Various Bishops developed lists of inspired books:
Mileto, Bisop of Sardis c 175AD
St. Ireaneus, Bishops of Lyons 185AD
Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea c AD325
Pope Damasus AD 382
Council of Hippo AD393
Council of Carthage AD397
Pope St. Innocent AD405 approved and closed the canon.
SHHHHHH!!!
Remember, that's supposed to be one of the harlot of Babylon's deepest secrets...sheesh...now you've gone and done it.... ;)
That's it! BOTH of you report immediately to the Holy Office, basement level four, Vatican Secret Archives Building. See the guard named Tomas. You DARE to betray our super-secret canon fudging methods! It's the rack and iron maiden for you! Now, GO!!
Mark -- you are right, most people hate what they THINK the Catholic Church is all about. I see this in Bainbridge and tenn -- both are condemning the Church for what they THINK it is, when it really isn't.
Tenn, Bainbridge: perhaps a little more investigation from your part (hey, no harm in going to a Catholic site and seeing what WE think -- www.newadvent.com) might help out.