Because Jesus didn't teach that.
I don't care what a church hierarchy claims. Of course I'd expect that they'd say that. They want people to stay in it and what better way than to threaten them with eternal damnation if they disagree?
I see that claim by the church as a power grab. I would whatever denomination made it.
It's a huge red flag and I'd steer clear of any person or denomination that claimed exclusivity in reaching God.
BTW, I'm not a Catholic any more and nobody stating that I am can change that.
I am a new creature in Christ. The old is gone and the new has come. That makes me free. I belong to only Jesus. No one else has a claim on my soul.
Pardon the intrusion, but to add to your testimony, The Scriptures tell us that the accuser can no longer pull the old ‘but look, she/he broke that commandment right there in the laws’ trick. Why? Because the Mercy Seat is above the ark where the laws are kept. It was upon that Mercy Seat in the Heavenlies that Jesus our Great High Priest spread His sinless, precious blood, cover the laws of sin and death. So when the accuser tries to draw Gods attention to the law to accuse you, God does not see past the Prefect sinless blood of our Savior and Lord, our Great High Priest interceding for s continually in the Holy of Holies.
I like what you did there.