A History of Christian Doctrine #3 - Online Christian Library

A History of Christian Doctrine
prompts them to pursue this end. Mother Church
never ceases to pray, hope and work that this may
come about.
Before this time, it was considered a sin for Catholics
to visit a Protestant church, but now the church offered
dialogue and even fellowship. Moreover, it said that people
of other religions could also be saved, specifically
mentioning Jews, Muslims, and others: 256
Whosoever, . . . knowing that the Catholic Church
was made necessary by Christ, would refuse to enter
or to remain in it, could not be saved.
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. 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.
3. Enhancement of the bishops’ role. Ever since
Vatican I proclaimed papal infallibility in 1870, the pope
was practically the only source of doctrinal teaching, but
to a limited extent Vatican II revived the influence of the
bishops. The pope remained the undisputed ruler, but
with the pope’s consent, the council made important decisions
for the future of the church.
4. New emphasis on the Bible. Vatican II continued
to maintain that Scripture and church tradition are equal
232