OT @ CROSS EYED CYCLOPS ....
That is true , many are what we call PRACTICAL CATHOLICS instead of being DEVOUT CATHOLICS but reading the bible alone does not at all give you justification of knowing the truth. It will transform you into a " FUNDIE " and that is due to the nature of the bible being interpreted by the person reading it unless you have behind you the guidance and authorities of the bible.
I have not seen the documentary you are talking about but I also know the HISTORY of the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH with references from different authors and source of literatures and lessons form people deem knowledgeable,experts and authorities of RCC. If you are talking about the timeline of Pepin the Short and his connection with RCC then it would be a different storybecause that itself has its own story why such occurence occured.
Unlike the commercialized media as our medium , I certainly reserve it for entertainment purposes and not entirely for sources of knowledge . Do you remember how the GNOSTIC and FALSE GOSPELS were portrayed by NATGEO and made it so believable that daghan mga tao nangalikoy ang utok ?
Regarding the corruption and politics issue , that is true. But we can not at all leave everything to the state since time immemorial and we also know that ang mismo ang STATE ang cge ug duol sa CHURCH. Not the other way around. Do you even know why there is such a big POWER STRUGGLE in the VATICAN right now ?
These and all are history , sad truth and reality yet it does not undermine of what the TRUE TEACHINGS of the CHURCH are all about. It will remain like that , it will stay like that just how it is for the last 2000 years.