Yeah, they kinda do...no, they aren't a higher authority than God, but they are here on Earth and have been assigned the task, by God, to be the teaching authority for Christianity....The Magesterium of the church pretty much has the authority of God to proclaim the Gospel and the truth that is Christianity......you didn't think that He would leave it up to individuals to interpret the Bible as each saw fit did you???
They have handled that task quite successfully for 2,015 years and were promised that they would do so until the end of time.....hang tight!!
Where/when did God give this authority to the Catholic Church?
Is the Magesterium of the church made up of individuals or one individual? If so, then how can they interpret the Bible, but other individuals cannot? Are they infallible?