Salvation outside the church

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Wow…how illogical. What canon is that? So, at 14 they’re just magically presented with the truth of catholicism???
Sure,

No, after the age of 14 they were LEGALLY PRESUMED to be adhering to the sect. They could still be invincibly ignorant of their duty to enter the Catholic Church.

You immediately say, “How illogical?”…did it ever occur to you that you might just be misunderstanding something? 🙂

SFD
 
Sure,

No, after the age of 14 they were LEGALLY PRESUMED to be adhering to the sect. They could still be invincibly ignorant of their duty to enter the Catholic Church.

You immediately say, “How illogical?”…did it ever occur to you that you might just be misunderstanding something? 🙂

SFD
Canon 2200 par. 2 Ignorantia solius poenae imputabilitatem delicti non tollit, sed aliquantum minuit.

Can. 1323. § 1. Fide divina et catholica ea omnia credenda sunt quae verbo Dei scripto vel tradito continentur et ab Ecclesia sive sollemni iudicio sive ordinario et universali magisterio tanquam divinitus revelata credenda proponuntur.

Can. 1325. § 2. Post receptum baptismum si quis, nomen retinens christianum, pertinaciter aliquam ex veritatibus fide divina et catholica credendis denegat aut de ea dubitat, haereticus; si a fide christiana totaliter recedit, apostata; si denique subesse renuit Summo Pontifici aut cum membris Ecclesiae ei subiectis communicare recusat, schismaticus est.

The Church judges only in the external forum…all such individuals are presumed guilty in the external forum by virtue of Canon 2200/2 as they have committed an external infraction of the law requiring assent to any Catholic dogma (Canon 1323/1).

Canon 1325 defines a heretic as a baptised person, still calling himself a Christian, who “pertinaciously denies or doubts any of the truths which must be believed with divine and Catholic faith.” And the word “pertinaciously” is understood by canonists to mean that the person is conscious of the conflict between his opinion and the Church’s teaching. (Cf. Noldin: Theologia Moralis, vol. II, n.29; de Siena: Commentarius Censurarum, p.24; Dom Gregory Sayers: Thesaurus Casuum Conscientiae III,iv,18; Suarez: Opera, XII, p.474, ed. Vivès; Bouscaren and Ellis: Canon Law, p.902)

A baptized person raised in invincible ignorance of the Catholic Church is nevertheless a pertinacious heretic in the sense of Canon 1325/2. In the eyes of God he is not morally guilty, but owing to his external infraction of the law requiring all the baptised to accept Catholic doctrine, he is presumed in the external forum (by Canon 2200/2) to be culpable and to have incurred excommunication. He certainly does not belong to the institutional Church.
 
Canon 2200 par. 2 Ignorantia solius poenae imputabilitatem delicti non tollit, sed aliquantum minuit.

Can. 1323. § 1. Fide divina et catholica ea omnia credenda sunt quae verbo Dei scripto vel tradito continentur et ab Ecclesia sive sollemni iudicio sive ordinario et universali magisterio tanquam divinitus revelata credenda proponuntur.

Can. 1325. § 2. Post receptum baptismum si quis, nomen retinens christianum, pertinaciter aliquam ex veritatibus fide divina et catholica credendis denegat aut de ea dubitat, haereticus; si a fide christiana totaliter recedit, apostata; si denique subesse renuit Summo Pontifici aut cum membris Ecclesiae ei subiectis communicare recusat, schismaticus est.

The Church judges only in the external forum…all such individuals are presumed guilty in the external forum by virtue of Canon 2200/2 as they have committed an external infraction of the law requiring assent to any Catholic dogma (Canon 1323/1).

Canon 1325 defines a heretic as a baptised person, still calling himself a Christian, who “pertinaciously denies or doubts any of the truths which must be believed with divine and Catholic faith.” And the word “pertinaciously” is understood by canonists to mean that the person is conscious of the conflict between his opinion and the Church’s teaching. (Cf. Noldin: Theologia Moralis, vol. II, n.29; de Siena: Commentarius Censurarum, p.24; Dom Gregory Sayers: Thesaurus Casuum Conscientiae III,iv,18; Suarez: Opera, XII, p.474, ed. Vivès; Bouscaren and Ellis: Canon Law, p.902)

A baptized person raised in invincible ignorance of the Catholic Church is nevertheless a pertinacious heretic in the sense of Canon 1325/2. In the eyes of God he is not morally guilty, but owing to his external infraction of the law requiring all the baptised to accept Catholic doctrine, he is presumed in the external forum (by Canon 2200/2) to be culpable and to have incurred excommunication. He certainly does not belong to the institutional Church.
SFD

I would wish at this point that you would go out to buy a current Code of Canon Law.

The 1917 Code was abrogated, (Canon 6). and in its place we have the Code of 1983. It is 25 years ago since we got a new Code. Why don’t you buy one? Some of the canons you quote don’t exist in the new Code.

The ‘new’ code, Canon 751, defines heresy as the obstinate denial or obstinate doubt after the reception of baptism of some truth which is to be believed by divine and Catholic faith.

The system for sanctions for serious doctrinal deviations do not work. When a person denies the offense, the sanctions can be justly imposed or declared only by means of canonical process (found in canons 1717-1728), which is almost never employed.

For example, Archbishop Lefrebvre led his followers into effective schism in the early 1970’s shortly after Vatican 2, but he was excommunicated only in 1998 after illegally ordaining four bishops.

The denial or doubt must be born of ‘bad faith’ , that is, positions taken with full knowledge, deliberate intent, and the understanding that they are contrary to divine and catholic faith. The denial or doubt must be pertinacious, that is, obstinate, defiant, and enduring, even after a process of reflection, reconsideration, dialogue, and attempted reconciliation.

What you suggest regarding Canon 1352 (Old Code) doesn’t exist in the new law, and a person born of ‘bad faith’ is not guilty of any heresy. Heresy is only for Catholics, those baptized in the Catholic Church, or later received into it. (UR 3; ED 19-20)
 
stmaria,

Mr. Akin gets quite a number of things confused. I don’t think anyone should read him at all. I would stick with Monsignor Joseph Clifford Fenton S.T.D., former editor of American Ecclesiastical Review, for a proper understanding of the definitions of the Church and questions on membership in the Church and salvation. Fenton quotes the teaching of the Popes and theologians in his presentations.

The post noted below shows that these oft quoted statements of Pope Pius IX are frequently misinterpreted by those like Mr. Akin. It is best to follow Fenton.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=3239052&postcount=23

SFD
At least Atkin is post Vatican 2.

You suggest, instead, the Feeny/Fenton/Traditionalist crowd. You can’t find something after 1968?

Maybe Lumen Gentium, or Unitatis Redintegratio?

peace
peace
 
A baptized person raised in invincible ignorance of the Catholic Church is nevertheless a pertinacious heretic in the sense of Canon 1325/2. In the eyes of God he is not morally guilty, but owing to his external infraction of the law requiring all the baptised to accept Catholic doctrine, he is presumed in the external forum (by Canon 2200/2) to be culpable and to have incurred excommunication. He certainly does not belong to the institutional Church.
How can someone who is invincibly ignorant of the Catholic faith be conscious of the conflict between their opinion and Catholic doctrine???

If they’re invincibly ignorant of the Catholic faith, that means they don’t know the Catholic faith. According to the very definition you provided, it is impossible for someone living in invincible ignorance of the Catholic faith to be a pertinacious heretic. Am I missing something?
 
At least Atkin is post Vatican 2.

You suggest, instead, the Feeny/Fenton/Traditionalist crowd. You can’t find something after 1968?

Maybe Lumen Gentium, or Unitatis Redintegratio?

peace
peace
What does “Post Vatican II” have to do with it? What great value does someone contribute if they’re wrong in a more recent day vs and older source that is correct? Catholic teaching didn’t change with the Vatican council.

The problem is Akin is confused by the modernism that has crept in with the ambiguous language of Vatican II.

Jesus and all the Apostles were pre-Vatican II along with all the great Saints and Doctors of the Church.
 
Originally Posted by SFD
GerardP,
Well, I never mentioned St. Dismas. Neither did St. Alphonsus, for that matter.
No. That doesn’t even make sense. You posted a quote of St. Alphonsus that referred to the Institution of Baptism among other things. I pointed out that Baptism was not obligatory when it was instituted, however after the resurrection it was obligatory.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GerardP
I used it as an example to make a distinction between the institution of the sacrament of Baptism and the later date when Baptism was made obligatory. Many people reading your citation would fail to make that distinction and that’s why the erroneous example of St. Dismus to support Baptism of Desire would not be correct.
What distinction?

For the third time: “a distinction between the institution of the sacrament of Baptism and the later date when Baptism was made obligatory.”
Are you denying the moral unanimity of theologians who teach both “Baptism of Desire” and “Baptism of Blood”?
Yes because there is no moral unanimity among theologians.
You are claiming that he read Trent incorrectly?
Yes. Trent does not say anyone is saved by Baptism of Desire. The phrase is not in any infallible definition. Quite the opposite.
Saints and Doctors of the Church are not infallible. Trent does not say what St. Alphonsus claims. He is mistaken. Fallible theologians (even saints) can make mistakes regarding infallible dogmas.
No, they are not infallible as individuals…but neither are you.

This is a cute tactic. I didn’t appeal to my own authority. I appeal to the Magisterium of the Church. You appeal to non-infallible theologians to define what the Church has already infallibly defined. You put the non-infallible above the infallible.
They are however, when they teach in moral unanimity, incapable of teaching error. As I understand it, the moral unanimity of theologians is not in itself granted the charism of “infallibility” but rather they are witnesses to the preaching of the Church, which means that if they all agree (morally unanimous) they cannot be wrong - not because they have some special charism but rather because, like the “Church believing”, if they could all be mistaken then that would mean that the magisterium had been mistaken. Any other position is a denial of reason.
What kind of twisted gobbledygook is that? If they are not infallible. They are fallible. Vatican I did not extend to theologian pinheads any charism.

Pius XII explicitly stated: “This deposit of faith our Divine Redeemer has given for authentic interpretation not to each of the faithful, not even to theologians, but only to the Teaching Authority of the Church. But if the Church does exercise this function of teaching, as she often has through the centuries, either in the ordinary or in the extraordinary way, it is clear how false is a procedure which would attempt to explain what is clear by means of what is obscure.”
Who is Adam Miller?
Someone that you should read.
Here is Scheeben:
What authority does Scheeben hold? From what I know from reading his bio, he was not too clear in his teaching.
Was Pope Pius IX wrong as well?
No. Scheeben (if quoted correctly ) is wrong about Pius IX.

Here’s the pertinent quote:

"The very definition of a dogma must be held to be by itself a sufficient demonstration, very sure and adapted to all the faithful. Moreover, this is why
such dogmatic definitions have always been and are necessarily an unchangeable rule of faith."–Inter Gravissimas

Did he misread Trent?
Probably not. More likely you’ve done what Jimmy Akin did. Unconsciously, add to magisterial teaching in order to justify a liberal, heterodox position.
Gerard, do you think that every theologian from the sixteenth century until today mistranslated the Latin of the Council of Trent? That doesn’t even make sense. Translated into what? Do you think theology is done in English?
Now who’s introducing the red herring? How about if you deal with the facts and stop the “appeal to popularity” and “appeal to numbers” fallacy?
 
Are you suggesting it is possible, then, that miraculous water baptism is effected (by God) when a catechumen dies with a desire for baptism?

And, moreover, that, if said miraculous baptism is effected, it is guaranteed to be effected with water (in whatever means God manifests it) since water is necessary for an actual baptism to occur?

That sounds reasonable to me.
Yes. That is what I’ve been proposing as the only logical provision that doesn’t water down the faith.
 
Yes. That is what I’ve been proposing as the only logical provision that doesn’t water down the faith.
(Please bear with me, as I am certainly not trying to be obtuse or misleading.)

So if water baptism, which is necessary for salvation, can be effected miraculously by God, “baptism by desire” and “baptism by blood” are not de facto “baptisms”, but rather conditions that can bring about the justification to which God responds with (possibly miraculous) water baptism? That is, “baptism by desire/blood” does not substitute for water baptism, but simply incurs (God-willing) water baptism?
 
(Please bear with me, as I am certainly not trying to be obtuse or misleading.)

So if water baptism, which is necessary for salvation, can be effected miraculously by God, “baptism by desire” and “baptism by blood” are not de facto “baptisms”, but rather conditions that can bring about the justification to which God responds with (possibly miraculous) water baptism? That is, “baptism by desire/blood” does not substitute for water baptism, but simply incurs (God-willing) water baptism?
You stated that perfectly.

One faith, one fold, one baptism (not three). This is essentially the position held by Fr. Feeney. The argument against him has always ignored this position and set up a “must be registered in a Church somewhere” straw man. It’s also the only way Trent does not get reduced to meaninglessness with qualifications and additions that are nowhere in the text.

Baptisms of Desire and Blood need to be reinterpreted according to the dogmatic teaching of the Church and the concept would have to be renamed to something more accurate.
 
You stated that perfectly.

One faith, one fold, one baptism (not three). This is essentially the position held by Fr. Feeney. The argument against him has always ignored this position and set up a “must be registered in a Church somewhere” straw man. It’s also the only way Trent does not get reduced to meaninglessness with qualifications and additions that are nowhere in the text.

Baptisms of Desire and Blood need to be reinterpreted according to the dogmatic teaching of the Church and the concept would have to be renamed to something more accurate.
That makes sense to me. Now I can explain it accurately when people ask. Thanks, Gerard.
 
You stated that perfectly.

One faith, one fold, one baptism (not three). This is essentially the position held by Fr. Feeney. The argument against him has always ignored this position and set up a “must be registered in a Church somewhere” straw man. It’s also the only way Trent does not get reduced to meaninglessness with qualifications and additions that are nowhere in the text.

Baptisms of Desire and Blood need to be reinterpreted according to the dogmatic teaching of the Church and the concept would have to be renamed to something more accurate.
This seems like bit of a bizarre teaching. If I’ve got this straight, you’re saying that it is possible that God miraculously conjures up water before a person dies and baptises them with it, if they truly desire baptism?

Is an explicit desire necessary, or is an implicit desire sufficient?

At what point precisely is this water manifested? Would it be visible to observers? Would it appear as a supernatural event?

To me, it just seems a bit silly. Have I misunderstood what you said?

Even if water were present, and was poured over the person or immersed them somehow (I suppose it’s possible that God could transport them for an infinitesimal instant into the middle of a lake somewhere), wouldn’t the proper form be necessary as well? Would the words “I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” no longer be needed?
 
How can someone who is invincibly ignorant of the Catholic faith be conscious of the conflict between their opinion and Catholic doctrine???

If they’re invincibly ignorant of the Catholic faith, that means they don’t know the Catholic faith. According to the very definition you provided, it is impossible for someone living in invincible ignorance of the Catholic faith to be a pertinacious heretic. Am I missing something?
SFD is using old stuff. He likes anything between 1550 and 1917.
Only a Catholic can be guilty of heresy.

The terms ‘heresy’, ‘apostacy’, and ‘schism’ are no longer used of those born and baptised outside the visible communion of the Catholic Church. The offenses can be ascribed only to Catholics, those baptized into the Catholic Church, or later received into it.
(UR 3; ED 19-20).
 
You stated that perfectly.

One faith, one fold, one baptism (not three). This is essentially the position held by Fr. Feeney. The argument against him has always ignored this position and set up a “must be registered in a Church somewhere” straw man. It’s also the only way Trent does not get reduced to meaninglessness with qualifications and additions that are nowhere in the text.

Baptisms of Desire and Blood need to be reinterpreted according to the dogmatic teaching of the Church and the concept would have to be renamed to something more accurate.
The discipline of the Church asserts the necessity of baptism for salvation. The doctrine of the necessity of baptism is the key to interpreting correctly the whole discipline of baptism.

Canon 849 of our current Code says: “Baptism, the gateway to the sacraments and necessary for salvation by actual reception or at least by desire, is validly conferred only by a washing of true water, with the proper form of words. Through baptism men and women are freed from sin, are reborn as children of God, and configured by Christ by an indelible character, are incorporated into the Church”.

The necessity of baptism explains the canon’s reference to baptism of desire, even though such baptism carries with it no juridical consequences to qualify properly the principle that ‘outside the church there is no salvation’, which is the dogmatic foundation for this canon. Without the specific mention of baptism of desire, the canon would appear to state incorrectly that baptism of water is necessary for salvation.

Lumen Gentium 16 reaffirmed the teaching of the Church regarding baptism of desire.

The discipline of the Church, as reflected in the Code of Canon Law, makes no explicit reference to ‘baptism of blood’ which occurs when a catechumen suffers martyrdom, since it is a specific form of baptism of desire.

peace
 
The discipline of the Church asserts the necessity of baptism for salvation. The doctrine of the necessity of baptism is the key to interpreting correctly the whole discipline of baptism.

Canon 849 of our current Code says: “Baptism, the gateway to the sacraments and necessary for salvation by actual reception or at least by desire, is validly conferred only by a washing of true water, with the proper form of words. Through baptism men and women are freed from sin, are reborn as children of God, and configured by Christ by an indelible character, are incorporated into the Church”.

The necessity of baptism explains the canon’s reference to baptism of desire, even though such baptism carries with it no juridical consequences to qualify properly the principle that ‘outside the church there is no salvation’, which is the dogmatic foundation for this canon. Without the specific mention of baptism of desire, the canon would appear to state incorrectly that baptism of water is necessary for salvation.

Lumen Gentium 16 reaffirmed the teaching of the Church regarding baptism of desire.

The discipline of the Church, as reflected in the Code of Canon Law, makes no explicit reference to ‘baptism of blood’ which occurs when a catechumen suffers martyrdom, since it is a specific form of baptism of desire.

peace
Sorry but Lumen Gentium can be read differently than supporting the idea of “Baptism of Desire”

“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.”

And neither the documents of Vatican II nor the Code of Canon Law can trump the infallible declarations of Trent and Florence.

Vatican II must be read in light of those according to the dictates of the first Vatican Council.
 
This seems like bit of a bizarre teaching. If I’ve got this straight, you’re saying that it is possible that God miraculously conjures up water before a person dies and baptises them with it, if they truly desire baptism?
Why bizarre? Is that too much for God?
Is an explicit desire necessary, or is an implicit desire sufficient?
The teaching of the Church has always been an explicit desire. However God could take care of that with infused knowledge.
At what point precisely is this water manifested?
At some point before death.
Would it be visible to observers? Would it appear as a supernatural event?
That would be up to God. If it happens some may be observed and some may not.
To me, it just seems a bit silly. Have I misunderstood what you said?
No. I think you get the point. It will seem silly when you haven’t surrendered your disbelief in the miraculous, or when the miraculous is confused with the magical.
Even if water were present, and was poured over the person or immersed them somehow (I suppose it’s possible that God could transport them for an infinitesimal instant into the middle of a lake somewhere), wouldn’t the proper form be necessary as well?
He only needs to provide a drop that runs across the person. And an Angel or Saint or Our Lord Himself could be the Baptist.
Would the words “I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” no longer be needed?
They would need to be uttered by the person doing the Baptising.
But how loudly or if others would be allowed to witness or hear the event would again be God’s decision.
 
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GerardP:
No. That doesn’t even make sense. You posted a quote of St. Alphonsus that referred to the Institution of Baptism among other things. I pointed out that Baptism was not obligatory when it was instituted, however after the resurrection it was obligatory.
And this is a red herring. You are saying that water baptism is absolutely necessary at all times in any situation. This is not Catholic doctrine. It is your faulty interpretation of Trent and the Church Fathers.
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GerardP:
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SFD:
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GerardP:
I used it as an example to make a distinction between the institution of the sacrament of Baptism and the later date when Baptism was made obligatory. Many people reading your citation would fail to make that distinction and that’s why the erroneous example of St. Dismus to support Baptism of Desire would not be correct.
What distinction?
For the third time: “a distinction between the institution of the sacrament of Baptism and the later date when Baptism was made obligatory.”
This is simply not relevant to this discussion. St. Alphonsus is not addressing this “distinction” of yours.
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GerardP:
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SFD:
Are you denying the moral unanimity of theologians who teach both “Baptism of Desire” and “Baptism of Blood”?
Yes because there is no moral unanimity among theologians.
Do you know what moral unanimity is? Tell us please.
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GerardP:
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SFD:
You are claiming that he (St. Alphonsus) read Trent incorrectly?
Yes. Trent does not say anyone is saved by Baptism of Desire. The phrase is not in any infallible definition. Quite the opposite.
Really? And why does this phrase “need to be” in “an infallible definition” to be true Catholic doctrine?
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GerardP:
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SFD:
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GerardP:
Saints and Doctors of the Church are not infallible. Trent does not say what St. Alphonsus claims. He is mistaken. Fallible theologians (even saints) can make mistakes regarding infallible dogmas.
No, they are not infallible as individuals…but neither are you.
This is a cute tactic. I didn’t appeal to my own authority. I appeal to the Magisterium of the Church.
But you are NOT appealing to the magisterium. Here is the maristerium tells us through Ven. Pope Pius IX:

Pius IX-Tuas Libenter said:
“But, since it is a matter of that subjection by which in conscience all those Catholics are bound who work in the speculative sciences, in order that they may bring new advantage to the Church by their writings, on that account, then, the men of that same convention should realize that it is not sufficient for learned Catholics to accept and revere the aforesaid dogmas of the Church, but that it is also necessary to subject themselves to the decisions pertaining to doctrine which are issued by the Pontifical Congregations, and also to those forms of doctrine which are held by the common and constant consent of Catholics as theological truths and conclusions, so certain that opinions opposed to these same forms of doctrine, although they cannot be called heretical, nevertheless deserve some theological censure.” Tuas Libenter (1863), Denz. 1684.

We all agree that we are only bound by the teaching of the Church. But you are ignoring the truth that the theologians are the experts that Pope Pius IX instructs us to learn from. In this way you set up a false comparison as though the choice were between being “bound” by theologians and being “bound” by the Church, when in fact they are the same thing. And you seem to be blissfully unaware that you and others are preferring your own take on one text from Vatican I to the learned instructions of properly trained authorities.

It is abundantly clear that you are not interested in a rational discussion based on proper authorities. You are wedded to a particular view, and are not able to defend it by showing where you learned it.

From the Draft and Final Text on Papal Infallibility and The “Relatio” of Bishop Vincent Ferrer Gasser Proposed to The Fathers (Bishops) of The First Vatican Council on July 11, 1870. Which Explain in Some Detail What is Meant by “Papal Infallibility”.
Bp. Gasser Relatio:
Therefore, in this entire definition, the following three things are contained:
  1. The Roman Pontiff, through the divine assistance promised to him, is infallible, when, by his supreme authority, he defines a doctrine which must be held by the Universal Church, or, as very many theologians say, when he definitively and conclusively proposes his judgment;
  2. the object of these infallible definitions is doctrine about faith or morals;
  3. in respect to the object of infallibility, generically proposed in this way, the infallibility of the Pope is neither more nor less extensive than is the infallibility of the Church in her definitions of doctrine of faith and morals. Therefore just as everyone admits that to deny the infallibility of the Church in defining dogmas of faith is heretical, so the force of this decree of the Vatican Council makes it no less heretical to deny the infallibility of the supreme Pontiff, considered in itself, when he defines dogmas of faith. However, in respect to those things about which it is theologically certain - but not as, yet certain de fide" - that the Church is infallible, these things are also not defined by this decree of the sacred Council as having to be believed “de fide” in respect to papal infallibility. With the theological certitude which is had that these other objects, apart from dogmas of the faith, fall within the extension of the infallibility which the Church enjoys in her definitions, so, with that same theological certitude, must it be held, now and in the future, that the infallibility of definitions issued by the Roman Pontiff extends to these same objects.
SFD
 
GerardP-

This was not my opinion when I came in here, but I think that your ideas make sense, that is they are at least coherent. It will be nice to have the Holy Father or another council clear up what seems to be a controversial issue for many Catholics.
 
How can someone who is invincibly ignorant of the Catholic faith be conscious of the conflict between their opinion and Catholic doctrine???

If they’re invincibly ignorant of the Catholic faith, that means they don’t know the Catholic faith. According to the very definition you provided, it is impossible for someone living in invincible ignorance of the Catholic faith to be a pertinacious heretic. Am I missing something?
Dauphin,

They are ASSUMED to be. Because they, by all outward appearances, they belong to a condemned sect…they are presumed to be guilty. The Church can only judge externals. Externally, they are adhering to a condemned sect. They may be invincibly ignorant…but they are not assumed to be by the law.

SFD
 
Does anyone know of any papal writings that talk about non Catholics being able to be get to heaven? I know Vatican II talks about this but I am looking for things written before Vatican II that specifically say people outside the Church have at least a chance of getting to heaven.
Why dont you Look in the Bible?

.” Salvation is available in Jesus alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12), and is dependant on God alone for provision, assurance, and security.
"And in none other is there salvation; for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved."
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

check gotquestions.org/what-is-the-church.html
 
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