herkman-

There are really 2 main Magesterial documents concerning the idea of non-Catholics attaining salvation – one being a Bull written by Pope Boniface 8th by the name of “Unum Sanctum” in 1302 – and the other being the Vatican 2 council document Dogmatic Constitution On The Church (Lumen Gentium). Boniface says in Unum Sanctum:

[quote:4z6pfzk8]”That there is only One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church we are compelled by faith to believe and hold, and we firmly believe in her and sincerely confess her, outside of whom there is neither salvation nor remission of sins…..Furthermore we declare, state and define that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of all human beings that they submit to the Roman Pontiff.”[/quote:4z6pfzk8]

Lumen Gentium (section 16) reads:

[quote:4z6pfzk8]”Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience — those too may achieve eternal salvation.”[/quote:4z6pfzk8]

While the earlier statement by Boniface defines the doctrine, Vatican 2 clarified and more fully explained it’s application in the life of the Church. You can read Unum Sanctum in full here:

[url:4z6pfzk8]http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Bon08/B8unam.htm[/url:4z6pfzk8]

You can also find Vatican 2’s Lumen Gentium here:

[url:4z6pfzk8]http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html[/url:4z6pfzk8]

As far as eternal security goes, I’m assuming you mean the assurance of salvation – ‘knowing’ that you are saved and are going to heaven. As far as that goes, no, Catholics do not believe in assurance of salvation. We believe, as Scripture says that “[i:4z6pfzk8]He who endures to the end will be saved[/i:4z6pfzk8]”(Matt 24:13). We have to stand fast in our faith and constantly strive for goodness – Paul notes this well in Romans 11:21-22: [i:4z6pfzk8]For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off.[/i:4z6pfzk8]