Is that not a sect of Christianity?
Catholicism is a "religion" closing in on being quite like the Pharisees.
Christianity is a relationship with God through Jesus.
Yes and supposedly that is their mission. A religion that has built a reputation over centuries of Christian belief and promotion.
Believe me, I think that they have abandoned all claims to being that. I have held that belief for decades, that the Catholic religion has been a long running theatrical production. Even before their hypocrisies began coming to light.
I don't believe that was always the case, and while I couldn't even begin to say when it started to become a corrupt organization, my guess is was much longer ago then we imagine. In other words this has been the reality for a long time. My first inkling of this started in the 1970's when the church started changing to fit the parishioners .