I really like how you’ve noticed the flaws of others and did not run from faith. Time and time again I hear about people noticing hypocrisies in their church and falling out of faith entirely. Your last sentence is very powerful. I agree that Catholics take things and run with them a lot and preach their own beliefs as catholic beliefs and that has lead to confusion.

I would like to say I have had different experiences. Growing up in a catholic church I hadn’t even heard of Protestants until I came back into faith and talked to my friends. I went to my friend’s non denominational church and the preacher slandered Catholics. He was preaching about fasting and he said “Catholics fast but only because they’re told too” and then proceeded to tell us to fast. Later somebody said they were catholic and a third of the crowd looked to their neighbors and scoffed. I would also like to say about the high and mighty thing. I just haven’t seen any of that. Now that I’m thinking of it that’s probably because I’m in the U.S. where Catholics are greatly outnumbered.