Please understand that this is not against Catholic people but the Church leadership itself. The Catholic church is a prime example why governments should never be controlled by a Church.
And all of this is aside from the doctrinal differences I have with the Church.
These are broad statements. Can you back them up with some specifics?
In its 2000 year history, not one pope has ever erred in doctrines of faith or morals. The Church is Christ's bride (Ephesians 5:29) and has "no spot, wrinkle or blemish" (Ephesians 5:27). Christ also stated that the gates of Hell will not prevail against His Church (Matthew 16:18) so how can the Church commit error? Individual clergy may commit sins, even popes commit sins because in the Church there are both "weeds and wheat" (Matthew 13:30).
**I have respect for people who want to worship as they will but I could never become a member of the Catholic Church. It has the blood of too many on its hands. Too many burnings at the stake. Too much political intrigue. **
It might be good for you to get part of the real truth — Try Ken Follett’s book “Pillars of the Earth.” Very explicit in some parts, but quite well researched on the building of a cathedral and the treatment of Catholics by those in control.
And I will bet you a steak dinner that there are many more Catholic martyrs, killed for their faith, that you would ever imagine.
one finds the same argument used against Christianity as a whole.
Secondly, one finds that argument used to blame even our Southern Baptist friends who accuse it (incorrectly) of being an outcome of being anti-African American.
Talking about actions in the 1500s or even 1700s and comparing this to a denomination just formed in the 20th century is apples and oranges
Finally, the Cathars were Gnostics who believed that all matter was evil and that the best way to handle this was to not bring more children into the world and to die to escape this illusion of a world — a very Jain philosophy but without the depth of Jainism
There were a lot of Catholics burnt at the stake also! How about Joan of Arc, who was but one of many? Also, how about the Catholics who died along w/Jews in the Holocaust? There was a large number of Catholic priests and monks who died when Henry the Eighth, (who started his own church)went on a rampage on the monasteries!