With such a variety of modern Catholic expression, many people might assume that the doctrines of Rome itself have changed since Vatican II (1962-1965). While it is true the Church has undergone significant alterations, major, permanent doctrinal change is not one of them. This is conceded by both knowledgeable Catholics and non-Catholics. For example, Catholic apologist Karl Keating confesses, "The Catholic Church did not change any of its doctrines at Trent and it did not change any at Vatican II" and "...there has been no alteration at all in basic doctrine...The Catholic Church is still the sole true Church..." An Evangelical Council on Catholicism likewise concluded, ..."there are many indications that Rome is fundamentally the same as it has always been." In 1964 no less an authority than Pope Paul VI affirmed that "nothing really changes in the traditional doctrine." Another commentator noted, "Roman Catholicism does not change. At heart, it is the same as it ever was." Nevertheless, Rome is still not entirely what it used to be. Vatican II did institute many nondoctrinal (e.g., ecclesiastical) changes as well as significant alterations in the interpretation of traditional doctrine. These new interpretations have such elasticity that they have the practical effect of permitting fundamental doctrinal changes for those who wish it. As Protestant theologian Millard J. Erickson observes in his Christian Theology,

[Examining Catholic theology] is difficult because, whereas at one time there was a uniform, official position within Roman Catholicism on most issues, now there appears to be only great diversity. Official doctrinal standards still remain, but they are now supplemented, and in some cases, are seemingly contradicted, by later statements. Among these later statements are the conclusions of the Second Vatican Council and the published opinion of individual Catholic scholars.
 

    However, in spite of changes made at Vatican II (1962-1965), it is clear that the historic doctrines of Rome, which are handed down from its centralized teaching authority, basically remain the same. One area of concern to Protestants is the doctrine of salvation. We will introduce this subject with a discussion of the Catholic sacraments.
 

John Ankerberg & John Weldon