Heretical “traditional” Bishop Oravec

One of us conversed with Bishop Oravec in the past, and the issue of salvation was specifically discussed.  He believes that souls can be saved in other religions.  That is a fact.  He is not a Catholic, but a complete heretic.  He couldn’t see how the damnation of all non-Catholics was compatible with the mercy of God.  He is a false shepherd who has no Faith; and since he is an imposing heretic who is binding his false teaching on you, you should absolutely not receive the sacraments from him at all.  Regarding your children, yes you should use your authority in the house to forbid them from going to the Novus Ordo.  If your wife will attend the Novus Ordo when nothing else is available, then she is a not a true Catholic and doesn’t care about the Faith at all.  She just goes to whatever is convenient.  You should not pray with her until she becomes a true Catholic. Regarding baptism of desire, the Church’s teaching on the absolute necessity of water baptism based on an absolute understanding of John 3:5 is clear. 

Pope Paul III, The Council of Trent, Sess. 7, Can. 5 on the Sacrament of Baptism, ex cathedra: “If anyone says that baptism [the Sacrament] is optional, that is, not necessary for salvation (cf. Jn. 3:5): let him be anathema.”

God bound men to salvation through water baptism; if He saved in another fashion, which He doesn’t, then He wouldn’t have revealed the truth on the necessity of Baptism to the Church.  You should read our book, if you have not, for a detailed discussion of all of these objections that people bring up. But it’s interesting that we see again, as is almost always the case, that it’s not just about the wrong teaching of explicit baptism of desire (as was held by certain Saints) for this Bishop Oravec; there is much more at stake for him because he holds that souls can be saved in other religions. That is why people love, and are so intent on defending, the man-made teaching of baptism of desire.