I was born into a Catholic family and I can tell you that many Catholics believe in Jesus as Lord and are saved. Don't forget The Holy Spirit indwelling us is a separate event from salvation. A person CAN be saved for a long time before receiving The Holy Spirit.
I think this is one of the main differences, not that Catholics aren't saved but that they practice dead religion rather than relationship. When you've grown up in it you don't know any different. And The Catholic Church doesn't go out of it's way to encourage Bible study.
If the priests taught you the Bible you would see that you don't need the priests
But as a Catholic you certainly recognise God, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
I left the Catholic church when I was about 18 because I began to research The Bible for myself and I discovered that many of the Catholic practices were sheer idolatry which was displeasing to God. I was doing religious studies and I wanted to understand the foundation of our faith. I wanted to know the truth. Jesus revealed himself to me personally but I had a basic understanding of his ministry because of growing up Catholic. I did used to believe in him and talk to him as a child.
The biggest problem many Catholics have (to put it in Biblical terms) is that they 'cling to worthless idols'. A lot of people have trouble letting go of the Mother goddess worship and the veneration of saints and statues. Some of them get quite offended if you point out that it is idol worship. Those were the things I began to find repulsive as I got to know The Lord. So I left.
I don't trust The Vatican at all but I think it would be wrong to say that people who are Catholics aren't saved. The Lord will deal with them on an individual basis I'm sure.
Below is the prayer we recited at mass on Sundays. You can see it includes all the necessary articles of Christian faith.
"We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen."
Now apart from the part about "one holy Catholic church" I can't see how that confession of faith isn't Christian.
Thousands recite it every Sunday and thousands believe it even if they don't trust The Pope.
There are definitely some problems there but I think the Catholics are a part of The Body of Christ.
Remember the Letters from The Lord in Revelation. He is still doing a work in us collectively as well as individually.
Pray for them! There are Millions worldwide and The Catholic Church is the only representative of The Christian faith in some poor parts of the world. I know an ex-Hindu girl who heard about Jesus through The Catholics in India. It was the beginning of her search for him.