“Outside the Church there is no salvation” (extra ecclesiam nulla salus) is a doctrine of the Catholic Faith that was taught By Jesus Christ to His Apostles, preached by the Fathers, defined by popes and councils and piously believed by the faithful in every age of the Church. Here is how the Popes defined it:
“There is but one universal Church of the faithful, outside which no one at all is saved.” (Pope Innocent III, Fourth Lateran Council, 1215.)
“We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff.” (Pope Boniface VIII, the Bull Unam Sanctam, 1302.)
“The most Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics, can have a share in life eternal; but that they will go into the eternal fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless before death they are joined with Her; and that so important is the unity of this ecclesiastical body that only those remaining within this unity can profit by the sacraments of the Church unto salvation, and they alone can receive an eternal recompense for their fasts, their almsgivings, their other works of Christian piety and the duties of a Christian soldier. No one, let his almsgiving be as great as it may, no one, even if he pour out his blood for the Name of Christ, can be saved, unless he remain within the bosom and the unity of the Catholic Church.” (Pope Eugene IV, the Bull Cantate Domino, 1441.)
But man, following the example of his natural father, Adam, often disobeys the authority of God. The fact that the doctrine had to be thrice defined itself proves the Church’s paternal solicitude in correcting her erring children who fall into indifferentism. The first goal of Saint Benedict Center’s doctrinal Crusade is to defend this doctrine. We present here a selection of various articles written for that end.
Here are some recommended starting points on this all-important subject:
The Popes on Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus
The Fathers of the Church on Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus
Doctrinal Summary
Sentimental Theology
Pelagius Lives
Our Status in the Church (focusing on the doctrinal stance of Saint Benedict Center and the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary)
Façade of the Archbasilica of St. John in Lateran, photo by Livioandronico2013 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
One of the great works of the Council of Trent was to produce the Tridentine Profession of Faith, a statement of the Creed that clearly articulates the perennial Faith in the face of the revolutionary doctrines of the Protestant so-called … Continue reading
The Christian Post:The Canadian Supreme Court is set to decide whether teachers at private religious schools in the province of Quebec will be allowed to share their faith with students, in a case concerning a Catholic high school that is … Continue reading
This is the second time that Pope Francis has insisted on the impossibility of being a follower of Christ while rejecting the Church. The first time was less than a year ago and we posted the relevant sermon on our … Continue reading
In “Another Year,” Michael Voris takes to task the paladins progressive theology who are endorsing the twin errors of Universalism and Indifferentism. It’s worth the seven minutes it takes to view. To learn more about the issues he takes on, … Continue reading
Controversial, yes, but true. Otherwise, we don’t believe in Church dogma or the reality of the sin of heresy. Michael Voris makes some good points in this video. To the line “we don’t talk about religion and politics here,” he … Continue reading
Philosophers tell us that the essence of a relation is to be ad aliquid — “towards another.” In considering our own relationships, the most important ones we can speak of are those we have with the Holy Trinity and Our … Continue reading
Progressives sometimes claim that the Church’s magisterium has made various “quiet repudiations” of the doctrine extra ecclesiam nulla salus. Whatever the basis of these claims, it may be replied that de fide definita dogmatic formulations are not subject to repudiations … Continue reading
Here’s the headline: Pope Francis says atheists can do good and go to heaven too! “Go to heaven, too?” Yes, but not as an atheist! Pope Francis did not say that an atheist who does naturally good things can be … Continue reading
The Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ is the “Good News” that our King and High Priest ordered to be preached “to every creature.” Not exclusively for one tribe, nation, or continent, it was intended to go to all the … Continue reading
From Pope Francis’ sermon today, the feast of Saint George (Jorge Bergoglio’s own patron): “But the Christian identity is not an identity card: Christian identity is belonging to the Church, because all of these belonged to the Church, the Mother … Continue reading
In this video, Michael Voris presents some good thoughts on the subject of sentimental theology. There are two points here where he appears to have borrowed from Saint Benedict Center’s founders. (Note that I do not say he borrowed, but … Continue reading
Patrick J. Buchanan outlines the problem of America’s descent into moral chaos as highlighted by the phenomenon of homopseudomarriage. An excerpt from his article is found below. Where there is no common race, ethnicity, culture, or polity, what can hold … Continue reading
Michael Voris takes Fox News’ clerical commentator, Fr. Morris, to task for his indifferentist remarks on air. This is a good profession of the dogma, no salvation outside the Church. “If the comment made by Fr. Morris on Fox News … Continue reading
Dr. Jeff Mirus of Catholic Culture website has misled his readers by putting his own gnostic interpretation on a thrice-defined dogma, Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus (no salvation outside the Church). In response to an article by John Vennari of Catholic … Continue reading
In these days of widespread heterodoxy and profound confusion on religious matters, many people take it as a sign of “hate” that a Catholic would seek to draw into the Church any and all non-Catholics. On the contrary, true zeal … Continue reading
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