“First, there is a significant difference between declaring oneself a Catholic and actually being a Catholic.”
Huh?
what about Hebrews 13:17?
What about Hebrews? Can you substantiate this requirement anywhere in the Synoptic Gospels? Catholics are under no obligation to obey or be subservient to anyone other than God.
To obey (from the Latin ob-audire, to "hear or listen to") in faith is to submit freely to the word that has been heard, because its truth is guaranteed by God, who is Truth itself. Abraham is the model of such obedience offered us by Sacred Scripture. The Virgin Mary is its most perfect embodiment.