I know you are trying hard to explain why you believe as you do....but frankly NL Jesus said He came to set us “free” from bondage.... and that included the bondage of ‘authority’ by men who operate under the umbrella of religious laws and rules designed by those in ‘religious authority’...who laid heavy and unfair burdens on the backs of those seeking God.... Robbing them of the joy of knowing God as He wants to be known.
Jesus had much to say about them...called them “whitewashed hypocrites”...’Brood of vipers’...and pronounced many “woes” against them.
It is not that much different today for religious leaders to do likewise today....and many do. And then sprinkle it all with the name of Christ to make it official.
I think that the words which Jesus had for the Pharisees certainly are applicable for ANY religious church leaders.
Churchianity is alive and well in the US.