Note on Evangelism from "The Inquisition"

The Roman Catholic Church's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, formerly known as The Inquisition during its heyday of stamping out heretics, has issued a "Doctrinal Note on Some Aspects of Evangelism." Under the leadership of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, the Congregation became a reliable source for sound teaching which is beneficial to Catholics and non-Catholics, alike. From this excerpt (praised first by Robert T. Miller at First Things), it is clear that Ratzinger's legacy is alive and well.

Although non-Christians can be saved through the grace which God bestows in “ways known to him”, the Church cannot fail to recognize that such persons are lacking a tremendous benefit in this world: to know the true face of God and the friendship of Jesus Christ, God-with-us. . . . The revelation of the fundamental truths about God, about the human person and the world, is a great good for every human person, while living in darkness without the truths about ultimate questions is an evil and is often at the root of suffering and slavery which can at times be grievous. This is why Saint Paul does not hesitate to describe conversion to the Christian faith as liberation “from the power of darkness.” . . . It is an inestimable benefit to live within the universal embrace of the friends of God which flows from communion in the life-giving flesh of his Son, to receive from him the certainty of forgiveness of sins and to live in the love that is born of faith. The Church wants everyone to share in these goods so that they may possess the fullness of truth and the fullness of the means of salvation, in order “to enter into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”