Your implication is that John Paul II taught the condemned doctrine of Universalism. However, the quotes you provided describe no such thing.
John Paul II is using the word “universal” in the sense which means “according to the totality” or “in keeping with the whole.” He has neither omitted or asserted each and every person will attain everlasting salvation. Where you see “universal” replace it with the Greek word “kata holos” or “catholic” and you may see what he is saying in a different light.
In his general audience message, he stated that hell is eternal. Thus, he is not teaching anything contrary to de fide dogmas or that which was condemned by the Church, that is the Origenist teaching of apokatastasis, your weak attempt to link the two notwithstanding. Instead, he is speaking of “universal salvation” in the sense that Christ brings salvation to the whole world, to Jews and Gentiles. Within the same general audience address, he certainly leaves open the thesis affirmed by Catholic theologian Fr. Hans Urs Von Balthasar and held by St. Teresa Benedicta the Cross that we may indeed hope for the salvation of all souls. This thesis is clearly NOT heretical nor even condemned by the Church. Moreover, Cardinal Avery Dulles called this thesis “orthodox.”
This “hope”, in my opinion, is extremely dangerous. Why would I say that? Why is it wrong to merely “hope” that all men will be saved?
Because, for one, the church has always taught, and has defined infallibly, that outside of the Catholic Church there is no salvation; and thus that heretics, pagans, Jews etc. will all go to hell.
Now, if we “hope” that all men are saved, we thereby undermine what the Church has taught us, and turn the doctrine
extra ecclesia nullo salus, “into a meaningless formula” as Pope Pius XII warned that some were doing.
Furthermore, our Lord specifically states that many are called and few chosen; that many will seek to enter in and shall not be able (Mt 7); that of his apostles He lost none “except the son of perdition” (Judas); that, on the last day, those on his left will be “cast into the fire that was prepared for the devil and his angels” (Mt. 25).
These and many other statements of our Lord teach that, indeed, many souls will go to hell. If we “hope” that some souls do not go to hell, we implicitly hope that our Lord was deceiving us; and that He has deceived the Church for 1960 years. And if He deceived the hierarchy on this point, why not on other points.
Itsjustdave, out of true charity for you I am going to say this. You may not listen, or even car what I am going to say, but I am going to say it nevertheless: I read your profile and saw that you are working towards a masters is religious studies. I “hope” not, but fear that you may have placed yourself under the tutelage of some less than orthodox Catholics. How could it be otherwise in the days in which we live.
I wonder of any of your teachers have taught, or spoken highly of, or at least defended, the proposition that we should “hope” that all men are saved. Is that why you now defend this “hope” that’s contrary to 1960 years of Catholic teaching? Is that why you are on the wrong side of this issue, and are defending this novel “hope”?
My advise to you is this: Beware! How many priest and Bishops have lost the faith over the past 40 years due in large part to heretical instructors. You too are a mere man and should be very careful.
Now, your pride will probably kick in at this point and you will probably go after me for giving you this warning, but if you were wise you would heed it.
Anyone who takes courses in Catholic higher education in this day of doctrinal confusion and liberal disorientationj should be extremely wary, especially of anything that is contrary to what the Church has always taught - not just de fide dogmas, but all of the common teachings of the Church down through the ages.
