“But they are. We see it here every day.”
Maybe. Servant of the Cross is honest and I trust he/she will give this an honest effort. I will give SotC the benefit of knowing his/her sincerity.
I was raised Catholic, my folks are Catholic. I’m sincere. But ever since I began to truly study the Bible in 1989, at age 33, I find problems with my Catholic education. I surely don’t want to be wrong about this. It might just be the wording.
I know the feeling Blue Collar. I also began questioning some of the beliefs of the "church" I grew up in. They and scripture just didn't agree on some issues. Scripture is God's word, theirs isn't. It comes down to our decision for eternity. Faith in Christ alone or in some organization. Paul told the jailer when asked what must he do to be saved "belief on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved - you and your house". That was it.
Christ was the once for all perfect sacrifice. He paid the price for all of our sins with nothing more needing added. I now have complete faith in Him alone and His atoning sacrifice. Would you believe He would let me down? I don't.
The Catholic Church has added to what Jesus and the apostles taught. Added requirements for salvation, added rituals and sacrifices, added practices from paganism which God abhors calling it "whoring around with other gods", and a hierarchy not sanction in he New Testament.
God demands all the glory. Giving some of that glory to Mary and their so called "saints" is not going to turn out well for Catholics.
I pray you find the peace in Christ alone through faith alone that I did. The assurance of the guarantee of the Holy Spirit will be a peace beyond all understanding.