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Thursday, July 26, 2018

How can Dogma change?



I've ignore this for years, but its come up in an interesting email discussion with a Catholic friend of mine and we would like some answers. 

Can anyone help us out here? 

"No salvation outside the Catholic Church"  
“The Most Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, also Jews, heretics, and schismatics can ever be partakers of eternal life, but that they are to go into the eternal fire ‘which was prepared for the devil and his angels’ (Mt. 25:41) unless before death they are joined with Her… 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 they abide within the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church.”  -Pope Eugene IV, ex cathedra, Council of Florence, Cantate Domino (1441 AD) 

“The universal Church of the faithful is one outside of which none is saved.” -Pope Innocent III, ex cathedra, Fourth Lateran Council (1215 AD) 





-Vs-

"Yes! There is salvation outside the Church!" 
DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH
LUMEN GENTIUM
SOLEMNLY PROMULGATED BY HIS HOLINESS
POPE PAUL VI
ON NOVEMBER 21, 1964   
15. The Church recognizes that in many ways she is linked with those who, being baptized, are honored 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. (14*) For there are many who honor Sacred Scripture, taking it as a norm of belief and a pattern of life, and who show a sincere zeal. They lovingly believe in God the Father Almighty and in Christ, the Son of God and Saviour. (15*) They are consecrated by baptism, in which they are united with Christ. They also recognize and accept other sacraments within their own Churches or ecclesiastical communities. Many of them rejoice in the episcopate, celebrate the Holy Eucharist and cultivate devotion toward the Virgin Mother of God.(16*) 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 too He gives His gifts and graces whereby He is operative among them with His sanctifying power. Some indeed He has strengthened to the extent of the shedding of their blood. In all of Christ's disciples the Spirit arouses the desire to be peacefully united, in the manner determined by Christ, as one flock under one shepherd, and He prompts them to pursue this end. (17*) Mother Church never ceases to pray, hope and work that this may come about. She exhorts her children to purification and renewal so that the sign of Christ may shine more brightly over the face of the earth. 
16. Finally, those who have not yet received the Gospel are related in various ways to the people of God.(18*) In the first place we must recall the people to whom the testament and the promises were given and from whom Christ was born according to the flesh.(125) On account of their fathers this people remains most dear to God, for God does not repent of the gifts He makes nor of the calls He issues.(126) But the plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator. In the first place amongst these there are the Muslims, who, professing to hold the faith of Abraham, along with us adore the one and merciful God, who on the last day will judge mankind. Nor is God far distant from those who in shadows and images seek the unknown God, for it is He who gives to all men life and breath and all things,(127) and as Saviour wills that all men be saved.(128) Those also can attain to 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.(19*) Nor does Divine Providence deny the helps necessary for salvation to those who, without blame on their part, have not yet arrived at an explicit knowledge of God and with His grace strive to live a good life. Whatever good or truth is found amongst them is looked upon by the Church as a preparation for the Gospel.(20*) She knows that it is given by Him who enlightens all men so that they may finally have life. But often men, deceived by the Evil One, have become vain in their reasonings and have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, serving the creature rather than the Creator.(129) Or some there are who, living and dying in this world without God, are exposed to final despair. Wherefore to promote the glory of God and procure the salvation of all of these, and mindful of the command of the Lord, "Preach the Gospel to every creature",(130) the Church fosters the missions with care and attention."

Did Vatican II change Dogma to say non-Catholics are saved by other faiths? Like the example of the Muslims mentioned? 

What happened? The Catechism (below) seems clear that belief in Christ is necessary for salvation- but what sort of belief? The Muslims believe Jesus was just a good prophet? Is that enough for salvation now? 

Is it the "We have the 'hope' all people will be saved" that Bishop Barron is always talking about? 

Is it merely the ignorant who never knew about Jesus, but had they known they would have believed? 

Or... has the Church completely changed centuries of Catholic Dogma? 


Thanks! 


In Christ, 

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner 


Catechism: 

161 Believing in Jesus Christ and in the One who sent him for our salvation is necessary for obtaining that salvation. 42 "Since "without faith it is impossible to please [God]" and to attain to the fellowship of his sons, therefore without faith no one has ever attained justification, nor will anyone obtain eternal life 'But he who endures to the end.'"]


 Part 1, Section 1, Chapter 3, Article 2, SubSection 1  

169 Salvation comes from God alone; but because we receive the life of faith through the Church, she is our mother: "We believe the Church as the mother of our new birth, and not in the Church as if she were the author of our salvation." 55 Because she is our mother, she is also our teacher in the faith.

 
Link: 


Wednesday, July 25, 2018

The Great Adventure Catholic Bible


OK, the title is kinda hokey but I like what this Bible will include. 

Ad quoteHow you’ll learn... 
*Color-coding for easy reference. Uses the popular Bible Timeline system that’s used by hundreds of thousands of Catholics to learn the Bible 
*Articles to help you understand the overarching story and important covenants that tie the entire Bible together. 
*Key event callouts to help you quickly identify important points in the Bible that ordinarily take readers a long time to find and categorize in their head. 
*Detailed charts giving a visual overview of important characters, key events, maps, major covenants, and historical context. 
*Newly Designed Full-Color Maps to help visualize Bible story locations.
Being a convert to Catholicism, I grew up using Protestant reference Bibles- I adored them because they taught about the people, places and background information about the stories in the Bible. Granted it was flawed because it was Protestant, but my point is, I always wanted more information for better understanding of what I was reading in the Bible - reference Bibles gave that to me. 

Now I'm thrilled to find a new Catholic "reference" Bible being published that seems to include all those things. 

Ad quote from Ascension Press
Features
*A full-color Bible with a beautiful eye-catching design
 
*Each book of the Bible is color-coded with printed tabs, indicating where it belongs within The Bible Timeline. 
*Twelve Timeline charts provide a visual overview of the Bible, including: important characters, Key Events, geography, major covenants, world rulers, and contemporary events in secular history. 
*Twelve articles give a summary and explanation of each period of salvation history. 
*Seven articles introduce and explain the major covenants of salvation history, showing God’s amazing plan for humanity. 
*Seventy Key Event call-outs provide a brief description of the milestones in the biblical narrative. 
*Includes sixteen newly designed full-color maps. 
*The words of Jesus are printed in red. 
*Revised Standard Version – Second Catholic Edition. 
*Granted an Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat through the Archdiocese of Saint Paul & Minneapolis 
*Two ribbon markers.


Source: https://shop.ascensionpress.com/products/the-great-adventure-catholic-bible 



In Christ, 

Julie @Connecticut Catholic Corner 


Monday, July 23, 2018

EWTN: Bravery Under Fire, Father Willie Doyle



Bravery Under Fire: EWTN To Air The Heroic Story
Of Irish Army Chaplain Father Willie Doyle



Irondale, AL (EWTN) – He was so brave during the First World War that he ran countless times into “no man’s land” to drag fellow soldiers to safety. He was so devout that he would arise early to swim and pray in an icy lake, yet he was “such a jovial character” that everyone wanted to hang out with him.

He was Father Willie Doyle, and he was an Irish Catholic Jesuit, who enlisted as a Chaplain in the British Army in 1915 because he wanted to be on the battlefield with soldiers when they most needed a priest. Learn all about his amazing life, including his “Bravery Under Fire,” when EWTN’s newest docudrama premieres at 10 p.m. ET, Sunday, Aug. 12. (Encores air at 3:30 p.m. ET, Thursday, Aug. 16; 9 a.m. ET, Saturday, August 18; and 1:30 p.m. ET, Sunday, August 19. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.)

While Father Willie’s early life sets the stage, his story really comes to life after the outbreak of the First World War when the 42-year-old priest joined the British Army, 16th Irish Division, as a Catholic Chaplain.

“All denominations loved him,” said Director/Producer Campbell Miller. “They knew no matter what happened, even if they were out in no man’s land and left for dead, Father Willie would come for them. He didn’t just come once. He came multiple times a day. He would drag that soldier back if injured or, if they weren’t going to make it, he would lie down beside them and give them the last rites.”

Miller said all the soldiers wanted to be in Father Willie’s dugout because it appeared to them that no one who fought near him was killed. However, that changed in August 1917. Father Willie went out on the battlefield to rescue two men, and was caught in a mortar attack.

Says Miller: “Father Willie wanted to give the men that passed away a dignified Christian burial. It feels very odd that this could not be awarded to him because they never actually found his body. He was blown to bits.”
Father Willie Doyle was an Irish Catholic Jesuit, who enlisted as a Chaplain in the British Army in 1915 because he wanted to be on the battlefield with soldiers when they most needed a priest.Learn all about his amazing life, including his “Bravery Under Fire,” when EWTN’s newest docudrama premieres at 10 p.m. ET, Sunday, Aug. 12. (Encores air at 3:30 p.m. ET, Thursday, Aug. 16; 9 a.m. ET, Saturday, August 18; and 1:30 p.m. ET, Sunday, August 19. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.)

This might seem like a sad ending, but Miller says no one who looks at Father Willie’s life ultimately comes away sad.


“I would have wanted to hang out with Father Willie” he said. “Here was a man who gave up his life for his friends. You see that there was no fear. You see, in his limited time on earth, the respect people had for him and the impact he had on so many people while he was alive -- and even afterward from the pamphlets he wrote. “Shall I Become a Priest?”, one of his pamphlets, brought many to the priesthood. When you see what he accomplished, you can’t help but get inspired.”

Father Willie’s cause for canonization, which was put forward in 1943, has languished. Miller says: “My hope for this film is that it will cause people to again look at his cause for canonization.”

EWTN Global Catholic Network, in its 37th year, is the largest religious media network in the world. EWTN’s 11 TV channels are broadcast in multiple languages 24 hours a day, seven days a week to over 275 million television households in more than 145 countries and territories. EWTN platforms also include radio services transmitted through SIRIUS/XM, iHeart Radio, and over 500 domestic and international AM & FM radio affiliates; a worldwide shortwave radio service; the largest Catholic website in the U.S.; electronic and print news services, including Catholic News Agency, “The National Catholic Register” newspaper, and several global news wire services; as well as EWTN Publishing, its book publishing division. 





Thursday, July 19, 2018

Event: 2018 Respect Life Conference

Dear Friends,

Christ is in our midst!

The 19th annual Respect Life Conference details released

The 2018 Respect Life Conference will be held on Saturday, October 13, at Our Lady Queen of Angels Parish --Holy Angels Campus, 585 Main Street, South Meriden, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Archbishop Leonard Blair will welcome and open the conference

Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse, Keynote speaker --founder of the Ruth Institute

Guest speakers: 
Judith M. Mascolo, MD
Roderick P. Murphy
Elaine Blondin Mello, PhD

Registration is $25.00 per person (includes hospitality and lunch)

checks payable:
Respect Life Conference
PO Box 392
Meriden, CT 06450

No fee for priests, deacons, religious and seminarians

PAX!

++++
Paul A. Zalonski
Catholic Connecticut
255 Foxon Hill Road
East Haven, CT 06513-1216 USA

CatholicCT@gmail.com

Follow Paul on Twitter @CatholicCT
Connect with Paul on Facebook "Catholic Connecticut CatholicCT"