's fate is left undeclared for certain.

See, it helps to follow the text, whether it is written by Fitzgerald or God.

If you want to allegorize the good doctor, as many do, then he's definitely not "failed."

[driftdiver]

“How delightfully anti-intellectual that is.”

Yet another attempt to twist words and deflect away from what you are saying.

[Petronski]

And therefore, according to Fitzgerald, you do not know that Eckleburg was a "failed oculist." That's not in the text.

He couldn't keep up the rent on his sign.