Summorum Pontificum

Today I learned of Summorum Pontificum from a co-worker. He said, “the Pope says non-Catholics are going to hell.” I’ve found a blog where someone has had the foresight to translate this letter into English. The Vatican still has only the Latin available. I have three years of Latin thanks to a good Franciscan and public education, but I’m very rusty at any translation. Therefore I recommend the following site which has a reasonable translation. Follow this link for the pastoral letter. I didn’t find anything in this letter that reverses the spirit of Lumen Gentium. I’ve also found the part of Lumen Gentium that refers to other Christians and I find nothing in the Pope’s most recent letter that refutes any of the following therefore I am concluding that my friend’s sources were uninformed. The Pope has condemned no one.

The Church recognizes that in many ways she is linked with those who, being baptized, are honored with the name of Christian, though they do not profess the faith in its entirety or do not preserve unity of communion with the successor of Peter. (14*) For there are many who honor Sacred Scripture, taking it as a norm of belief and a pattern of life, and who show a sincere zeal. They lovingly believe in God the Father Almighty and in Christ, the Son of God and Saviour. (15*) They are consecrated by baptism, in which they are united with Christ. They also recognize and accept other sacraments within their own Churches or ecclesiastical communities. Many of them rejoice in the episcopate, celebrate the Holy Eucharist and cultivate devotion toward the Virgin Mother of God.–Lumen Gentium