Yet arthurus was talking about groups that only define themselves as “not C”
Nope; he mentioned them but the reply was specifically to the following:
One of the prayers we use is that we ask God to lead all people who call themselves Christian into the way of truth. Its in one of the older Prayer Books, I dont think it is used any longer. Those seeking the truth will find it.His reply:
They cant. For too many their very definition of themselves isnon-Catholics. Without the Catholic Church their own churches would vaporize.
That is what directly conflicts with what Gos said through Jeremiah:
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.By saying that they cannot find God (because those churches define themselves as
not-Catholic) he rejects the very idea of a personal God who will fulfill His word Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:8-10) — in that sense his statement is such that it is akin to calling God a liar.
Or, if his statement is to be taken to mean that the Catholic church is the way, the truth and the life, then it is idolatry because the only thing that is those things is a who: Jesus Himself; as He said (John 14:6): I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.