Susan,

Thanks for the question.

That's a big question, one best served by accessing the Catechism, where you can find a much more thorough treatment of the subject. Let me give you one way of explaining it. Jesus is both Savior and Judge, and to those who accepted Him, He gave power to become the children of God (cf. John 1:11-13). To every soul that allows the grace of God to enter in, He can adopt them and make them like Himself. At judgement if He recognizes in that soul the likeness of Himself, they may enter in, when He sees no kinship, they do not. Think about that rather that a courtroom and you will see something that says a lot about the Catholic view of salvation and judgement.

If you are questioning how Catholics view other christians, those who profess Christ but not the Catholic Faith, yes, they can be saved — only Christ is capable of sorting out whether they resisted the grace of God that tried to nudge them to the one true Church. If they are saved, it is because they had the good will to follow Christ wherever He led them, and from the very grace that emanates from His Church, without which no one can be saved — because Christ is the Church, and we are His Body. That being said, being outside the Catholic Church is fraught with more danger, like a small lifeboat on rough seas versus the Ark built to bring one to safety.

Christ wants everyone to be Catholic, because he established only one Church, and all other Christian churches must find their genesis in Her.

That was always the plan, but nonetheless God draws outside the lines all the time.

Peace,

Bob Kirby