Heresy of Indifferentism
Pope Pius IX (1846-78) Syllabus Errorum - 1864 Errors #15-18 15) Every man is free to embrace and profess that religion which, guided by the light of reason, he shall consider true. 16) Man may, in the observance of any religion whatever, find the way of eternal salvation, and arrive at eternal salvation. 17) Good hope at least is to be entertained of the eternal salvation of those who are not at all in the true Church of Christ. 18) Protestantism is nothing more than another form of the same true Christian religion, in which form it is given to please God equally as in the Catholic Church.
Pope Gregory XVI (1831-46) Mirari Vos - 1832 Paragraph #13 Now we consider another abundant source of the evils with which the Church is afflicted at present: indifferentism. This perverse opinion is spread on all sides by the fraud of the wicked who claim that it is possible to obtain the eternal salvation of the soul by the profession of any kind of religion, as long as morality is maintained.
Pope Pius VIII (1829-30) Traditi Humilitati - 1829 Paragraph #4 Among these heresies belongs that foul contrivance of the sophists of this age who do not admit to any difference among the different professions of faith and who think that the portal of eternal salvation opens for all from any religion This is certainly a monstrous impiety The profession of the Catholic Faith is uniquely true.
Pope Leo XII (1823-29) Ubi Primum - 1824 Paragraph #12 Under the gentle appearance of piety and liberality this sect professes what they call tolerance or indifferentism. It preaches God has given every individual a wide freedom to embrace and adopt, without danger to his salvation, whatever sect or opinion appeals to him on the basis of his private judgment.
Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903) Humanum Genus - 1884 Paragraph #16 They thereby teach the great error of this age that a regard for religion should be held as an indifferent matter, and that all religions are alike. This manner of reasoning is calculated to bring about the ruin of all forms of religion, and especially of the Catholic religion, as it is the only one that is true
Pope Pius X (1903-14) On the Sillon - 1910 Paragraph #38 They dream of reshaping society the reign of love and justice with workers coming from everywhere, of all religions and no religion so long as they forego what might divide them their religious and philosophical convictions; and so long as they share what unites them a generous idealism and moral force; drawn from whence they can It [this chimerical construction] will be a tumultuous agitation, sterile for the end proposed
Pope Benedict XV (1914-22) Spiritus Paraclitus - 1920 Paragraph #38 With his strong insistence on adhering to the integrity of the faith, it is not to be wondered at that he attacked vehemently those who left the Church yet at the same time Jerome deplored the lamentable state of heretics, and adjured them to return to their sorrowing Mother, the one source of salvation; he prayed, too for the conversion of those who had quitted the Church
Pope Pius XI (1922-39) Mortalium Animos - 1928 Paragraph #2 They presuppose the erroneous view that all religions are more or less good and praiseworthy... Those who hold such a view are not only in error; they distort the true idea of religion, and thus reject it, falling gradually into naturalism and atheism. To favor this opinion... is tantamount to abandoning the religion revealed by God.
Pope Pius XII (1939-58) Humani Generis - 1950 Paragraph #27 Some say they are not bound by the doctrine, explained in [Mystici Corporis, 1943] which teaches that the Mystical Body of Christ and the Roman Catholic Church are one and the same thing. Some reduce to a meaningless formula the necessity of belonging to the true Church in order to gain eternal salvation.
Nulla Salus Extra Ecclesiam Catholic Dogma Nine consecutive popes (1823-1958) saw the need to reiterate this Catholic dogma Infallibly taught: (1) Pope Eugene IV & Council of Florence (1441), (2) Unam Sanctam (1302) by Pope Boniface VIII, (3) Pope Innocent III & Fourth Lateran Council (1215) Unanimous among the Church Fathers Clearly asserted in Sacred Scripture
Nulla Salus Extra Ecclesiam So why is this teaching so difficult for many to accept?
Nulla Salus Extra Ecclesiam So why is this teaching so difficult for many to accept? The Church is failing to proclaim it Much is taught that implies otherwise Our society abhors absolutes, we prefer subjectivism and individualism Multiplicity of world religions Personal Feelings what will happen to our friends and family?
Nulla Salus Extra Ecclesiam So why is this teaching so difficult for many to accept? Human Respect We often prefer being liked and well-thought of more than we prefer to share the Truth and love God We always want it our way without any corresponding consequences We want the role of judge We want God to conform to our values Lack of Faith
True Teaching Regarding Salvation
F Humans are created in the image and likeness of God: IMAGO DEI HS S Humans have a SOUL and BODY 1) MIND 2) WILL 3) Spirit 1) Interior Senses 2) Passions 3) Exterior Senses
TELOS (GOAL) HUMAN SOUL MIND TRUTH WILL GOOD Spirit
F Like the Blessed Trinity, we exist and live in relationships. VERTICAL 1) God HS S HORIZONTAL 2) All of creation 3) Other human beings 4) The self
F HS S ORIGINAL SIN Man, tempted by the devil, preferred himself to God and rejected friendship with God.
F INCARNATION The Word became Flesh! Jesus Christ is true God and true man! HS S Creation Redemption
F RESURRECTION HS S Creation Redemption
F By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are united to the Mystical Body of Christ in Baptism HS S Creation Descent of the Holy Spirit Redemption
F God gives supernatural life to the Church - the Mystical Body of Christ - outside of which there is no salvation HS S Creation
F It is only by God s sanctifying grace that the effects of sin can be overcome and we are able to reach and exist in heaven. HS S Creation Redemption
Heresy of Indifferentism
RELIGIOUS INDIFFERENTISM You can be saved as long as you are good Dogma is not that important You can belong to any religion and still be saved The Catholic Church is the best way
RELIGIOUS INDIFFERENTISM You can be saved as long as you are good How do YOU know what is good? Limit salvation to morality No need for Jesus to save us Denial of original sin, baptism, grace, Eucharist
RELIGIOUS INDIFFERENTISM Dogma is not that important No need for FAITH St. Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologica (2 nd Part of 2 nd Book, Q4, Art1 on Faith) Faith is a habit of the mind Whereby eternal life is begun in us And which causes the intellect to assent to things not seen.
RELIGIOUS INDIFFERENTISM Dogma is not that important No need for FAITH No need for Divine Revelation No need for Truth The human being with his science / reason is sufficient
RELIGIOUS INDIFFERENTISM You can belong to any religion and still be saved No need to evangelize No need to convert No need for conversion No need for morality Nothing supernatural about the Church
RELIGIOUS INDIFFERENTISM The Church is just the best way among many Deny the Scriptures Deny Jesus Christ All is human, no need for the divine The Church is the ONLY way