To be brutally honest, I've heard more gravely serious error coming from mainline Protestant pulpits than I have from Catholic sources. I'd feel much more comfortable with someone who thinks that Christ is physically present in the elements of communion and who prays to Mary than I would with someone who isn't willing to admit that Christ is anything more than a wonderful concept imagined by men and who prays to a "god conscienceness" within himself.
I had much the same view for years, but once I went through a course on Catholicism i understood that they preach another gospel, which is why the split that came from the Reformation was necessary. Yes, they believe many orthodox things, but they change the core of the gospel itself. And that’s what makes Roman Catholicism so pernicious. Any faith that denies we are saved by grace through faith alone in Christ alone does not teach the gospel. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Agreed on the horrors coming from the Mainlines.
Not me.
Both are equally pernicious IMO. The difference being that the dogma which has been issued by the Catholic church at large is heresy whereas that of the mainline churches still adheres to biblical truths albeit disobeyed by many who live under it.
And the "concept" and "God-consciousness" are found in plenty in the Catholic churches as well so there's really no difference there.