“There were certainly many valuable contributions. How does that balance out against many of the problems?”
The Middle Ages started when the Roman Empire collapsed. This was followed by complete anarchy, with dwindling population, Viking raids that made commerce impossible, and invading Moslems who took Southern Italy, Spain, and drove halfway across France. Irish monks were about the only literate people in Northern and Western Europe and preserved cukture, making possible the survival of Western civilization in the early Middle ages. Europe wouldn’t be recognizable today without the Church.
Absolutely correct. Shakers and movers like St Augustine and St Patrick had a huge influence. Excellent book entitled, “The Secret Gospel of Ireland - The Untold Story of how Science and Democracy Descended From A Remarkable Form of Christianity that Developed in Ancient Ireland” is a great source for explaining the migration and actions of the monks relative to the Church as well as the Kings/Queens.
“...ern civilization in the early Middle ages. Europe wouldn’t be recognizable today without the Church.”
You may be right, but history is linear and we will never know if Europe would have been better or worse without the roman church. It is unknowable. Since God is in charge of history, I leave it to Him and give Him alone glory.