The fact is that God's Church on earth is populated by sinners. Those fallable men made mistakes. This does not impugn the validity of the Church itself. Are you saying that the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are without sin?
Why do you condemn to Purgatory those who Christ taught between Good Friday and Easter? Why do you condemn the babies that die that could not possibly commit any sin?
Your statements evidence alot of misconceptions about the Catholic Faith. First, we believe that Christ descended into purgatory to preach the gospel to the old testament faithful who were essentially "stored" there. This in fact opened the way to heaven for them. No one was condemned to Purgatory, particularly because purgatory is a transitive place anyway. People who go there are on their way to heaven. As to babies, we leave the issue of babies who cannot have committed a sin to the infinite mercy of God.
Why do you not have a Prophet and Apostles?
The last prophet was John the Baptist. We do have Apostles. We have their successors, the Bishops. The Acts of the Apostles clearly shows that the concept of apostolic succession was contemplated when the remaining Apostles chose Judas' replacement(Mathias). Interestingly, the word "office" used in the relevent passages is translated in the King James version as "bishopric."
Seems to me the Pope approved many of these very evil deeds in the Middle Ages. I see no way that he was the Lord's chosen in those days and if not there is no secession. Although there is none anyway. John was the last living Apostle with him ended God's Authority on Earth. But as Paul said All men have sin. The real problem is that there is no Revelation through a Prophet to put things back in order. John received many Revelations from God to make sure the Church was doing things correctly. This ended with John, since the Apostles stopped being replaced after the first three replacements. You do not even claim the Pope receives Revelations yet throughout the Old and New Testament this is ALWAYS the way God made sure the church kept on the right track.
As to babies, we leave the issue of babies who cannot have committed a sin to the infinite mercy of God.
This was not the teachings in the 40's. Once again proof that the Pope is very fallible.
We do have Apostles. We have their successors, the Bishops.<-i>
They had bishops in John's time as well. They were not Apostles. The Acts of the Apostles clearly shows that the concept of apostolic succession was contemplated when the remaining Apostles chose Judas' replacement(Mathias). This was not continued as Jesus knew the church would not last long, although his influence would.
Three Centuries latter some of the successors to these Bishops got together and created a Church but that is not what Christ created. He created a Church with a Prophet or Apostle to receive Revelations from him. These Bishops did not receive Revelations nor did they have Apostles. They did the best they could but Christ would not bless they with the complete Gospel as they were not worthy of it. Thus the Dark Ages.
I am not saying God does not love you or these Bishops in 323 AD. I am just saying that he determined they were not ready for his full Gospel and thus did not give it to them. The half baked religion they came up served his purpose of keeping his memory alive and giving the righteous a reason to be so. I am very thankful for the purpose the Catholic Church provided from then till now. But it is not the full Gospel of Jesus Christ.