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Clearly we don't regard the Eastern Orthodox as "condemned." They are not RCC. The current spirit of Ecumenism of JP II's Magisterium suggests that while there are formulaic differences between kinds of Lutheranism and the Church of England, there are no issues of salvation; if there were I don't think we'd be as close as we are to rejoining those branches.

That said, I'm sure I'm not competent to answer this question as fully as you might like, but I would go out on a limb and say that each individual works out there salvation with Jesus, not the RCC.

My understanding of the core RCC position on the sacraments is that they are a gift of the Holy Spirit, not a litmus test for salvation. The sacraments are certainly not "helping" God, though they do help us. We are called to work with God, but I don't think of it as a partnership. The best analogies are probably from Lord and serf, rather than modern business practice.

I am most disappointed in the acrimony of the debates, but I can see some of the differences are wide. The more I learn of Catholicism the more I see that it is a hard faith that asks a lot of a catechist or practitioner. It is not for the unlearned which is why so many of our children fall away -- and why so many scholars of Protestant faiths return.

It is also foreign to America's current mindset. It is something out of antiquity.

I hope that if RCs have hurt you, that you accept healing in my suffering and sorrow.