This is what the Catholic Church used to teach about non-Christian "churches" (communities).
We certainly don't hear this sort of talk any more.
Then:
Which is the True Church of Jesus Christ?
Among the religious communities which all claim to be considered the true Church, it is of the highest importance to distinguish the one which speaks truly from the rest who are deceived.
Our Lord gives us in His Gospel an infallible means, a sure and evident sign by which we may recognize His Church. And is it not an historical fact, clear as the day, and quite beyond the reach of contradiction, that the one Catholic Apostolic Roman Church is founded upon St. Peter, the first Bishop of Rome, the first Pope?
Therefore all other Churches, whatever they may be, are false Churches, which do not come from God, and do not lead to God, but conformity with the divine institution.
Therefore every true-hearted and truth-loving man, who has the fear of God before his eyes, is bound by his conscience, so soon as he shall be convinced of error, to go out from that false Church, in which he has had the misfortune to be born, and enter, obedient to the voice which calls him, into the true fold of Jesus Christ, which is the Catholic Church. And if he has the happiness to be born a Catholic, he should thank God for it every day of his life, and should be ready to suffer all things, even death, rather than fail, under any circumstances, in obedience to the Pope.
Nothing is easier than to know if you belong to Jesus Christ and to His Church. You only need to know which Church has the Pope for its Head, and then to enter into this Church. It is a test which requires nothing but simple reason, and which is open to the whole world.
Source: The Fountain of Catholic Knowledge, Copyrighted by Office of Catholic Publications, 1900. [Pages 76-77]
~~~
Now:
In Christ,
Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner
This too is the Church today!
ReplyDeleteAUGUST 13, 2016
If the SSPX is unilaterally accepted by the Vatican it still means that the SSPX is condoning a heretical and non traditional interpretation of Vatican Council II, as being done by Fr. Z
http://eucharistandmission.blogspot.it/2016/08/if-sspx-is-unilaterally-accepted-by.html
HOW CAN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE PRESENT TIMES BE LIKE THAT OF THE PAST?
ReplyDeleteTHIS IS THE WAY!
THIS IS THE ONLY WAY!
The way to make Rome come back to the Faith, the only way possible at this time, is to ask Rome to choose another theology in the interpretation of Vatican Council II and the dogma extra ecclesiam nulla salus(EENS): It is all done by replacing the present Cushingite theology with Feeneyite theology
http://eucharistandmission.blogspot.it/2016/08/the-way-to-make-rome-come-back-to-faith.html