The Catholic Dogma: Outside the Church there is no Salvation

“To us there is something shocking in the supposition that the dogma, Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus, is only generally true and therefore not a Catholic dogma. All Catholic dogmas, if Catholic, are not only generally, but universally true, and admit no exception or restriction whatever.” - Orestes Brownson,  Brownson’s Quarterly Review. “Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus”. April, 1874.

The language used by the Church in her dogmatic definitions affirms that Outside the Church there is no Salvation is a Catholic dogma in the sense that it is universally true:

“There is one universal Church of the faithful, outside of which no one at all is saved.” (Fourth Lateran Council. Pope Innocent III, 1215)

“We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff.” (Pope Boniface VIII, Unam Sanctam, 1302)

“Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic faith.” (Athanasian Creed)