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From: amigo@iwpba.UUCP (amigo)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: Buddhist relationship to other religions
Message-ID: <163@iwpba.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 22-May-84 11:29:21 EDT
Article-I.D.: iwpba.163
Posted: Tue May 22 11:29:21 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 23-May-84 19:06:12 EDT
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Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, Il
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Larry Bickford says:
>>	The more I read about the Pope's visit with the Buddhist
>>	leaders, the more I wonder how devoutly he holds certain
>>	views of the religion which he heads, e.g., the Church of
>>	Rome's teaching that there is no salvation, no access to
>>	heaven, outside of itself (I confirmed this with ex-priests). 

Well, Larry, I don't know which ex-priests you have been talking
to, but any Catholic who states that persons outside the Catholic
church cannot be saved is guilty of formal heresy.  

About 50 to 75 years ago, there was a priest near Boston (Fr. Feeny)
who taught that non-Catholics were not capable of salvation, and he
was condemned as a heretic and ex-communicated (which must have given
him and his followers quite a spiritual dilemma).  I believe that he
did recant near the end of his life, and was received back into the
Church.

The "outside the church there is no salvation" argument derives
from such Biblical teachings as:  "He who believes and is baptised
shall be saved, but he who does not believe shall be condemned"
(Mark 16:16).  This is also a feature of other Christian
denominations, e.g. Calvinism.  Calvin says (INSTITUTES Book 4 c. 3):
"Outisde the fold of this Church there is no hope of pardon for 
sins, no salvation." 

However, even the most ardent Catholic traditionalist (I have
before me a small tome from 1906, entitled A MANUAL OF THEOLOGY FOR
THE LAITY, by Rev. P. Geiermann, C.Ss.R, which is almost the epitome
of the Catholic triumphalist point of view--a most infuriating
book, given to quick, simplistic, this-is-the-truth-and-I-don't-want-
to-hear-any-arguing-about-it, statements.  Fr. Geiermann also
refuses to admit even the possibility that the Catholic Church, at
any time in her history, might possibly have been less than a
perfect examplar of the Christian gospel.) will admit that persons
who do do not or cannot accept Christ and his church, THROUGH NO
FAULT OF THEIR OWN, may be saved.

The current Catholic teaching on other religions is best seen in
the DECLARATION ON THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE CHURCH TO NON-CHRISTIAN
RELIGIONS (NOSTRA AETATE) from the Second Vatican Council; which
states (n. 2):

	Other religions to be found everywhere strive variously to
	answer the restless searchings of the human heart by
	proposing "ways," which consist of teachings, rules of
	life, and sacred ceremonies.
	
	The Catholic Church rejects nothing which is true and holy
	in these religions.  She looks with sincere respect upon
	those ways of conduct, and of life, those rules and
	teachings which, though differing in many pariculars from
	what she holds and sets forth, nevertheless often reflect a
	ray of that Truth which enlightens all men.

This is scarcely something new in Catholicism.  For example, Justin
Martyr (2nd century AD) mentions that the "true light which enlightens
every man who comes into the world" (John 1:9) manifests itself in
all religions.  Unfortunately, missionaries often have adopted the
attitude that non-Catholic (rephrase that last word to be non-Christian,
and we can expand it to include Protestant missionaries) religions
were the work of Satan and that their job was to convert people
from error to the truth.

Another document from Vatican II which is relevant is the DOGMATIC
CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH (LUMEN GENTIUM), which says, with regard
to non-Catholic Christians (n. 15):

	The Church recognizes that in many ways she is linked with
	those who, being baptised, are honoured with the name of
	Christian, though they do not profess the faith in its
	entirety or do not preserve unity of communion with the
	successor of Peter.  For there are many who honour sacred
	Scripture, taking it as a norm of belief and action, and
	who shew a true religious zeal.  They livingly believe in
	God the Father almighty and in Christ, Son of God and
	Saviour.  They are consecrated by baptism, through which
	they are united with Christ.  They also recognize and
	receive other sacraments within their own Churches or
	ecclesial communities....  They also share with us in
	prayer and other spiritual benefits.
	
	Likewise we can say that in some real way they are joined
	with us in the Holy Spirit, for to them also He gives His
	gifts and graces, and is thereby operative among them with
	His sanctifying power....  She [the Catholic Church] exorts
	her sons to purify and renew themselves so that the sign of
	Christ may shine more brightly over the face of the Church.
	
In the next section, which deals with non-Christians, the operative
sentences are:

	Those also can attain to everlasting salvation who through
	no fault of their own do not know the gospel of Christ or
	his church, yet sincerely seek God and, moved by grace,
	strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them
	through the dictates of conscience.  Nor does divine
	Providence deny the help necessary for salvation to those
	who, without blame on their part, have not yet arrived at
	an explicit knowledge of God, but who strive to live a good
	life, thanks to His grace.  

So, Larry, I trust that I have made it clear that there is salvation
outside the Catholic Church.  (Doesn't that make you feel better?)

			John Hobson
			AT&T Bell Labs--Naperville, IL
			ihnp4!iwpba!amigo