Is Feeneyism Catholic? - Society of St. Pius X

T HE TEACHING OF THE CHURCH 45
part: indeed “charity is not puffed up” (I Cor. 13:4), it is obedient
to the Law of Christ (Jn 14:21), this disposition of humility and
obedience to the order set by Christ includes virtually the submission
to the Roman Pontiff.
EUGENE IV AND THE COUNCIL OF FLORENCE
Perhaps the clearest definition of the dogma Outside the
Church there is no salvation is given on February 4, 1442, by the
Council of Florence, which intended the union with the Greeks,
Armenians and Jacobites.
[The holy Roman Church] firmly believes, professes, and
preaches that “no one remaining outside the Catholic Church,
not just pagans, but also Jews or heretics or schismatics, can become
partakers of eternal life; but they will go to the ‘everlasting
fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels’ (Mt. 25:41),
unless before the end of life they are joined to the Church. For
union with the body of the Church is of such importance that
the sacraments of the Church are helpful to salvation only for
those remaining in it; and fasts, almsgiving, other works of piety,
and the exercise of Christian warfare bear eternal rewards for
them alone. And no one can be saved, no matter how much alms
he has given, even if he sheds his blood for the name of Christ,
unless he remains in the bosom and the unity of the Catholic
Church.” 60
Some followers of Fr. Feeney, reading the last sentence, pretend
that it is a condemnation of Baptism of Blood. 61 This only
shows their ignorance of the fact that this whole paragraph is a
quote by the Council of Florence of a passage of St. Fulgentius, in
his book On Faith, to Peter. 62 Now, when a Pope or a Council
quote a Father of the Church, they certainly do not give another
meaning to his words than this Father gave. Now, just a few pages
before, the same St. Fulgentius in that same book said:
Hold most firmly, and have absolutely no doubt, that, apart
from those who are baptized in their blood for the name of
Christ, no man shall receive eternal life, who has not been converted
here below from his evils by penance and has not been
freed by the sacrament of faith and penance, i.e., by Baptism. 63
60 Dz. 714.