I’m SO TIRED of Catholics who don’t seem to have the first clue about their faith. Unfortunately this doesn’t stop them from pontificating (pardon the pun)as if they do.
I remember the priests of my youth too. Also the 60’s. My memories don’t coincide with yours. Hell does exist, Patrick Michael. It was NEVER taught as an "approach to finding Jesus", but as the result of deliberately rejecting Him. As to the priest being "the only one who can be close to God..". Rubbish. NOBODY I know ever believed that. Including the priests.

It IS true that many Catholics did not have a good enough grounding in their faith, hence the disasters that have occurred since the Second Vatican Council. It IS true that "obedience" to the priest was misused and totally misunderstood by both laity and clergy to the great detriment of both.

I see no evidence that Catholics are better informed about the beauty and Truth of the faith today: in fact, they seem MUCH less knowledgeable. For instance, a Catholic of the 60’s - no matter how uneducated in the Faith, could NEVER have made the statement

"Catholics who reject and dishonor other faiths are a dying breed thanks be to God!"

To be a Catholic means that one believes that the Catholic Church is the ONE, TRUE CHURCH. This belief automatically "rejects" other faiths. If one doesn’t believe that the Catholic Church is the ONE, TRUE, church, one is not a Catholic. I hold to this belief. I do NOT dishonour people who do not hold this belief.

Christ did not come to earth to found many churches. Just the one. It is no dishonour to others to hold fast to this truth. It is the best witness we can make, both to His Church, and to our separated brethren.