[editor-surveyor]

"Perhaps the same could be said for post reformation pharisees of the Protestant church..."

Do you understand what the nature of the pharisaical authority was?

What similar false authority could you point to in the truly protestant denominations? (we must exclude the Episcopals here)

[Ravens70]

Actually, I thought it was a clever turn of your phrase..

“What similar false authority could you point to in the truly protestant denominations? (we must exclude the Episcopals here”

Uhmm,..let’s see...how about the “every man his own authority”
school of Protestant thought..will that work for you???