First, I don't think Peter or Rome were originally regarded as the head of the church. I think James and Jerusalem were the original head of the church per Acts 15:7-20. Certainly, within a few centuries Rome was looked to as the head, but I think that has more to do with political and ethnic pressure than apostolic authority. In general, I think political and ethnic pressures account for a number of traditions, some minor and some not so minor. For example, the Roman Catholics celebrate Easter based on a European calendar completely divorcing it from the Jewish calendar and Passover. And they are quite candid about this - in material provided to me in RCIA class it was explained that the resurrection of Christ marked a clear division between celebrating Passover in the past and Easter going forward. I just don't think that is correct.
Second, I've read forward and backward and upside down to try to get my head around praying to saints, or asking saints to intercede. Honestly, this is not that big a deal to me - I understand the idea that saints are surrounding the throne and we can ask them to pray to God for us just like we would ask a friend or family member to pray for us. But I still don't think it's true. I don't think it's idol worship to ask a saint to pray for you, and I don't think it's necromancy. I just don't think Christ gave us that example. It also concerns me that the process to become a saint involves confirming miracles after their death. So, not only do Catholics pray to saints, but they pray to people before they are saints. And then the miracle(s) is associated with that person. That seems very troublesome to me.
Thirdly, Catholic dogma (Lumen gentium paragraph 16 and Nostra Aetate paragraph 3) is that Muslims worship the same god as Catholics and protestants. I don't hate Muslims, I don't think they are all evil, and I think they have every right to worship as they choose. However, I cannot believe that we worship the same god. The basic premise in the Catholic church is that all humans are searching for God in their own way. You can be most assured of eternal life with God by being a practicing Catholic in good standing. Your "odds" go down the further away from the Catholic Church you get. If you are not in the Catholic church your good deeds may eventually get you eternal life with God. I don't believe that.
Lastly, Mary. I don't buy into the whole "Biblical Manhood" patriarchal male leadership common among some conservative Christians. And I don't really have a problem venerating Mary. So, it's not an anti-feminine bent that dissuades me. But I cannot accept the 4 dogmas of Mary. For example, perpetual virginity. I think Joseph, husband of Mary, died while Jesus was young and since he had no children one of his brothers married Mary, per Mosaic law, and had children (Mark 6:3). I am aware of the "cousins" interpretation, but I don't think it is correct. I think James, Jesus' oldest younger sibling, is referenced in John 19:26. And I think James went on to be the first leader of the Church as referenced in Acts above.
Unfortunately, I'm afraid that I think I can stand by all my previous posts with a clear conscience. In brief, what I have posited is that the Protestant church is hopelessly divided. Secondly, that Sola Scriptura is untenable as a full deposit of "the faith" - that is, there is something about the Christian faith that is transmitted by tradition. Thirdly, that the Catholic Church has terrific teachings on faith and grace. And lastly, I have no issue with there being authority in the Church reliably passed down and protected by the Holy Spirit for 2 thousand years. So, perhaps I'll start a blog with a different name now.
Love,
Paul
P.S. I leave this particular branch of the road with a better understanding of Catholics. As a protestant it is so easy to just write them off as crazy and unbiblical, but that is clearly not the case. I have a much higher regard for the Catholic church now.
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