[HarleyD]

Factors such as obedience to natural law in invincible ignorance of the teaching of the Church offer a hope of salvation to non-Christians.

There is no hope for those outside Christ.

Rom 1:20 For the unseen things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being realized by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, for them to be without excuse.

Rom 1:21 Because, knowing God, they did not glorify Him as God, neither were thankful. But they became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

People know God. They simply don't wish to acknowledge Him. They're minds are darkened. God must give them a new heart and a new mind to walk in His way. Those who are outside of Christ are lost (and it's difficult to believe there is someone still left who has not heard of Christ). It is nice to teach that non-believers can believe what they want and still get to heaven but that was not the belief of the early church.

[aruanan]

God must give them a new heart and a new mind to walk in His way.

And in conformity to God's explicit will, it's open to everyone (even to those who, in the millennia before Jesus was born, had never heard of Jesus): "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

[kosta50]

There is no hope for those outside Christ. Rom 1:20-21

Your verses are completely off the mark, HD. They do not show that there is no hope outside of Christ.

God must give them a new heart and a new mind to walk in His wa

Christ says that He will heal our hearts, not give us new ones. He came to restore, not to re-create. You need to read the New Testament if you consider yourself a Christian. Is Ezekiel right and Christ is wrong?

It is nice to teach that non-believers can believe what they want and still get to heaven but that was not the belief of the early church

Then the early Church did not believe that with God everything is possible. I doubt that. Invincible ignorance is not a sin.

[annalex]

In 5253 I outlined the concept of possibility of salvation of the unbaptized very briefly simply in order to point out that original sin and the position of the unbaptized are not catholic doctrines in a contradiction, as Harley seemed to imply.

Indeed any salvation is not only through the mercy of Christ, but also through communion with the Catholic Church, outside of which there is no salvation for anyone. Anyone who is saved, dies Orthodox Catholic.

You are correct, Harley, that once Christ is not merely not known but knowingly rejected, then the hope vanishes altogether.