Why is it called the Catholic Church?
For one thing - we are told in the Bible - man should not set himself above other men. Jesus is who we follow - not a man.
We are also told in the Bible that we should elect elders and the criteria to select those elders is even written. These elders are shepherds of the church and of us to determine that the church follows truth.
One other thing of note - have you ever noticed that Jesus was born in a manger - not a palace. Every time God picked someone to do something - he picked - not the kings, the wealthy, the esteemed - he picked the unexpected - the meek, the common. Look at Mary - was she robed in splendor?
Jesus was a carpenter, he was beaten, mocked, tortured.
Why did God ignore the trappings of men and instead bring His Son into the world among the simple? Because God sees things differently than we do. Look at the apostles - were they wealthy, robed in splendor? Look at the prophets.
The catholic church has wonderful people - but I feel that the emphasis of the church is pompous glorification of the men chosen as leaders. Wealth and power have diminished their message. The leaders have developed all manner of ways to buy off sins - when all we are told to do is pray and ask for forgiveness and show our heart is sincere in repentence.
I firmly respect the stands the Catholic Church has taken morally in this world - but the fact they have a Pope established to be esteemed and to be between man and God - proves them a false doctrine to me, precisely because I do not find that in the Bible.
I appreciate your research, but ask yourself:
Why did Jesus call Peter “His Rock” and tell Peter that what he holds fast on Earth will be held fast in Heaven and what he loosens on Earth will be loosened in Heaven?
To me, and to the ages, that signifies Jesus’ establishment of the Papacy.
As for Mary: God chose her from the beginning of all creation to be the blessed vessel which would deliver Jesus as the Savior of all mankind.
And the Bible refers to her as blessed and says that ALL generations shall call her blessed. Just because 20, 30, 40, 50, 350 or even 4000 generations have passed, those words prescribing us to call her blessed still stands.
We’re probably not going to see eye to eye on this issue so let’s all get together on condemning abortion - ok?
Following and interpreting Biblical passages can be very difficult and tricky but can’t we all agree that sticking a fork in a baby’s head is a bad move?