With all due respect Amy, one only has to research history realistically to realize that the Catholic religion, (of which I was born into) is founded on greed, murder, hypocrisy, and generally trumped up to suit a few self-serving kings and popes!

Study the regime of the churches’ first pope Constantine (306-337) from the history books, not the religiously slanted books, for an authentic look at the history of the church. It is founded on "myths" that Constantine devised to create a financially consolidated front for himself, in a fracturing kingdom. That would be a good jumping off spot.

Then proceed to follow the rest of history of the Catholic church, and see if any of it relates at all to what Jesus, and many prophets like him attempted to teach us. I believe Jesus said "the Kingdom of Heaven is Within"….not in Rome, or was he just kidding?