I don't know, armydoc. But the state of my knowledge of these matters is not the measure of them. Still it seems to me (whether canonical or not) that one cannot "through works", indulgences, or whatever, mitigate the consequences of our sins. If others suffer because of our own sinful actions, how can we escape the due measure of compensatory suffering that our sinful acts deserve?
Is the state of your knowledge regarding such matters better than mine? If so, I'm dying to hear the details.
If Christ's suffering were alone sufficient to save everyone universally, that would seem to me (crudely) analogous to the situation of banning "preexisting conditions" from underwriting consideration in health insurance. If everyone waited to purchase medical insurance until becoming desperately ill, the health insurance business would utterly collapse. The idea of "insurance" would become impossible. [I really am sorry for this clumsy metaphor; but I think it might get my point across.]
In short, Christ's suffering is on behalf of those called to love him — i.e., those who "buy into Him" before the critical need. Not those who, on their death bed, finally acknowledge Him, on a sort of Pascal's Wager.... Though if the end-life testimony/appeal of such is genuinely sincere, I imagine Christ, Who is Truth and Justice, would not turn them away....
Thus Christ is not indiscriminate in His salvation. For one thing, He cannot save those who refuse Him. God's Creation is — among other things — an expression of divine economy....
Or so it seems to me.
I don't know whether these lines make any sense to you, armydoc. But it's the best I can do for now.
Thank you so much for writing!