http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/for-discussion-has-the-roman-catholic-church-changed-its-view-on-the-salvation-of-atheists-and-other-religions
It seems to have ended.
Here's my take on salvation outside the Church:
There's a Jew who knows the rules and loves Jewishness and
is status as a rabbi, scribe, Pharisee, Sadducee, etc. Whatever he is,
he's smarter and more Jewish than members of those other groups,
and God must love him more. He hates Romans, Samaritans, and
so-called Jews who aren't as observant as he is. Along comes Jesus
who says, "I am" and people are following him. Next thing you know,
the mobs will be worshiping him. He even said something about
destroying the Temple. Gotta get rid of this guy.
Then there's the God-loving Jew who prays and keeps the tenets
of the law, or at least tries. He hears this preacher named Jesus,
and his teaching is fascinating. But he says "I am". How dare he!
That is an offense against God. He deserves to be stoned, but he'll
be gone in a day or so. Too bad, he was so right about everything.
He had such concern for everybody, and he supposedly healed a
blind man. Well, at the very least he exposed a con-artist bum.
He couldn't have known him because this guy was from Galilee
and that bum had been at that spot for months. That story about
the two sons and the father was good though, and I'm going to tell
it to my kids.
The first Jew didn't want to believe; the second did but in good
conscience couldn't. The first was proud, the second humble.
Before or shortly after death, one, or even both are somehow
afforded the opportunity to accept Jesus. The first is less
likely to admit he was wrong, the second more likely
to admit he was wrong, accept Jesus, and thank Him with
deepest gratitude.
Salvation would still come from Jesus, not works.