Indeed, as it is true that actual evidence from Scripture is not needed for RC doctrine, only that it does not contradict Scripture, but which Rome is the autocratic judge of. Meanwhile RCs have much liberty to compel Scripture to support Rome, following her presumption.
I know it isn't your main thrust, but the parallels to Temple era Pharisaical Judaism are an astonishment - and not only on the subjects that you have defined herein. It brings Isaiah 28 to mind.
Theirs is the very same spirit that allows penumbras in our Constitution (since their method allows anything that is not explicit, even if they eventually destroy the explicit by the sheer weight of their additions). It is the spirit and definition of iniquity - Lawlessness.
For as with the Eucharist (and bind and loosing), in which "The priest speaks and lo! Christ, the eternal and omnipotent God, bows His head in humble obedience to the priest's command." (John A, O'Brien, The Faith of Millions, Our Sunday Visitor (1938), p. 235; has Nihil obstat & Imprimitur) , so what Rome autocratically declares is truth must indeed be Truth, not because of Scriptural substantiation, by which the church established its claims.
The irony of it does not escape me - Though it seems to be a matter of logic wholly lost upon our Romanist FRiends (and Mormons too, for that matter). One cannot claim an authority higher than the authority upon which one's establishment is claimed (or plainly, where one's evidences lie), as one will inherently damage destroy the very authority one claims to have.
Thank you for your reply - I was beginning to think no one got the message - and as to the mythical, magical, most highly sainted 'Butcher of God', as with all mythical saints, relics are available upon request (for a nominal fee, of course). :P
Yes, it is amazing that Prots are accused of being like Pharisees or following them because we hold some things in common with them, as did the NT church, while it is the scribes and Pharisees who are most like Rome.
And in fact, as said before, under the Roman model souls are to submit to the magisterium which is the steward of Divine revelation and the inheritor of promises of God's presence, and having historical descent. Which thus invalidates the church which began in dissent from such, while in reality is validates warranted dissent from such, as a means by which truth and faith is preserved. And thus the needed and continuing need for the Reformation.
For the decision of their Scribes, or "Soferim" (Josephus, σοπισταί; N. T., γραμματεἴς), consisting originally of Aaronites, Levites, and common Israelites, they claimed the same authority as for the Biblical law, even in case of error (Sifre, Deut. 153-154); they endowed them with the power to abrogate the Law at times (see Abrogation of Laws), and they went so far as to say that he who transgressed their words deserved death (Ber. 4a). By dint of this authority, claimed to be divine (R. H. 25a), they put the entire calendric system upon a new basis, independent of the priesthood. They took many burdens from the people by claiming for the sage, or scribe, the power of dissolving vows (Ḥag. i. 8; Tosef., i.). http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/12087-pharisees