Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus ("There is no salvation outside the Church.") St. Cyprian of Carthage. Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it. 846 CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, SECOND EDITION. A lot of people misunderstand the RC Church's view on salvation. The Church has always been tolerant of other faiths. And it is becoming more and more tolerant as time passes. But no one can "knowingly" reject the Church and expect to save their soul. Pope Francis has not changed this doctrine, just like he has not changed the Church's policy on the ordination of women. Probably because he thinks it is unimportant. Most people aren't even aware of it. Most Catholics aren't even. It means a couple of things. But what it really means is that you are familiar with the above statement by the Church. That to "knowingly"... Wait a minute. I wasn't supposed to tell you! Oh, my goodness. I am so sorry. You weren't supposed to know. Now you're all going to hell unless you join the RC Church. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Listen. Just forget what I said. In fact forget I ever said it. Sorry again.
