[CynicalBear]

>> Ireneus also denounces those who convene on their own and presume to interpret sans the Church.<<

The RCC of today has corrupted the original intent beyond anything Irenaeus could have imagined. Infallibility, the ascension of Mary, praying to saints etc. While it is true that the early church in Rome was the repository of the faith and was the central location for what beliefs the church held the meaning of catholic has been totally mis-interpreted.

[Cronos]

Actually, you're wrong.

We believe as we always have in the One God, Father the Altmighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, of All that is seen and Unseen. We believe in One Lord Jesus Christ, Only begotten Son of God. God from God, light from light, True God from True God

All of those points you raised have been discussed ad nauseum and are not central to the faith which is to Christ and are biblical and historical.

And, the proof of the pudding is that all the heresies have failed, the Catholic Church survives, as it always has, THANKS TO THE GRACE OF GOD AND THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Only due to the Holy Spirit has the Church survived -- she's survived inspite of bad popes, clergy, attacks from within and without. She has survived inspite of what Catholics do, ONLY by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT has she survived.

Ireneus "Against heresies" Book V, ch 20, 2 Those, therefore, who desert the preaching of the Church, call in question the knowledge of the holy presbyters, not taking into consideration of how much greater consequence is a religious man, even in a private station, than a blasphemous and impudent sophist. Now, such are all the heretics, and those who imagine that they have hit upon something more beyond the truth, so that by following those things already mentioned, proceeding on their way variously, inharmoniously, and foolishly, not keeping always to the same opinions with regard to the same things, as blind men are led by the blind, they shall deservedly fall into the ditch of ignorance lying in their path, ever seeking and never finding out the truth. 2 Timothy 3:7

And also

He shall also judge those who give rise to schisms, who are destitute of the love of God, and who look to their own special advantage rather than to the unity of the Church; and who for trifling reasons, or any kind of reason which occurs to them, cut in pieces and divide the great and glorious body of Christ, and so far as in them lies, [positively] destroy it—men who prate of peace while they give rise to war, and do in truth strain out a gnat, but swallow a camel. Matthew 23:24 or no reformation of so great importance can be effected by them, as will compensate for the mischief arising from their schism.

8. True knowledge is [that which consists in] the doctrine of the apostles, and the ancient constitution of the Church throughout all the world, and the distinctive manifestation of the body of Christ according to the successions of the bishops, by which they have handed down that Church which exists in every place, and has come even unto us, being guarded and preserved without any forging of Scriptures, by a very complete system of doctrine,.....