17 JANUARY 2004, Page 30

Let no one go to Hell

From Audrey Parry Sir: Antony Flew (Letters, 10 January) quotes Aquinas in showing us the hard-heartedness of Catholic theologians who 'have not pity for the damned'. Aquinas was following the views of Augustine, who thought that pity for the damned was a slur on the judgment of God, who had ordained their fate, and since God was perfection such pity would be illogical. But there have been other Catholic saints who have held that if only one soul were in Hell they themselves would find no joy in Paradise. Indeed some thought that Satan himself would ultimately be redeemed.

Audrey Party

Surbiton. Surrey