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Review of "Responses to some questions" - Is the Church of Christ 'present and operative' outside of its bounds?

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JMJ

I recently read a paper by Dr. Malloy, that referenced the 'Responses to Some Questions'(RSQ), that appears itself to be a follow-up to Dominus Iesus.

I disagreed with a number of elements. One of which was a reference to RSQ #2.
SECOND QUESTIONWhat is the meaning of the affirmation that the Church of Christ subsists in the Catholic Church?
RESPONSEChrist “established here on earth” only one Church and instituted it as a “visible and spiritual community”[5], that from its beginning and throughout the centuries has always existed and will always exist, and in which alone are found all the elements that Christ himself instituted.[6] “This one Church of Christ, which we confess in the Creed as one, holy, catholic and apostolic […]. This Church, constituted and organised in this world as a society, subsists in the Catholic Church, governed by the successor of Peter and the Bishops in communion with him”.[7]In number 8 of the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen gentium ‘subsistence’ means this perduring, historical continuity and the permanence of all the elements instituted by Christ in the Catholic Church[8], in which the Church of Christ is concretely found on this earth.
It is possible, according to Catholic doctrine, to affirm correctly that the Church of Christ is present and operative in the churches and ecclesial Communities not yet fully in communion with the Catholic Church, on account of the elements of sanctification and truth that are present in them.[9] Nevertheless, the word “subsists” can only be attributed to the Catholic Church alone precisely because it refers to the mark of unity that we profess in the symbols of the faith (I believe... in the “one” Church); and this “one” Church subsists in the Catholic Church.[10]
One difficulty that I have is found in the existence of a circular reference. [Correction: It isn't really a circular reference, but a reference that attempts to prove that the Second Vatican Council is ok, by referring to the Second Vatican Council] The RSQ#2 references Ut Unum Sint, which itself references the Second Vatican Council.  This simply reaffirms that the 'subsist' is nothing more than a conciliar novelty that stands in contradiction to:

  • Mystici Corporis:  "If we would define and describe this true Church of Jesus Christ - which is the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic and Roman Church"
  • Humani Generis: "Some say they are not bound by the doctrine, explained in Our Encyclical Letter of a few years ago, and based on the Sources of Revelation, which teaches that the Mystical Body of Christ and the Roman Catholic Church are one and the same thing."

The Church of Christ is comprised of those who participate in Unity of Government, Unity of Faith and Unity of Worship.  Those who are not in the three fold unity and have reached the age of reason, even if in Invincible ignorance, are not counted as 'actual members'.

None of the heretics / schismatics, by definition, fulfill this requirement.  Hence the Dogma: Outside the Church there is no salvation - as reaffirmed by the Second Vatican Council.


THIRD QUESTIONWhy was the expression “subsists in” adopted instead of the simple word “is”?
RESPONSEThe use of this expression, which indicates the full identity of the Church of Christ with the Catholic Church, does not change the doctrine on the Church. Rather, it comes from and brings out more clearly the fact that there are “numerous elements of sanctification and of truth” which are found outside her structure, but which “as gifts properly belonging to the Church of Christ, impel towards Catholic Unity”.[11]“It follows that these separated churches and Communities, though we believe they suffer from defects, are deprived neither of significance nor importance in the mystery of salvation. In fact the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as instruments of salvation, whose value derives from that fullness of grace and of truth which has been entrusted to the Catholic Church”[12].
Here we have something very similar, the assertion that a branch separated from the Tree can carry the life of Grace.

In the 'old days' heresy and schism separated a person from the Church.  Material heretics (baptized non-Catholics) who have reached the age of reason included.

Plain and simple?

If there is no Salvation outside the Church, then ... how does this jive?  Are they actually members of the Church without fulfilling the requirements?

In my opinion the 'responses' raises more questions than it answers.

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