I don’t harbor ill will towards Catholics or their religion. I simply think it is an offshoot of Christianity that went down the wrong path (IMO)
I grew up Catholic. I have plenty of personal reasons to hate and detest the Catholic Church but I don’t, because I know there are and have been good people in it.
I am trying to find my path to God, but it won’t be down that path...
Right. I don’t dislike the Church, and I happen to think that Catholics are saved in spite of the huge untruths of the official dogma.
I too was raised Catholic, went to Catholic schools, etc. But God gave us a head so we can use it, and once my eyes were open I made my adult choices.
When other Christians ask me about it, I use the parallel with the Jews and the Books of Moses and the Torah. The Books of Moses were their Law and the Torah was the 2,000 pages that resulted because of well-intentioned measures to interpret that Law. Ditto with Catholics. As they struggled to create a worldwide church they made many human, albeit flawed, interpretations. Some invented out of whole cloth, by the way.
Good luck with your own journey. It sounds as if you’re still trying to find your way.