While the Church declares Saints, it has never declared
Anti-saints. We are not even certain whether Judas or Hitler are in
Hell. But naturally, the normative means of being saved, is it to
have total faith i catholicism. A Protestant who rejects the
Catholic Faith may not have the fullness of salvation. More so if
he is willing heretic.
Pope Benedict XV (A.D. 1914 - 1922): "Such is the nature of
the Catholic faith that it does not admit of more or less, but must
be held as a whole, or as a whole rejected: This is the Catholic
faith, which unless a man believe faithfully and firmly, he cannot
be saved." (Encyclical, Ad Beatissimi Apostolorum
But doesn't some of the past counciliar and papal statements
seemingly contradict V2 statement? Can anyone enlighten me?
Pope Boniface VIII in his Papal Bull Unam Sanctam (A.D. 1302):
"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 Eugene IV and the Council of Florence (A.D. 1438 - 1445):
"[The most Holy Roman Church] firmly believes, professes, and
proclaims that those not living within the Catholic Church, not
only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics cannot
become participants in eternal life, but will depart `into
everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels'
(Matt. 25:41), unless before the end of life the same have been
added to the flock; and that the unity of the ecclesiastical body
is so strong that only to those remaining in it are the sacraments
of the Church of benefit for salvation, and do fastings,
almsgiving, and other functions of piety and exercises of Christian
service produce eternal reward, and that no one, whatever
almsgiving he has practiced, even if he has shed blood for the name
of Christ, can be saved, unless he has remained in the bosom and
unity of the Catholic Church."