The Roman Catholic church has a man-made and run hierarchy, with leaders prone to the same ego-driven excesses of all power structures.

It has a theology which is actually pretty good in my opinion. At least as far as taking care of the temporal person, it offers confession AND forgiveness, contingent upon an honest intent to not repeat.

It is able to stay abreast of new findings regarding the role of Earth and Man in the Universe, didn't get stuck in the Creationism trap.

And it meddles in the lives of it's adherents the same way other religions do.

I think where the Roman Catholic church fails is in the character of Man as designed by God in His image. Egos take over and become the focus rather than the message. Nuns living in the pressure cooker of a convent take their frustrations out on kids, priests have few outlets for theirs, and on up.

It is turning more and more Conservative, at least the last few bunches of Cardinals have been. One could say that it's a final, desperate effort to save the faith as those in leadership have known it and have a point. I think the RC church is in for a mighty overhaul on the level of a small Reformation as they come to grips with overpopulation and birth control, abortion, women's rights, celibacy (which is not Biblically based) and gay issues. Those matters have achieved critical mass and are inexorably building to universal acceptance.

Not long ago a Pope served a very short while. It is said he was going to institute changes, and at one point said re birth control, "Who are a bunch of old men to tell young people how to manage their families?" He was also instituting financial changes, but died suddenly and unexpectedly. No autopsy.

It has survived, you are correct. And it's going to be changing. In my opinion.

Arf