You dont have to go back a millenia to find evidence of the Catholic church keeping people in bondage through ignorance. A real estate agent that I was dealing with not long ago was paying indulgences to his local priest for a recently dead relative.

I dont think he ever left the Catholic church, but he was amazed to see what the Bible really said about thing like salvation, and forgiveness of sins etc.

Only in the last 12 months, the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney stated that he would refuse "Holy" communion with any state politician who voted in favour of a recent bill concerning stem cell research. In effect he was threatening catholic politicians with the possibility of dying out side of the grace of the church....going to Hell.

Hows that for arrogance?? a man virtually saying "I will send you to Hell if you dont do what I say"

Fundy