Christians of all denominations seek guidance from their pastors and ministers in literally interpreting the Bible. That's why there are churches for people who read the Bible for themselves.
The Catholic church is a central authority. No doubt about that. OTOH, there would not be a Bible as we know it today, if the Catholics had not preserved it, even if they did not exactly encourage everyone to read it for themselves! (Or worse, punish them!)
Don't knock the team our ancestors used to play for just because we've moved on to another league.
” OTOH, there would not be a Bible as we know it today, if the Catholics had not preserved it, “
Aren’t you forgetting the Greek texts of Byzantium? They are the source texts for most modern Bibles.