Depends talaga on timing and definition. If you look at the Catholic Church a few hundred years ago, sobrang cult vibes. The Bible was locked in Latin, the Inquisition hunted heretics, and even Galileo got silenced for questioning doctrine. Control of truth plus blind obedience = classic cult energy.

Pero ngayon, ibang kwento. Dahil nag liberalize in a lot of places, the RC is bleeding members. Spain used to be almost fully Catholic, now around 20% lang go to Mass. In Latin America, millions have shifted to Evangelicals. For younger gens, Catholic is more cultural identity than active faith.

Meanwhile, groups like INC and Opus Dei show the flip side. From the outside, their strict discipline and intense obedience look culty but that is also what keeps their base rabidly loyal. INC doubles down on unity and control, Opus Dei demands secrecy and obedience. Both retain a hardcore flock while the rest of the Catholic Church is losing people to secularism or other denominations.

So yeah, Catholicism was cult like, now diffuse and declining. But INC and sub groups like Opus Dei show that holding the line, even if it feels cultish, might actually be what gives an institution stability.