“There was no silence following the accounts of Paul and Barnabas.”
Actually, there was:
Act 15:13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
What follows is an emphasis on James words, including the phrase “wherefore my judgment is,” and then the conclusion.
The Catholics are pathological in reading things into the text that simply aren’t there.
No there wasn't, after they held their peace does not equate to "all the multitude kept silent." This narration indicates the transition from the action of Paul and Barnabas finishing what they said to the James standing and speaking. Other translations say, after they had finished. Clearly, it is meant to signal that the narrator wanted to say: "Paul and Barnabas had things to say, and when they were done, James rose and spoke." The pathology of misinterpreting scripture is Catholic alone?
In reference to James "judgment," this is not a final word of one who passes a judgment that all should follow. Your strong's number would be 2919, the greek "Kirino," Not Kirisis, which is much more specific and is seen as a final judgment elsewhere in scripture. Luke 10:14, is one example. Rather, you should look at the end of the very verse you yourself cited in Acts 15:13. James says, "Men and brethren, hearken unto me." These are the words of one humbly trying to propose a solution, not one speaking with the authority over the whole assembly.
The narrative of "Harken to me," (Acts 15:13) is a plead to pay attention to what he says.
Do you see why this is not necessarily an indication that James had authority when he proposed to give his judgment? There are several senses to the word judgment. Not all of theme carrying the weight to be definitive decision based on authority.
without Catholics, all you'd have to read would be the Old Testament, and you'd have to go to synagogue to do that!!