How do you account for Proposition 17 in the Syllabus of Errors published by Pope Pius IX.?
In Proposition 17, Pope Pius IX. condemned this doctrine: “At least there is a well-founded hope for the salvation of all those who have never belonged to the true Church.” By condemning that proposition the Pope says that there is not a well-founded hope for the salvation of all those who have never been Catholics. But that does not mean that all non-Catholics are necessarily lost, and that none can be saved. The statement condemned by the Pope practically said, “Anyway, there is no real obligation to join the Catholic Church. One can be saved without that.” The Pope replies, “That won’t do. We cannot hold out hope of salvation to all who have refused to join the Catholic Church. If a man has never realized the obligation, God may overlook his mistake, and grant him salvation. But if a man has realized the obligation, and willfully refuses to join the Catholic Church, there is certainly no well-founded hope for the salvation of that man.” 493. That is merely your interpretation of the
