HEY. NO BASHING!
All faiths have good and bad elements, IMHO.
The Roman Catholic church (as there are OTHER Catholic* churces, is but ONE of many. (SO I CRINGE when they say THE CHURCH meaning R.C.) *and Catholic means nothing more than "complete" or "universal". So many Roman Catholics bemoan their religious organization, yet don't worship elsewhere. You can still BE R.C. and worship (and spend your $)in any Christian church.
The husband is R.C. and I'm Greek / Eastern Orthodox Christian. We have been to Anglican/Episcopalian services, and it's the nearest thing to both of ours, if we had to choose one. Absolutley lovely! Some say it's Catholic "lite"-- all the good stuff without the poop, er....pope.
I took communion in a R.C. church and my ex-in-laws were HONORED. Their priest however made an announcement over the loudspeaker that non-catholics may not should not...blah... blah.. blah. [He saw me cross myself spectacles, testicles right, left, instead of their way which is left then right.]I felt like telling him "I'm catholic just not Roman Catholic." We laughed it off as he prest's ignorance and left it at that. So much for "Universal" church. HA!
Sad that religion ends up factioniong-off groups and sub-groups. Some of the scummiest people go to services to show off and are miserable examples of human beings. Others do good deeds as they can an live exemplary lives and won't set foot into a "voodo temple".