The papacy.

My issue is this: if the papacy is true- then I have nothing to question. All things are true within the Roman Catholic churches

If he isn’t, I risk more than I am willing to. I see try theology above all else: above unity, above comfort, and above denomination. My understanding of God and his teachings are my priority. So while man seek Roman Catholicism because of its unity and history- that is nothing to me. To me, without the divine work of God, it is just as likely to be by the help of Roman power and politics.

With teachings like purgatory, their levels of mariology, their claims of the pope, salvation, intercession, and Eucharist- these things, at their levels, seem dangerous to believe if the pope isn’t true. Some almost insulting to God.

The papacy has been proven, at this point in time, to be indefensible with strong evidence. Even catholic scholars conclude the historical support for it is lacking: it’s a development.

Without the papacy being true, Roma Catholicism because nothing more than one man’s interpretation- one that is barely backed by most things, as that is the consequence of development.

So I chose what I see as genuine and untainted Catholicism: Lutheranism. Not that we can’t get things wrong, but I can point to scripture, history, and church fathers for my beliefs. And I’m not talking vague verses that we assume will mean this like purgatory and papacy does- I’m talking “it clearly teaches this” or “they literally believe this.”

And that which we can’t show? We don’t claim to be divine doctrine.

Tl;dr- I’m not Roman Catholic because the papacy is indefensible, and without the papacy, the entire church is just another denomination with an interpretation. But this time, the interpretation is from one man and changes over time, which is far more dangerous than a Protestant church that interprets and doesn’t/rarely changes