[adiaireton8]

Well without this thread getting too contentious, yes it does. Syncretism is one.

Please explain.

-A8

[1000 silverlings]

People practicing Santeria, for example, are claimed by the Roman Catholic church as full Catholics. Nobody really has any idea what is really practiced by the adherents unless you are one. Rome turns a blind eye just to keep a foothold, for purely political reasons.

When the Church was or is communicating with its subjects in Latin, none of them know what is really written or said. Thus you need your mediators to interpret.

The whole Mass thing is purely mystical and has no authority from the scriptures. There is a whole section of Catholic belief devoted entirely to mysticism, even today, and encouraged.