It is not easy for Christians to hear the Holy Father, Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome exhorting missionaries in Morocco to abandon their activities to convert Muslims to the Christian faith. His statement can be found here.
All what we can do is to pray for him who, with his predecessors since St. Peter, is required to tend the sheep of the Shepherd of our souls Jesus Christ our Lord. St. Peter, and so too his successors the Bishops of Rome, received the promise of our Lord "You are rock and on this rock I shall build my Church" (Matthew 16:18)...It is the Pope's mission to lead the Church in the good times as in the dark times. If he fails, then we must pray for him and with him. I must therefore remind everyone of the important development of doctrine in the Church as follows:
Following the insights of Blessed John Henry Newman (expected to be canonized this year), there is a development in the doctrine of the Church that remains essentially the same as Christ's commandments to the Apostles and particularly to St. Peter and his successors...In my following opinion, I stand to be corrected by theologians familiar with the history of the Church.
I believe that Pope Francis is implementing the directives of the Ecumenical Second Vatican Council but probably to a liberal stance more than ever thought before in the Catholic Church in stepping closer to Muslims. Note in the Council's Constitution "Lumen Gentium" the following important point:
Wherefore to promote the glory of God and procure the salvation of all of these, and mindful of the command of the Lord, "Preach the Gospel to every creature",(130) the Church fosters the missions with care and attention.
Simple Muslims that do not know Christ can attain eternal joy with God if, by the grace of God made possible through Jesus Christ, they follow the dictates of their conscience. This is traditionally called Baptism by desire.
In 1949 the Holy See excommunicated the American Jesuit priest Fr. Leonard Finney since he denied the possibility of salvation for non-Catholics (no salvation outside the Church). In fact, Pope Blessed Pius IX in the 19th century had justified the possibility of salvation of those who did not hear the Gospel. See this little article in "Catholic Culture":
The Second Vatican Council
In a section related to non-Christians, the Council Fathers state:
16. Finally, those who have not yet received the Gospel are related in various ways to the people of God.(18*) In the first place we must recall the people to whom the testament and the promises were given and from whom Christ was born according to the flesh.(125) On account of their fathers this people remains most dear to God, for God does not repent of the gifts He makes nor of the calls He issues.(126) But the plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator. In the first place amongst these there are the Muslims, who, professing to hold the faith of Abraham, along with us adore the one and merciful God, who on the last day will judge mankind. Nor is God far distant from those who in shadows and images seek the unknown God, for it is He who gives to all men life and breath and all things,(127) and as Saviour wills that all men be saved.(128) Those also can attain to 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.(19*) Nor does Divine Providence deny the helps necessary for salvation to those who, without blame on their part, have not yet arrived at an explicit knowledge of God and with His grace strive to live a good life. Whatever good or truth is found amongst them is looked upon by the Church as a preparation for the Gospel.(20*) She knows that it is given by Him who enlightens all men so that they may finally have life. But often men, deceived by the Evil One, have become vain in their reasonings and have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, serving the creature rather than the Creator.(129) Or some there are who, living and dying in this world without God, are exposed to final despair. Wherefore to promote the glory of God and procure the salvation of all of these, and mindful of the command of the Lord, "Preach the Gospel to every creature",(130) the Church fosters the missions with care and attention.
In 2000, The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published "Dominus Iesus" approved by Pope Saint John Paul II. In it, the faithful are reminded that salvation is possible only through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Of particular relevance is this paragraph:
Nevertheless, God, who desires to call all peoples to himself in Christ and to communicate to them the fullness of his revelation and love, “does not fail to make himself present in many ways, not only to individuals, but also to entire peoples through their spiritual riches, of which their religions are the main and essential expression even when they contain ‘gaps, insufficiencies and errors'”.27 Therefore, the sacred books of other religions, which in actual fact direct and nourish the existence of their followers, receive from the mystery of Christ the elements of goodness and grace which they contain.
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The above including daring steps by Pope Francis could be, in my opinion, part of the development identified by John Henry Newman after he studied carefully the Fathers of the Church.
We must not despair nor attack the Holy Father but only do what we can to ensure that he is within the mandate of the Successors of St. Peter and continues to follow the Tradition and Scripture as interpreted by the successive generations of Church Councils and Doctors of the Church.
The Church must continue to use every good means to bring to the fold those who are outside her visible boundaries and oppose the oppression of Islamism and Terrorism so that at least they could receive the Sacraments that nourish us in the mystical Body of Christ for eternal life.
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