On Seeing Truths in Other Religions

Eldad and Medad were the two men who were not in the tent with the seventy elders who received the gift of prophecy when the Spirit came upon them in a gathering with Moses. Yet, they were also prophesying. Joshua immediately reported this issue to Moses and asked him to stop them. Moses responded, saying, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets! Would that the LORD might bestow His Spirit on them all!”

This event, found in this Sunday’s First Reading (Numbers 11:25-29), brings to mind the criticism some Catholics directed towards Pope Francis during his recent trip to Indonesia. During this visit, he met with Islamic leaders and other non-Christian leaders, preaching that different religions are paths to the same God. Fr. Ranhilio Callangan Aquino, a Filipino theologian, wrote in his column for the Manila Bulletin that these typical detractors of the Pope  reacted hysterically and accused him of committing heresy.

“He (the Pope) is right, however, and what he said during his recently concluded apostolic journey is nothing new. In fact, it should be familiar to all who have studied the documents of Vatican II—which, in addition to the clergy, includes the Catholic faithful,” Fr. Aquino wrote. He then quoted The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium), No. 8, noting: “This Church (the unique Church of Jesus Christ), constituted and organized in the world as a society, subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the bishops in union with that successor, although many elements of sanctification and of truth can be found outside of her visible structure.” Through this Vatican II teaching, Fr. Aquino reiterates that elements of the true Church can be found in other ecclesial communions and even in other faiths. What the Council is declaring is that while the fullness of Jesus’ Church is found within the Catholic Church, this does not exclude other ecclesial communities from being paths to sanctification and truth.

Additionally, Fr. Aquino wrote, “In the constitution, we read the following: ‘Those also can attain everlasting salvation who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, yet sincerely seek God and, moved by grace, strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience.’”

I hope that Fr. Aquino’s defense of the Holy Father’s remarks on “paths to the same God” provides clarity regarding the Catholic Church’s teachings on salvation outside of the Catholic Church. It encourages open-mindedness, enables us to recognize truths in other religions, and inspires us to relate harmoniously and peacefully with those of different faiths. As Fr. Aquino quoted from The Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions (Nostra Aetate): “The Catholic Church rejects nothing which is true and holy in these religions. She looks with sincere respect upon those ways of conduct and life, those rules and teachings which, although differing in many particulars from what she holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of Truth that enlightens all people.”

Let us take this message to heart. Together, we can foster a spirit of dialogue, understanding, and compassion towards our neighbors of all faiths, thereby embodying the essence of our call as Christians to love and serve one another.

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The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

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Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.