Yes, I would agree with you it has all of the hallmarks of a true cult. As you point out, instead of the emphasis being upon “He must increase and we must decrease”, they pound upon mandatory membership, revered relics (give me a break, Peter’s pelvis????), central collection of money, required celibacy (that would be enough to wake me up), prayer to dead people, and...
Smells like a power club to me.
Of course, it should be Christ, risen, reigning on high.
mandatory membership
No one is required to be a Catholic.
central collection of money
Any collection is central.
required celibacy
Celibacy is not required of anyone. The vow is voluntary.
...prayer to dead people...
They're not dead.
So many falsehoods, but then again, you regard the Ten Commandments as some kind of a joke.