Essays for Lent/Easter: Salvation Outside the Church?

Salvation Outside the Church?

by Sebastian R. Fama

One of the Catholic Church's most controversial teachings is the doctrine of "No Salvation outside the Church." The controversy stems from a misunderstanding of what the Church really means by this. The doctrine has been stated a number of times throughout Church History. One such time was in 1302 when Pope Boniface VIII wrote the following in "Unum Sanctum:" "That there is one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church we are compelled by faith to believe and hold, and we firmly believe in her and sincerely confess her, outside of whom there is neither salvation nor remission of sins…. In her there is 'one Lord, one faith, one baptism'" (Ephesians 4:5) (no. 1).

It appears that the Church is saying that only Catholics can go to heaven or that Catholics are better than everyone else. However, neither view would be correct. The Church is simply acknowledging the fact that Jesus formulated one plan of salvation. If that is true, then it follows that all other plans are false. The Church is merely declaring that she believes her teachings to be true. Certainly that should be expected of any religion. After all, if you didn't believe that your teachings were true, why would you believe them?

But if only the Catholic Church has the complete plan of salvation, how would it be possible for a non-Catholic to get to heaven? Vatican Council II addressed this point in its "Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium)," "Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do His will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience – those too may achieve eternal salvation" (no. 16). In short, those who are truly unaware of what God requires of them are not held responsible; rather they are judged by what they did with the truth they had.

Ironically, many Bible Christians have their own version of "No Salvation outside the Church". They believe that unless a person accepts Christ as personal Lord and Savior he or she is headed for hell. No allowances are made for people who don't know any better. The Catholic Church rightly portrays God as both just and merciful – as opposed to legalistic.

Traditionalists view God in the same way that Bible Christians do. They believe that God makes no exceptions. Do it right or you are lost. In this case if you are not Catholic you have no chance for salvation. They reject Vatican II's qualification of the doctrine. They contend that Vatican II ignored earlier councils and introduced something new. Thus it is invalid and to be ignored. This of course is false. The Church's teachings before and after the council are the same.

Prior to Vatican II, children were taught the faith from the Baltimore Catechisms. In Catechism number 3, on page 106 – question 185, and page 39 – question 69, you will find the following:

185. Who is punished in hell?

Those are punished in hell who die in mortal sin; they are deprived of the vision of God and suffer dreadful torments, especially that of fire, for all eternity.

69. What three things are necessary to make a sin mortal?

To make a sin mortal these three things are necessary: First, the thought, desire, word, action, or omission must be seriously wrong; second, the sinner must know that it is seriously wrong; third, the sinner must fully consent to it.

So only a mortal sin can damn you to hell. And in order to be guilty of a mortal sin, you must know that you are committing one! Hence, if you don't know, you are not guilty. Jesus Himself teaches this very thing in John 9:40-41 where He says to the Pharisees: "Some of the Pharisees near Him heard this, and they said to Him, 'Are we also blind?' Jesus said to them, 'If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say 'we see,' your guilt remains.'" In other words because they knew better they were guilty of sin. Had they not known better, they would not have been guilty.

Prior to Vatican II Pope Pius IX, in his encyclical "On Promotion of False Doctrines (Quanto Conficiamur Moerore)," said the following:

We all know that those who suffer from invincible ignorance with regard to our holy religion, if they carefully keep the precepts of the natural law which have been written by God in the hearts of all men, if they are prepared to obey God, and if they lead a virtuous and dutiful life, can, by the power of divine light and grace, attain eternal life. For God, who knows completely the minds and souls, the thoughts and habits of all men, will not permit, in accord with His infinite goodness and mercy, anyone who is not guilty of a voluntary fault to suffer eternal punishment (no. 7).

He said essentially the same thing in "On the Church in Austria (Singulari Quidam);"

It must, of course, be held as a matter of faith that outside the apostolic Roman Church no one can be saved, that the Church is the only ark of salvation, and that whoever does not enter it will perish in the flood. On the other hand, it must likewise be held as certain that those who are affected by ignorance of the true religion, if it is invincible ignorance, are not subject to any guilt in this matter before the eyes of the Lord (no. 7).

The invincibly ignorant would not include those who think that all religions are the same. That would be indifference. Jesus said, "I am the way" (John 14:6), not a way. The person who is invincibly ignorant honestly believes, though erroneously, that he is going the right way.

St. Augustine's position is also consistent with Vatican II. "When we speak of within and without in relation to the Church, it is the position of the heart that we must consider, not that of the body…. All who are within [the Church] in heart are saved in the unity of the ark (On Baptism, Against the Donatists 5:28 [39] [A.D. 394]).

Clement of Rome, a contemporary of the Apostles, wrote, "Let us go through all generations and learn that in generation after generation the Master has given a place of repentance for those willing to turn to him. Those who repented for their sins, appeased God in praying, and received salvation, even though they were aliens to God" (Letter to the Corinthians, no. 7 [AD 95]).

Paul clearly teaches that we are judged by our intentions. "Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then every man will receive his commendation from God" (1 Corinthians 4:5).

He expands on this in Romans 2:13-16, "For it is not the hearers of the Law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the Law who will be justified. When Gentiles who have not the Law do by nature what the Law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the Law. They show that what the Law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus."

Their conflicting thoughts would accuse them if they suspected but ignored the fact that God required them to be members of His Church. As Vatican II put it in it's "Decree on the Church's Missionary Activity (Ad Gentes Divinitus)," "Hence, those cannot be saved, who knowing that the Catholic Church was founded through Jesus Christ, by God, as something necessary, still refuse to enter it or remain in it" (no. 7). Their conflicting thoughts would excuse them if they truly sought God but were unaware of this requirement.

Dissenting Catholics, Traditionalist or otherwise, would do well to read the letter of the Holy Office concerning Fr. Leonard Feeney, who dissented on this issue back in 1949. It states in part, "But this dogma [No Salvation outside the Church] is to be understood as the Church itself understands it. For our Savior did not leave it to private judgment to explain what is contained in the deposit of faith, but to the doctrinal authority of the Church."

For Further Study

The Early Church Fathers on Salvation Outside the Church (Free)
Books - Salvation Outside the Church by Fr. Peter Stravinskas

1 posted on 04/23/2012 6:04:19 PM PDT by Salvation

Please read this CAREFULLY all the way through before making your comments.

2 posted on 04/23/2012 6:06:20 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

To: nickcarraway; NYer; ELS; Pyro7480; livius; ArrogantBustard; Catholicguy; RobbyS; marshmallow; ...

Catholic Ping — there is a lot to discuss here.

3 posted on 04/23/2012 6:08:24 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

There’s only one requirement for salvation according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ: believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31).

4 posted on 04/23/2012 6:12:06 PM PDT by PapaNew

And the sins you might commit?

Sin separates you from Jesus Christ.

5 posted on 04/23/2012 6:14:23 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

Scripture: Holy Bible
Author: God
Book: Jonah
Chapter: 2
Verse: 9
“Salvation comes from the Lord”

6 posted on 04/23/2012 6:14:30 PM PDT by BereanBrain

7 posted on 04/23/2012 6:15:43 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

Yes, Salvation comes from God.

But did you read the article about the unknowing?

You know, so that puts you in a different place with the Lord.

8 posted on 04/23/2012 6:16:55 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

9 posted on 04/23/2012 6:20:56 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

But if we walk in the light, as he also is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Douay-Rheims Bible

10 posted on 04/23/2012 6:30:55 PM PDT by Colorado Cowgirl (God bless America!)

To: Colorado Cowgirl

Mt 7:21 - not everyone saying

“Lord, Lord” will inherit

11 posted on 04/23/2012 6:33:57 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

To: Colorado Cowgirl

Heb 10:26-27 - if sin after receiving truth, judgment remains

12 posted on 04/23/2012 6:34:59 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

But if only the Catholic Church has the complete plan of salvation, how would it be possible for a non-Catholic to get to heaven? Vatican Council II addressed this point in its "Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium)," "Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do His will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience – those too may achieve eternal salvation" (no. 16). In short, those who are truly unaware of what God requires of them are not held responsible; rather they are judged by what they did with the truth they had.

Ironically, many Bible Christians have their own version of "No Salvation outside the Church". They believe that unless a person accepts Christ as personal Lord and Savior he or she is headed for hell. No allowances are made for people who don't know any better. The Catholic Church rightly portrays God as both just and merciful – as opposed to legalistic.

I did read it all the way through. No matter how this is spun, the magesterium of the Roman Catholic Church HAS admitted error. Not only on this all important issue but in others as well. It was NOT merely a "misunderstanding" that caused people to insist that salvation can only come through membership in the Roman Catholic Church and obedience to her - it was held for centuries and so-called "heretics" were murdered by the condemnation that they led people away from the Catholic Church and had "stolen their souls".

Not only this, but the current explanation for the state of souls who "through no fault of their own" do not know about THE Church are given a pass by God if they were "good". How far from Scriptural truth can presumed knowledgeable theologians get??? Scripture clearly states that Jesus is THE way, THE truth and THE life and NO ONE comes to the Father but through Him. Now, are these experts in Christianity calling Jesus a liar? And how about the TRUTH that we are NOT saved by our righteousness but by the righteousness of Christ? Sure, babies, children unable to grasp the truth yet, the mentally disabled and others incapable of understanding the Gospel ARE covered by the grace of God and will not be sent to Hell - something BTW that the Catholic Church only recently recanted regarding the unborn aborted or babies who die before baptism. God is merciful, not willing that ANY should perish but that ALL should come to repentance. NO ONE is saved because they are "good" because there are NONE that are good - ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and the wages of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

No matter how it boils down, the Catholic Church is AGAIN trying to sell the idea that IT is the only way to salvation and/or that those who are good enough, try their "best", will be saved by God's grace. Sorry, there is way too much Scripture to counter that false doctrine. It starts with the truth that the "church" is the body of believers in Christ, ergo, all those who come to saving faith in Christ ARE part of the body, the church. It is not being baptized in it first and obedience to all its rules before that happens.

I'm not sure what authority this author has to be making such statements about the RCC, but he has shown himself wrong a number of times in this series you have been posting. Do you stand by what he claims as well? Or is this just one man's opinion and it can be pondered but not assumed to be factual?

13 posted on 04/23/2012 6:43:47 PM PDT by boatbums (God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.)

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” I John 5:12-13.

I found the article quite interesting, especially since I'm not a Catholic. Similar to the age of accountability for those who were allowed into the promise land.

14 posted on 04/23/2012 6:48:00 PM PDT by Idaho_Cowboy (Give me liberty, or give me death!)

Congratulations, you just made a case for not baptizing till the death bed (which was very popular in the early Church).

Most Christians believe in no salvation outside the church. The issue is what does “Church” mean. The Catholic position has slid all over the place in the last few hundred years. In the past, the Eastern Orthodox were viewed as schismatics and outside the Church. As were all of what are popular called Protestant churches (though some of the Lutheran synods were in a odd state till after Trent, but that is another issue).

Now the old tradition did say that if you were born, say, a Russian Orthodox, you MIGHT be saved if you never committed a mortal sin IF you had no real knowledge of what the Catholic Church claimed. BUT that was viewed as a very slight chance. The current view is much looser than that.

We shall see how this doctrine changes. I suspect it will be cut down to a much more narrow thing as the old liberals die off.

15 posted on 04/23/2012 6:49:16 PM PDT by redgolum ("God is dead" -- Nietzsche. "Nietzsche is dead" -- God.)

>> In short, those who are truly unaware of what God requires of them are not held responsible; rather they are judged by what they did with the truth they had.<<

So they really don’t need Jesus? Hmmmm

16 posted on 04/23/2012 6:54:23 PM PDT by CynicalBear

Thanks for reading the entire article. I think the author is still addressing the traditionalists. See the last paragraph.

17 posted on 04/23/2012 6:55:41 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

John 14:2 springs to mind, as does Matthew 7:7. (Hey, I can use bible verses, just not very good at it!)

Our Lord is one of love and compassion. One who loves and trusts Him and walks in his path will not be denied, even if he knows not the Lord the way we of the Church know him.

I cannot know the mind of God. Heck, I cannot know the mind of the person right next to me. I expect a lot of confused and lost people on Judgement Day, who say “I went to church every Sunday!” yet who were not filled with His grace and light during the week.

As much as I love, respect and admire our Church, our Holy Fathers, the martyrs and the Blessed Vigin and our long history, this is one “heresy” I will not recant. I cannot. It is a question that was settled in my mind a long time ago after much prayer and contemplation.

18 posted on 04/23/2012 6:55:51 PM PDT by EnglishCon (Gingrich/Santorum 2012.)

19 posted on 04/23/2012 7:01:53 PM PDT by boatbums (God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.)

I apologize for the double post.

20 posted on 04/23/2012 7:05:11 PM PDT by boatbums (God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.)

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