What about Uncle Harry with his life-long aversion to the church? Or our good friend, Bob who is a decent enough guy except for his total disdain for everything Christian? And what about our own husband or wife, son or daughter, who has rejected all the precepts we hold so dear?

"Until he finds it."

That is the answer to our agonizing.

"Until he finds it."

God never gives up.

That is why I am so confident that eternal damnation is impossible.

The church’s doctrine of everlasting torment is antithetical to Christ’s image of the Good Shepherd.

It is profoundly sad that St. Peter, who was once quoted in Acts as saying, "Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him," is the same Peter who stands at the heavenly gates and arrogantly announces, "Extra ecclesiam nulla salus."

"Outside the church there is no salvation."

Try telling that to the Good Shepherd who will never rest "until he finds it."