D
DL82
Guest
If the Church has the authority to bind and loose, given by Christ, then it follows that its teachings are binding. It follows, therefore, that anyone who falls foul of those teachings, where the Church has said that something is a grave error, and dies unrepentant, is in Hell.
Thus, because of Pope Innocent VIII’s statement in the bull Unam Sanctam, no Protestant or Orthodox Christian can be saved. Because of Pope Paul VI’s statement in Humana Vitae, no Catholic who uses contraception can be saved. Because of the statement of the Council of Trent to that effect, no Catholic who has not confessed all their mortal sins by number and type in the Sacrament of Reconciliation can receive valid absolution and is thus still in a state of mortal sin, and going to Hell. A Catholic who ate meat on Friday and died in 1950 would be in Hell, one who did the same in 1980, not so. etc. etc.
If this is the case, then there are few in heaven, and the Church ought to say so. It also follows that following one’s conscience is a useless guide, as, even if it were not a matter of natural law that contraception was evil (for example), or if the gravity of this were not clear from natural law, the fact that the Church has ruled on it means that anyone who disagrees is ignoring the binding power of the Pope. If that is the case, then we follow the Church because it has power over souls, not necessarily because it is just. If it is not the case, then the Church does not truly have the authority it claims. Which is it?
Thus, because of Pope Innocent VIII’s statement in the bull Unam Sanctam, no Protestant or Orthodox Christian can be saved. Because of Pope Paul VI’s statement in Humana Vitae, no Catholic who uses contraception can be saved. Because of the statement of the Council of Trent to that effect, no Catholic who has not confessed all their mortal sins by number and type in the Sacrament of Reconciliation can receive valid absolution and is thus still in a state of mortal sin, and going to Hell. A Catholic who ate meat on Friday and died in 1950 would be in Hell, one who did the same in 1980, not so. etc. etc.
If this is the case, then there are few in heaven, and the Church ought to say so. It also follows that following one’s conscience is a useless guide, as, even if it were not a matter of natural law that contraception was evil (for example), or if the gravity of this were not clear from natural law, the fact that the Church has ruled on it means that anyone who disagrees is ignoring the binding power of the Pope. If that is the case, then we follow the Church because it has power over souls, not necessarily because it is just. If it is not the case, then the Church does not truly have the authority it claims. Which is it?