Thank you. Apology accepted. However ...
What i am trying to say is that Catholicism is ridden with tendencies that manifest themselves in non-conservative ways.
Name a church that doesn't have its more liberal members and/or pastors.
Aside from the doctrinal differences I mentioned, it is hierarchical, nondemocratic & characterized by lots of foreign influence.
Christ didn't promise a democracy ... He promised a kingdom. Also, consider Eph 4:11-12:
And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, ...
This sounds like a hierarchy to me. And what's wrong with foreign influence? A universal church is going to have influences from all over the world, as its membership and mission are worldwide. Just remember that the Truth is the Truth, no matter where you're from.
I think Catholics are fine people, with their devotion to private education and the military. But I still believe that American Protestantism - stripped of Priests, Bishops, and centuries of theology - is a purer form of Christianity (thus the reason that our religous forbears called themselves "Puritans")
Thank you for your gracious recognition of some of the significant contributions of the Church to our society. I recognize there are a few things that we Catholics could learn from Protestants and other Christians. However, I disagree with your assessment of other churches as a purer form of Christianity as the Catholic Church is the oldest, and can trace its history directly to the time of Christ. The Puritans were an admirable people, but just because they called themselves the Puritans doesn't make them the purest form of Christianity.
Well said. Thank you!