Sigh, I guess it's my day to have to straighten out all this Protestant nonsense before I head for Church, (the real one).
(1). The Bible itself considers oral tradition to be equal to the written epistle, hear the words of Saint Paul: "So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by epistle. (2 Thess. 2:15).
(2). The Pope does not consider his words to be equal to Scripture. The Catholic Church teaches that the Bible was the end of revelation. When the Pope speaks "ex cathedra" his words must be in line with Scripture and tradition, and cannot deviate from the teachings of the previous 2,000 years of Christianity. The doctrine of "infallibility" is a very narrow one, used only rarely, that is confined to pronouncements that directly concern salvation. The Church, however, has always considered the pronouncements of its councils to be the infallible truth. That is the very reason why the Church has always held Councils through the ages, to officially define doctrines that come into question. The first Council was the Council of Jerusalem, seen in Acts 15. This council of the Apostles and "elders" was held because the question for the need of circumcism arose and needed to be defined. Even Paul and Barnabus traveled to Jerusalem to sit at Council with Peter and the Apostles on this matter. After much debate, Peter, the head of the Apostles, "rose up and spoke" (and settled the matter), "and all the assembly kept silent..." - (Acts 15:6 - 12).
None of what you list below adds or removes a single world from the Bible. Nor are all of them even doctrines. Many are practices and traditions are found in the Old and New Testaments, TRADITION. As Saint John's gospel tells us, the Bible does not contain all of what Jesus said and did. (John 21:25) and (John 20:30). But I will anwser them anyway.
"1. Prayers for the dead -- 300 AD"
Praying for the dead is not "unbiblical". In fact, Luther removed the two canonical Books of Maccabees from the Bible and called them the "Apocrapha" because in 2 Maccabbees the Jews did indeed pray for the dead, (see 2 Maccabees 12:44 -45). Even though you Protestants unfortunately removed this book from the canon of Scripture, you still keep it in the middle of the KJV Bible because it is accurate Jewish history. And since it is accurate Jewish history, we know that the devout Jews of the Old Covenant prayed for the dead; - inspired book or not inspired book, the account of praying for the dead is considered historical fact.
Furthermore, we see Saint Paul referring to his friend Onesiphorus in the past tense, and asking God to bless his household, and asking God "to grant him the mercy of the Lord in that day", (Judgement). He was clearly praying for the deceased Onesiphorus. 2 Timothy 1: 16 - 18).
"2. Making the sign of the cross -- 300 AD"
Just another Protestant fallacy. Hear what Tertullian, an early Church Father, wrote in 197 A.D. about Christians signing themselves on the forehead with the sign of the Cross: ""In all our travels and movements in all our coming in and going out, in putting of our shoes, at the bath, at the table, in lighting our candles, in lying down, in sitting down, whatever employment occupieth us, we mark our foreheads with the sign of the cross". (De cor. Mil., iii). And it's quite obvious from this writing that even in 197 A.D. this was not a new practice. Revelation 7:3 also speaks of a Christian seal on the forehead: "saying, Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads."
"3. Veneration of angels & dead saints -- 375 A.D."
The Saints are dead? Then please explain what Moses and Elias were doing on the Mount with Jesus, showing themselves to Peter, Andrew, and John. (Mathew 17:2). And who are the "cloud of witnesses" in Hewbrews 12:1 that "surround" the Christian? And how is it that the "rich man" in Hades saw the long deceased Abraham in Paradise, and asked him for help? (Luke 16: 19 - 30).
I'll answer the rest of your time worn rhetorical Protestant nonsense later. Tis time to get myself to the true Christian Church.
Well, that should make some heads spin, ya nasty, anti-Catholic bigot, you!
I love this; they offer lies and twisted "scripture". When you refute it with truth (from the Truth), you are not answered with truth (because theirs is lies), only labeled "anti-catholic, bigot, etc.". Well, to which I say "GOOD!" Because that makes God anti-catholic and a bigot, too!!
The Pope never saved anyone. Only the blood of the Lamb.