Father Torraco, I was reading Romans today and came across a quote that makes me question invincible ignorance. Romans 2:12 states that, "All who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law." How do we reconcile the notion of invincible ignorace with this passage and the immediate few that follow? Thank you for your help in understanding this.

St. Paul's point is that, even though the Gentiles did not receive the Law (the Decalogue), they have that law written in their hearts. So there is no invincible ignorance here. But that is really beside St. Paul's main point, which is: whether you are a Jew, who did receive the Decalogue, or a Gentile, all fall short of the Law because of the original sin. The Law cannot save you in any shape or form, St. Paul is saying.

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