Is Feeneyism Catholic? - Society of St. Pius X

A NSWER TO OBJECTIONS 109
salvation.” He thought baptism of desire to be such a loophole, 162
and this is why he rejected it. But it is not so!
The objection presents baptism of desire as if it were an alternative
for baptism of water, so that one would be allowed to
choose between one or the other. But it is not so: baptism of desire
can only be had by those who have chosen and desire with all their
heart to receive baptism of water! Baptism of desire is not an option
we can choose. Baptism of water is the only means that God
has put in our power to receive justification. It is only in the power
of God to give justification to some who have not yet received
baptism of water.
Another way for the objection to present itself: the Church
teaches that baptism of water is of necessity of means to be saved.
Therefore one cannot be saved without it. The answer is simple:
Baptism of water is of necessity of means to receive justification;
therefore someone who has not yet received the grace of justification
absolutely needs baptism of water. If God, who is not limited
in His means, has already given this grace to someone before the
reception of water, then baptism of water is no longer of necessity
of means for that person (he has already received the ultimate
fruit of baptism, which is the grace of a new spiritual birth), yet it
is of necessity of precept. So either one absolutely needs or one is
grievously bound to receive baptism of water: there is no loophole
for man! If there is a loophole, it is for God, not for man!
161 St. Augustine boldly says: Outside the Church, man can have the
sacraments, but not salvation: “A man cannot have salvation, except in the
Catholic Church. Outside the Catholic Church he can have everything
except salvation. He can have honor, he can have sacraments, he can sing
alleluia, he can answer amen, he can possess the gospel, he can have and
preach faith in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Ghost; but never except in the Catholic Church will he be able to find
salvation... He can even shed his blood [outside the Church], but not have
the crown!” (Sermon to the people of the Church at Caesarea in
Mauretania, No.6, R.J.,1858, BAC, 507, p.595).
162 Bro. Robert Mary, op. cit. p.224: “If desire for Baptism is accepted as a
substitute for the sacrament, the floodgates are opened, and the Dogma of
Faith is completely washed away. The institution of the Church becomes
meaningless!” One wonders, if this were true, how has it been possible that
the Church has held baptism of desire for so many centuries, without
having become meaningless!