If you were truly taught that only Catholics will be in heaven then you were misinformed. Heaven is not Catholic exclusive.
Well, with the quotes I referenced earlier I can certainly understand why they might have thought that was the church's position.
For Protestants, the Catholic Church entrusts them to God's mercy as long as they follow Him to the best of their ability with the truth and light that they have. It is still possible for them to achieve salvation.
Do they take the same position on Hindus, Buddhists, and Atheists?
The following article might help you understand the Catholic position:
Salvation for Non-Christians Explained Sola Scriptura
Okay your article says
"This grace was given in the past without means of baptism—and in certain instances it is still given without baptism when people have either no knowledge of baptism or no access to it. Acts 10:45–47 demonstrates unambiguously God giving Cornelius the Holy Spirit (that sanctifying grace necessary for salvation) before Cornelius received baptism. This was after Christ and the apostles had already preached the necessity of faith in Christ and baptism for salvation."
It sounds as if the catholic position is that either you need to be a baptized catholic, no knowledge of baptism, or no access to it. I take that to mean that people who have knowledge of the catholic church but like their own religion are going to hell.
The depths of God's wisdom and mercy cannot be measured. Our feeble minds cannot fully comprehend how God works.
I just want more clarification on the catholic church, not god.
All those people you mentioned in your examples are in danger of going to hell. But through God's mercy they may be saved.
If all those people are in danger regardless of how good a person they are then I personally feel it's ridiculous. It's exactly why I'm not religious anymore.
I feel that catholics especially put so much emphasis on rituals that they forget what's important. If there's a god that cares more if some priest dribbled water on a frightened baby than the way that person has lived their life I want no part of it. Jesus was not so judgmental really.
Another weird ritual is the sacrament. I was taught that catholics actually believe that the wafer and wine is actually physically the body and blood of Christ, not just a symbol. I'm not a cannibal, why would I want to eat Jesus?
I do understand the tactic from a marketing perspective. A lot religions have to promote their religion as the only religion that will get you to heaven in order to get and retain followers.
Every few months I go to a non denominational christian local church that I like that focuses on living well, the teachings of Jesus, meditation, and even has a regular guest speaker who is homosexual who speaks about about their world travels and the great points of other religions they have surveyed.
I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.
-Mohandas Gandhi
If you really want to be exposed to some thought provoking teachings on how to live well instead rote religious dogma check out J. Krishanmurti.
http://www.jkrishnamurti.org/