Can Non-Christians be "Implicitly Catholic"? How?

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AgnosTheist

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It is said that there is no salvation outside the Roman Catholic Church. So for a person to be saved, that person AT LEAST has to be an “Implicit Catholic”. Now I also repeatedly heard that non-christians can be saved. I assume that such a ‘non-christian’ has to be an implicit catholic to be saved. Please explain:
  • What is an Implicit Catholic?
  • How does one become an explicit Catholic? And I’d like to see how that applies to someone like a …muslim, a jew, a hindu and an evangelical christian.
 
I am not sure that term implicit Catholic is the best one. Ultimately, I think a better understanding is the concept that those who do not know the truth, but would be believers if they did, and who live their lives in accordance with Natural Law (as the Church understands it) might united invisibily to the Church. This is true also of Protestants.

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Bill
 
mchale said:
I am not sure that term implicit Catholic is the best one. Ultimately, I think a better understanding is the concept that those who do not know the truth, but would be believers if they did, and who live their lives in accordance with Natural Law (as the Church understands it) might united invisibily to the Church. This is true also of Protestants.
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Who do not know the truth? Does this cover the billions of people today who, although they know the RCC, cannot recognize the so called ‘truth’ within it. But had they been raised catholics they would have made good believers?

And about “Natural Law”. What are these?
 
AgnosTheist said:
Who do not know the truth? Does this cover the billions of people today who, although they know the RCC, cannot recognize the so called ‘truth’ within it. But had they been raised catholics they would have made good believers?

And about “Natural Law”. What are these?
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It might include those who have heard the faith but cannot accept it. It is really almost a case by case thing. The classic example is the Native American who lived before the Americas were discovered. What choice did they have? It is not about being a “good believer” but about accepting the grace given to you by God. The issue with non-Catholic Christians is WHY could they not accept the faith. Only God can judge this.

Natural law are the laws written into the hearts of man by God. Look that the taboo connected to incest. Almost all cultures have issue with it. Natural law. I’ll try to dig up a better example for you tonight, something that might answer this part better.
 
AgnosTheist said:
It is said that there is no salvation outside the Roman Catholic Church. So for a person to be saved, that person AT LEAST has to be an “Implicit Catholic”. Now I also repeatedly heard that non-christians can be saved. I assume that such a ‘non-christian’ has to be an implicit catholic to be saved. Please explain:
  • What is an Implicit Catholic?
  • How does one become an explicit Catholic? And I’d like to see how that applies to someone like a …muslim, a jew, a hindu and an evangelical christian.
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First off, supernatural faith is necessary (sometimes we Catholics can forget that we are not saved by works alone). So if someone has supernatural faith in God–in other words they desire to abandon themselves to His will, believing all He has revealed and doing all He has commanded–but for some reason outside their control are misinformed as to what these things are–that person would be united to the Church by desire (en voto; also described as being united to the soul of the Church, being related to the Church, or being in partial communion.)

But this faith requires acknowledgment of the one God (essentially monotheism). Idolaters and atheists by definition cannot have this faith (although God always draws them to Himself and gives them the helps necessary to come to salvation–but they must respond to this in faith). As St. Paul says, without faith it is impossible to please God, and that there is no excuse for not knowing of Him, and that one must know Him to be able to call on Him.

This document from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the faith explains this well:

matt1618.freeyellow.com/appendixe.html
But it must not be thought that any kind of desire of entering the Church suffices that one may be saved. It is necessary that the desire by which one is related to the Church be animated by perfect charity. Nor can an implicit desire produce its effect, unless a person has supernatural faith: “For he who comes to God must believe that God exists and is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Hebrew 11:6). The Council of Trent declares (Session VI, chap 8): Faith is the beginning of a man’s salvation, the foundation and root of all justification, without which it is impossible to please God and attain to the fellowship of His children" (Denzinger, n. 80l).
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This is why the Second Vatican Council distinguishes between those non-Catholics that may be saved, and those that are only given the helps necessary to come to the that knowledge and for this reason says missions should first and foremost focus on the latter:
  1. Finally, those who have not yet received the Gospel are related in various ways to the people of God.(18*) In the first place we must recall the people to whom the testament and the promises were given and from whom Christ was born according to the flesh.(125) On account of their fathers this people remains most dear to God, for God does not repent of the gifts He makes nor of the calls He issues.(126); But the plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator. In the first place amongst these there are the Mohamedans, who, professing to hold the faith of Abraham, along with us adore the one and merciful God, who on the last day will judge mankind. Nor is God far distant from those who in shadows and images seek the unknown God, for it is He who gives to all men life and breath and all things,(127) and as Saviour wills that all men be saved.(128) Those also can attain to salvation who through no fault of their own do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, yet sincerely seek God and moved by grace strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience.(19*) Nor does Divine Providence deny the helps necessary for salvation to those who, without blame on their part, have not yet arrived at an explicit knowledge of God and with His grace strive to live a good life. Whatever good or truth is found amongst them is looked upon by the Church as a preparation for the Gospel.(20*) She knows that it is given by Him who enlightens all men so that they may finally have life. But often men, deceived by the Evil One, have become vain in their reasonings and have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, serving the creature rather than the Creator.(129) Or some there are who, living and dying in this world without God, are exposed to final despair. Wherefore to promote the glory of God and procure the salvation of all of these, and mindful of the command of the Lord, “Preach the Gospel to every creature”,(130) the Church fosters the missions with care and attention.
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125 Cf. Rom. 9, 4-5
126 Cf. Rom. 1 l, 28-29.
127 Cf. Acts 17,25-28.
128 Cf. 1 Tim. 2, 4.
129 Cf Rom. 1, 21, 25.
130 Mk. 16, 16.
18) Cfr. S. Thomas, Summa Theol. III, q. 8, a. 3, ad 1. (19) Cfr. Epist. S.S.C.S. Officii ad Archiep. Boston.: Denz. 3869-72.
(20) Cfr. Eusebius Caes., Praeparatio Evangelica, 1, 1: PG 2128 AB.
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Notice that Lumen Gentium, in note 19, cites the letter from the CDF I quoted above.
 
ralphinal said:
Natural law are the laws written into the hearts of man by God. Look that the taboo connected to incest. Almost all cultures have issue with it. Natural law. I’ll try to dig up a better example for you tonight, something that might answer this part better.
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Does the Roman Catholic Church have a list of what these so called “Natural Laws” are?
 
AgnosTheist said:
Does the Roman Catholic Church have a list of what these so called “Natural Laws” are?
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More or less. I must appologise that I did not have a chance last night to get the info for you. I’ll try to go by at lunch and get it to you.
 
AgnosTheist said:
Who do not know the truth? Does this cover the billions of people today who, although they know the RCC, cannot recognize the so called ‘truth’ within it. But had they been raised catholics they would have made good believers?

And about “Natural Law”. What are these?
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With respect to the billions of people who are not Catholic; it is not simply enough to know what the Church teaches, it is being able to see the truth in that teaching. There are lots of people who are unable simply because of their upbringing. How difficult it must be for those who were raised in Islam to convert; they are taught that the very idea of the crucifixion and resurrection are corruptions! Or consider someone who was raised Jewish; with the unfortunate persecutions the Jews have experienced at the hands of those who claim to be Christian, is it any wonder that they are skeptical about what we teach?

–
Bill
 
AT,
I am not going to get to dig up my books today at lunch. I hope that this link helps you understand the natural law thing. It seems to be right up your ally.

iep.utm.edu/n/natlaw.htm

I know it is a little long, but it is not too bad
 
It is said that anyone who is baptized in the name of the Trinity is somehow related to the Catholic Church and is “implicitly Catholic” I guess.

This is how they get things like Unam Sanctam and Lumen Gentium to agree.
 
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