I still don't get why you need a man in a funny hat to talk to talk to the grandpa in the sky. If the kooky bastard doesn't like what I'm doing, why can't he just tell me?
One of the purposes of the Church/priests/congregations/etc. is to be the community for which the followers can gather to. Other purposes include keeping history, acting as the interpreters of the word and faith, acting as the spiritual leader and role model, etc.
i love it when catholics tell people what they will and won't inexcusably go to hell for
Well this is how most if not all religions operate, on the assumption that their ideas are correct and assumed true for all, even non-followers.
