More than 500 years ago, Catholics thought that only they were eligible for Heaven. Can you believe it?
You'd better believe it!
“The most Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes, and preaches that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics, can have a share in life eternal; but that they will go into the eternal fire ‘which was prepared for the devil and his angels,’ unless before death they are joined to Her…” (Eugene IV - Council of Florence – 1441)
The Church still teaches that there is no salvation outside the Church.
Those who are invincibly ignorant, meaning those who have never been taught the truths of the Catholic Church will be judged by Almighty God on their observance of His Natural Law.
This is what the Church taught 500 years ago, and this is what She continues to teach to this day and forever.
Ut Prosim.
Of course, the Church can never change this teaching. But it is not believed today. How else can we explain Cardinal Kasper's opposition to Anglicans converting to the Faith?
Yes, ignorant souls who never received the Faith will not be punished for infidelity. Their sufferings in Hell will be incomparable to the torments of apostate Catholics.
According to the London Times and Cardinal Kasper, Pope Benedict will rehabilitate Martin Luther next fall. Ha! I can't imagine that happening.
From the article:
Cardinal Kasper said: “We have much to learn from Luther, beginning with the importance he attached to the word of God.” It was time for a “more positive” view of Luther, whose reforms had aroused papal ire at the time but could now be seen as having “anticipated aspects of reform which the Church has adopted over time”.
Did you catch that? It's more philosophical pluralism. If we just think differently than St. Thomas, even Luther becomes a prophet!