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V. On the value and salvific
function of the religious traditions
8.
In accordance with Catholic doctrine, it must be held that «whatever the
Spirit brings about in human hearts and in the history of peoples, in cultures
and religions, serves as a preparation for the Gospel (cf. Dogmatic Constitution
Lumen gentium, 16)».[15][15] It is therefore legitimate to maintain
that the Holy Spirit accomplishes salvation in non-Christians also through those
elements of truth and goodness present in the various religions; however, to
hold that these religions, considered as such, are ways of salvation, has no
foundation in Catholic theology, also because they contain omissions,
insufficiencies and errors[16][16] regarding fundamental truths about God,
man and the world.
Furthermore, the fact that the
elements of truth and goodness present in the various world religions may
prepare peoples and cultures to receive the salvific event of Jesus Christ does
not imply that the sacred texts of these religions can be considered as
complementary to the Old Testament, which is the immediate preparation for the
Christ event.[17][17]
The Sovereign Pontiff John Paul II, at the
Audience of January 19, 2001, in the light of the further developments,
confirmed the present Notification, which had been adopted in Ordinary Session
of the Congregation, and ordered its publication.
Rome, from the Offices of the Congregation for
the Doctrine of the Faith, January 24, 2001, the Memorial of Saint Francis de
Sales.
+ JOSEPH Card.
RATZINGER
Prefect
+ Tarcisio
BERTONE, S.D.B.
Archbishop Emeritus of
Vercelli
Secretary
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[1][1] Because of tendencies in some circles, which
have become increasingly evident in the thinking of the Christian
faithful, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published the
Declaration “Dominus Iesus” on the Unicity and Salvific
Universality of Jesus Christ and the Church (AAS 92 [2000],
742-765) in order to protect essential truths of the Catholic faith. The
Notification draws from the principles expressed in Dominus
Iesus in its evaluation of Father Dupuis’ book. |
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[2][2] Cf. Council of Trent, Decree De
peccato originali: DS 1513; Decree De iustificatione: DS 1522,
1523, 1529, 1530; Second Vatican
Council, Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et spes, 10; Dogmatic
Constitution Lumen gentium, 8, 14, 28,49,60; John Paul II, Encyclical Letter
Redemptoris missio, 5: AAS 83 (1991), 249-340; Apostolic
Exhortation Ecclesia in Asia, 14: AAS 92 (2000), 449-528;
Congregation for the Doctrine of
the Faith, Declaration Dominus Iesus, 13-15. |
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[3][3] Cf. First Council of Nicaea: DS 125;
Council of Chacledon: DS
301. |
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[4][4] Cf. Council of Trent, Decree De
iustificatione: DS 1529, 1530; Second Vatican Council,
Constitution on the Liturgy Sacrosanctum Concilium, 5; Pastoral
Constitution Gaudium et spes, 22. |
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[5][5] Cf. John Paul II, Encyclical Letter
Redemptoris missio, 6; Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith, Declaration Dominus Iesus, 10. |
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[6][6] Cf. Second Vatican Council, Dogmatic
Constitution Dei verbum, 2, 4; John Paul II, Encyclical Letter
Fides et ratio, 14-15, 92: AAS 91 (1999), 5-88; Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith, Declaration Dominus Iesus, 5. |
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[7][7] Cf. Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith, Declaration Dominus Iesus, 6; Catechism of
the Catholic Church, 65-66. |
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[8][8] Cf. Second Vatican Council, Dogmatic
Constitution Lumen gentium, 17; Decree Ad gentes, 11;
Declaration Nostra aetate, 2. |
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[9][9] Cf. Second Vatican Council, Dogmatic
Constitution Lumen gentium, 16; John Paul II, Encyclical Letter
Redemptoris missio, 10. |
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[10][10]
Cf. Second Vatican
Council, Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et spes, 22; John Paul II, Encyclical Letter
Redemptoris missio, 28-29. |
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[11][11]
Cf. John Paul II,
Encyclical Letter Redemptoris missio, 5; Apostolic
Exhortation Ecclesia in Asia, 15-16; Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith, Declaration Dominus Iesus, 12. |
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[12][12]
Cf. Second Vatican
Council, Dogmatic Constitution Lumen gentium, 9, 14, 17, 48;
John Paul II, Encyclical
Letter Redemptoris missio, 11; Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith, Declaration Dominus Iesus, 16. |
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[13][13]
Cf. John Paul II,
Encyclical Letter Redemptoris missio, 36; Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith, Declaration Dominus Iesus, 21-22. |
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[14][14] Cf. Second Vatican Council, Dogmatic
Constitution Lumen gentium, 13, 16; Decree Ad gentes,
7; Declaration Dignitatis humanae, 1; John Paul II, Encyclical Letter
Redemptoris missio, 10; Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith, Declaration Dominus Iesus, 20-22; Catechism of the
Catholic Church, 845. |
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[15][15]
John Paul II,
Encyclical Letter Redemptoris missio, 29. |
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[16][16]
Cf. Second Vatican
Council, Dogmatic Constitution Lumen gentium, 16;
Declaration Nostra aetate, 2; Decree Ad gentes,
9; Paul VI, Apostolic
Exhortation Evangelii nuntiandi, 53: AAS 68 (1976), 5-76;
John Paul II, Encyclical
Letter Redemptoris missio, 55; Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith, Declaration Dominus Iesus, 8. |
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[17][17]
Cf. Council of
Trent, Decree De libris sacris et de traditionibus
recipiendis: DS 1501; First
Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution Dei Filius, 2: DS
3006; Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith, Declaration Dominus Iesus, 8.
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