Detatched from their parishoners. How many Catholics have even seen the pope, or spoken with anyone in the highest echelons of the Cathlic church? In that sense, it is as detatched as government from Washington. I am aware that Catholicism is voluntary, and in that respect it is very different from a government. I am also aware that Catholicism was never intended to be democratic in nature.
My point was not that the Catholic church and government are precisely analogous ... my point was that the Vatican arguing in favor of decentralized, localized authority is at least a bit ironic. Decentralized Christianity is basically Protestantism — which is much more local, and much more democratic than Catholicism (regardless of whether you think that’s a good thing or a bad thing).
I do not deny a bias, just as I am sure you would not deny a bias on this subject. Like you, my opinions of the Catholic church were not set by this particular observation alone. I am not Catholic, and I have disagreements with the heirarchical nature of Catholicism. You are Catholic, and thus likely enthusiastically approve of the structure of the Church. I am not anti-Catholic — but I am Protestant for a reason, just as you are Catholic for a reason.
Fundamentally — it was just an ironic observation about how this doctrine applies to the structure of the church itself.
SnakeDoc