[Alex Murphy]

Our disagreement with Calvinism is that we believe that Christ redeemed all sin and wished the salvation of all; yet not all respond to the call. Thus both “for all” and “for many” is a true statement, deppending on the intended and unsaid here, context. The rise of calvinist thinking, I suspect, drove the desire to avoid the false conclusion that the Church teches limited atonement, drawn from the Epiclesis.

IMO it's at that singular point that I believe the discussion should start. Ping to some friends for help with explaining Limited Atonement...

[HarleyD]

I will say that of all the doctrines of the Reformers, this one seems to be the most controversial yet for me it was the easiest to grasp. In my mind all Christians believe in limited atonement simply because all are not saved no matter how you look at atonement. But in keeping with annalex above request, we’ll save the discussion of limited atonement for another time.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

The RCC actually believes in Limited Atonement although its modern defenders shrink from the concept because they've been bewitched by the false lure of squishy ecumenicism, too.

The RCC believes there is no salvation outside the Roman Catholic Church.

Calvinists (like most Protestants) believe there is no salvation outside of God's merciful gift of grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Same result; different criteria. Magisterium-ordained salvation; God-ordained salvation.

Like you, Alex, I recognized the absolute truth of Limited Atonement in an instant by a single sentence. It was so powerful in its clarity and obvious truth I couldn't deny it --

If God wanted all men to be saved, all men would be saved.

He's God. He gets what He wants. He lacks for nothing.