A theory, no doubt and one that is without any merit at all.
The apostles were men just as we are, and they are no better or worse than any other redeemed child of God.
God commands us not to be respecters of persons, another area where Catholicism blatantly defies the clear teaching of the Scripture it claims it wrote.
As far as Protestants thinking that the apostles has *no clue what they were up to*, would you care to provide evidence that led you to that conclusion?
Because I have lost count of the number of times Christians on FR have posted Scripture to the RC's showing that they penned Scripture as they were moved along by the Holy Spirit.
It's really too bad that Catholics don't understand the indwelling and moving of the Holy Spirit in a person's life.
That would fit the model of every man and woman deciding individually what, and who, merits their obedience. It also makes it easier to ignore certain passages of Jesus when convenient.
Jesus merits our obedience, not the organization of the RCC which claims for itself that it alone is the OTC.
I think what you said covers that last little bundle of near-impossible theoretical inventions that was brought here to these pages...