Dispelling the Myths Behind extra ecclesiam nulla salus
Dispelling the Myths Behind extra ecclesiam nulla salus Annie Paish
The Roots of Salvation (Mark 16: 16) (John 3: 17)
Early Church Fathers ST. IGNATIUS AND ST. CYPRIAN ST. JUSTIN MARTYR (PEOPLE WHO LIVED BEFORE CHRIST) � � � Virtue Mosaic Law Logos (HERESY AND SCHISM) � � � guilty of being outside the church “even martyrdom cannot purge away the guilt of schism” “no one can claim the martyr’s name who has broken off his love”
St. Cyprian Continued � � � Outside of the Church there is no salvation: extra ecclesiam nulla salus CONTEXT: fourth century when the Christians were no longer persecuted under Rome Therefore, this exclusive judgement of salvation was not in regards to those who had never experienced Christ, but those who had chosen to deny the truth
St. Augustine � � � very dark view on who could enter into the Kingdom of Heaven No salvation for those who had rejected the gospel AND for those who had not heard it REASON: Original Sin
St. Thomas Aquinas • salvation was possible for those who lived before the time of Christ • changing views on those who had never been preached the gospel God would send some sort of an angel or revelation for the person who had never come into contact with the teachings of Christ “being subject to the Roman Pontiff is of necessity for salvation. ”
Unam sanctum POPE BONIFACE VIII � � issued the bull Unam sanctum (1302) Declared that the only way to salvation was through being a subject of the Pope HEINRICH KLEE � those who know that the Church is the true way to salvation, and still choose to deny and reject this, will not be granted salvation
Pope Pius IX � “well known is the Catholic teaching that no one can be saved outside the Catholic Church” VS � Invincible ignorance � ecclesiam nulla salus = only to those who are culpably outside of the Church
Pope Pius XII and Mystici corporis “to gain eternal salvation it is not always required that a person be incorporated in reality as a member of the Church, but it is required that he belong to it at least in desire and longing. ” �
Vatican II
Lumen Gentium Church of Christ is not referred to as the Roman Catholic Church; instead, the council teaches tha the Church “subsists in the Catholic Church” (LG 8) There are “elements of sanctification and of trut [which] are found outside of its visible structure (LG 8) Whatever good or truth is found amongst them i looked upon by the Church as a preparation for the Gospel” (LG 16)
Gaudium et spes � “since Christ died for all men, and since the ultimate vocation of man is in fact one, and divine, we ought to believe that the Holy Spirit in a manner known only to God offers to every man the possibility of being associated with this paschal mystery” (GS 22)
Nostra Aetate Hinduism Buddhism Islam Judaism
Karl Rahner and “Anonymous Christians” � � the universality of God’s salvific will he holds that non-Christians who live good lives that compose (unknowingly to them) of God’s grace, may be called anonymous Christians
Questions?
- Slides: 15