Sunday, May 4, 2008

Is it Still Necessary/Preferrable to be Roman Catholic?

If the “means of grace” are present in the schismatic and heretical churches i.e. the Orthodox Church and those arising out of the Protestant Reformation and have within them the means of salvation, why would anyone bother to become or remain a Roman Catholic given that Catholicism is much more demanding than any of the other “Christian” religions. For example, some of the text of Unitatis Redintegratio e.g. no. 3, p. 4 below;

"It follows that the separated churches and comminities as such, though we believe they suffer from the defects already mentioned, have been by no means deprived of significance and importance in the mystery of salvation. For the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as means of Salvation which derive their efficacy from the very fullness of grace and truth entrusted to the Catholic Church..."

seems more than a bit ambiguous in light of pre-conciliar language regarding the necessity to be baptized member in good standing (in a state of grace) of the Roman Catholic Church under the direction of the Roman Pontiff in order to be saved.

Moreover it seems intuitively obvious and logically irrefutable that the temporal relationship to the altered (Vatican II induced) ecclesiology with regard to Extra-Ecclesium Nulla Sullus (no salvation outside the Roman Catholic Church) and the severe loss of Priests and members of the various orders of religious post 1965 is one of cause and effect. If it is no longer necessary to be a Catholic “Christian” why should anyone subject themselves to the restrictions which accompany the Catholic Priesthood and Religious life? Why not simply be a Catholic lay person or a non-Catholic “Christian?” Could this be the reason why so many Priests and Religious abandoned their vows?

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What/Where is the Roman Catholic Church?

In light of Traditional Catholic dogma/doctrine, how should the Second Vatican Council be viewed ? Is it consistent with Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition and prior Magisterial teaching?

What explains the tremendous amount of "bad fruit" which has been forthcoming since the close of the Council in 1965? “By their fruits you shall know them” (Matt. 7:16)

This site explores these questions and more in an attempt to place the Second Vatican Council in proper perspective.