May you have a Blessed and Holy Christmas also.
I’m not panicked, but I am concerned that Pope Francis appears to be saying atheists, Jews and Muslims, etc can achieve salvation without priests, sacraments and the graces associated with them. Why even convert to Catholicism, if there’s no need to do so?
Thank you so much for your greeting, my dearest brother. We Catholics were raised to expect deterioration in all things, as Sacred Scripture attests throughout.
My job is to be still and know that He is God. That it should be we, you and I, who may be living on the cusp of His judgement is ordained and we shall live up to our purpose if that is truly the desire of our heart. He will see us through and He knows our hearts are breaking. We are beginning to say, “Come Lord Jesus, Come”, and mean it.
I want to take care of all which my abilities allow me and leave the macro to God and His Justice. Peace, Rita
I think many are absolutely fine with the new doctrine of Vatican II which Francis fully embodies. Hence, these latest remarks are not a concern, but are welcomed.
EENS was so exclusive, so yesterday.
Perhaps good old Pio Nono said it the best when he originally said it in Quanto Conficiamur Moerore (On Promotion of False Doctrines) (August 10, 1863):
7. Here, too, our beloved sons and venerable brothers, it is again necessary to mention and censure a very grave error entrapping some Catholics who believe that it is possible to arrive at eternal salvation although living in error and alienated from the true faith and Catholic unity. Such belief is certainly opposed to Catholic teaching. There are, of course, those who are struggling with invincible ignorance about our most holy religion. Sincerely observing the natural law and its precepts inscribed by God on all hearts and ready to obey God, they live honest lives and are able to attain eternal life by the efficacious virtue of divine light and grace. Because God knows, searches and clearly understands the minds, hearts, thoughts, and nature of all, his supreme kindness and clemency do not permit anyone at all who is not guilty of deliberate sin to suffer eternal punishments.
I don't tend to think that Pio Nono was a post-Vatican II modernist. But yet I don't see much daylight (if there is any daylight at all) between what he said above and what that "post-Vatican II modernist" Francis stated.
Perhaps you could help me out here a bit with showing me the difference between Pio Nono's position and Francis' position on this matter.