Fr. Wathen:
Of course, we do pray for those who have died outside the Church, in the hope that God granted them the Faith and Baptism. This is no proof at all for the existence of "baptism of desire." It will be observed, however, that the Church does not allow us to give these individuals a Catholic funeral, nor may we offer Masses for them as being among the "faithful departed," even if they were catechumens. We are instructed not to publish the names of deceased non-Catholics, but to offer the Masses requested for them to fulfill the "will of the
donor(s)."