Open Letter to a Protestant: On "nulla salus extra ecclesiam"

A---,

Thank you for responding. My answer will be shorter than I planned. I believe the Catechism may have an answer for your objection, but if you disagree or find the answer insufficient in any way, please let me know where and why.

"Outside the Church there is no Salvation" [from the Catechism of the Catholic Church]:

846. How are we to understand this affirmation, often repeated by the Church Fathers? [cf. St. Cyprian, Ep 73:21; PL 3:1169; De Unit PL 4:509-536] Re-formulated positively, it means that all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body:

"Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it." [Vatican II LG 14]

847. This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church:

"Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience -- those too may achieve eternal salvation." [Vatican II LG 16]

Let me say this in my own words. As Catholics we believe that Christ established one church which would be and is united in spirit and love, in faith and teaching, in its mission and its government. As Catholics we believe our bishops are the true successors of the apostles, the representatives of the twelve on earth, and that the pope is by the will of God set up as the head of the visible church on earth.

In regard to other denominations then the Church's comments (especially the doctrine of "nulla salus extra ecclesiam"), should be seen in this light - since the conclusion follows from the premise. I mean if you think the Catholic Church is set up by Jesus Christ, then to reject the Catholic Church is to reject Christ; and to reject Christ is to reject the One who sent Him. But on this note, Vatican II clarified the doctrine by clarifying its application: "Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ , would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it." And again: "Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church [i.e., the Catholic Church], but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart..." etc. As I said before, if you grant that the Catholic Church is the true successor to the Church of the Apostles, the conclusion follows.

Those born into Protestant and Orthodox churches, however, do not grant the premise; therefore, the conclusion does not follow. I doubt that any honest Protestant or Orthodox could say in good conscience, "Yes, I truly believe that the Catholic Church - as it exists today - is that very same church which Christ establish on the rock of Peter and built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets." Were such a man or woman to say that, he or she would convert; and until such a person says that, the various statements made in the Catholic Church about salvation outside the Church do not apply to that individual.

Does that make sense?

Peace, etc.

p.s. I agree that there is a lot being said in Matt 16, of which I think Christians have only begun to understand.