When did the Catholic Church come into existence? Please cite your sources? I am talking about legitimate secular sources. No one with an axe to grind either way. Acceptable sources include Encyclopedia Britannica, Wikipedia etc...
Wikipedia?
The source that people can edit to say what they want it to say?
Wow, that’s really low standards.......
Can't say for sure. Apostasy crept into the Church early though. By second or third century there were NEW traditions put in place. So around there. There are dubious letters that the RCC say support early establishment but the only agreed upon date is later. "In 321, Constantine instructed that Christians and non-Christians should be united in observing the venerable day of the sun, referring to the sun-worship that Aurelian had established as an official cult." This was the solidification of Roman dominance in Christian politics. There may have been jump starts before then but this was a major coup for the RCC as a force to be reckoned with.