Is Feeneyism Catholic? - Society of St. Pius X

42 IS F EENEYISM C ATHOLIC?
In conclusion, let us not introduce a private interpretation of
the Holy Scripture in opposition to that of the Fathers, but rather
“hold fast to the doctrine of the Fathers,” 56 Doctors, and popes.
The Authority of Popes and Councils
The followers of Fr. Feeney often quote three infallible 57 pronouncements
of popes, viz., Innocent III in the Fourth Lateran
Council, Boniface VIII in Unam Sanctam, and Eugene IV in the
Council of Florence. However, they misinterpret these definitions,
by disregarding the teaching of the very same popes, sometimes
within the very same council! And they disregard the teaching
of other popes and councils. The root of their error is to think
that baptism of blood and baptism of desire are incompatible
with the dogma Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus. In no way does this
dogma exclude baptism of blood and baptism of desire, as we
shall see.
INNOCENT III AND THE FOURTH LATERAN COUNCIL
In 1215, this pope convoked this council against the Albigenses,
etc., and imposed on them a profession of faith which contains:
“I believe firmly and profess simply that... there is one universal
Church of the faithful, outside of which absolutely no one
is saved...” (Dz. 430). Clearly he does not speak of baptism, but of
belonging to the Church. The very same pope, a few years earlier,
twice explicitly taught baptism of desire and approved the teaching
of St. Augustine and St. Ambrose! Hence, one ought to conclude
that this teaching is not opposed to the dogma.
Moreover, St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Bonaventure, two
great doctors of the Church, were teaching explicitly the doctrine
of baptism of blood and baptism of desire just a few years after
this council; had this council meant a condemnation of this doctrine,
they would certainly have been reproached for it by their
adversaries, which was not the case. And they would never have
been declared Doctors of the Church had they taught a doctrine
56 Dz. 388, Pope Innocent III.
57 It is not here the place to discuss whether they are infallible in virtue of the
extra-ordinary magisterium, or in virtue of the ordinary magisterium. Let it
be sufficient to agree that they are infallible.