Oh my....your post sounds like the same argument I have with my own husband. He is an early Orthodox Traditional St. Pius X Catholic and I’m a protestant.
He’s constantly calling me a heretic and criticizing me and my beliefs, because I’m not a “True” Christian, being one of those “protestants”.
I don’t remember Jesus being so inclusive, nor did I read anything in the Bible that talked about needing to be a specific religion in order to be saved or welcomed by Jesus. Or did I miss something?
I guess I’ve just never met such defensive people as Catholics, and I don’t get it. I’ve never met any protestants that are that defensive...or exclusive, either, for that matter.
I don’t see any way to rebut the fact that Christ is the redeemer. Through him our sins are washed clean. He is our attorney if you will at the throne of our Father. Confessing to a man, and getting forgiveness IS BLASPHEMY. Christ was accused of just that for forgiving sins. His answer, I AM the Christ, it is given to me to do so. The Pope, a Bishop, a “Father” is not in a position to forgive sin. To do so is to set themselves up in lieu of THE Savior. Anti-Christ is more properly translated instead of Christ. One who puts themselves in a position between the Father and humanity.