Sir, - With regard to J. N. Tansey's statement (September 2nd), that Vatican II stated that all men of good will, including atheists, can attain everlasting salvation, may I remind him that Vatican II was not a dogmatic council. It was a pastoral council, nothing more.
Pope Paul VI, after the council, asserted that nothing emanated from it on its own authority having the mark of infallibility. This does not mean that infallible truths were not uttered when echoing what the church has always taught as binding on all, such as: "Basing itself on Holy Scripture and tradition, this sacred council teaches that the church now sojourning on earth as an exile is necessary for salvation. In explicit terms Christ affirmed the necessity of the church; for through Baptism as through a door, men enter the church. Christ present in His body, which is the church, is the sole mediator and exclusive way of salvation".
So, in early centuries, the Middle Ages to the present time when the faith of the church is expressed, it is always the same identical faith. It cannot be otherwise. - Yours, etc., Arthur McDermott,
Belgrove Lawn, Chapelizod, Dublin 20.