I have been reading this thread for about one half hour. I have not yet seen one answer that points at what Jesus came to do. He came that we might have life; He came to save all men from eternal death, and not just some, but all, who would believe in Him, what He said, or in the One who sent Him. He died on that cross for all. In His rising we who believe will rise with him.
While many of the writings you have brought up are fine writings from the Catholic church of old, not one person has mentioned the current Pope and the eccumenicalizm he is stressing.
Has anyone out there read Pope Benedict’s encyclical concerning the Word of God, and all christian demominations? It is a real eye-opener for Catholics and other christians! It is a “must read”.
Going back in history to find where we came from is fine, and to help us understand what the popes at that time needed to stress for the people of that time. At this time the christian churches need to pull together for the sake of the one true universal church, which is the church Jesus established, and against which the gates of hell shall not prevail. Jesus broke those gates open when he descended into hell, then ascended back to the Father bringing those who would believe with him. Before then, there was no way for men to return to the Father.
The catechism is a wonderful guide for understanding the Catholic dogma in depth, but it is not the sole universal way to salvation; Jesus is! The word catholic (small “c”) meant and means the universal christian church which can vary from place to place with its rites and rituals.
I consider myself a christian evangelical catholic.