Ryld wrote:
Hierarchy? I see Christ commanding that no hierarchy be in place. Only local pastors (bishops) of their own congregations and their elders is what the Scriptural model shows us. There is no hierarchy whatsoever.

That's completely false! Throughout the Old Testament when God established His Covenant with Israel, He provide a means for a living, continuing authority in the Mosaic priesthood (2 Chr 19:11; Mal 2:7). This authority did not end when the Old Testament cripture was wriiten, rather it continued as the safeguard and authentic interpreter of Scared Scripture.

When Christ established His Chruch, the New Israel, He set up a living, continuing authority to teach, govern, and sanctify in His name. This living authority is called "Apostolic" because it began with the twelve Apostles and is continued with their successors.

Among the twelve Apostles, St Peter is clearly the head. Here in Matt 16, Jesus is clearly building His church with St Peter as the head of that church.

Matt 16:13-19
[13] And Jesus came into the quarters of Caesarea Philippi: and he asked his disciples, saying: Whom do men say that the Son of man is? [14] But they said: Some John the Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets. [15] Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am? [16] Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. [17] And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. [18] And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [19] And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.

 Jesus is drawing this image of "keyes" from Is 22:19-22. From this context, at least two concepts are included;

1) The keys are a symbol of the authority given to the chief official (the Prime Minister) of the Kingdom of David.
2) The office implies dynastic succession. The office of Prime Minister continued as long as the Kingdom of David continued.

Simply put we Catholics believe that Christ is the King, and that the Pope is the "Prime Minster" of His heavenly kingdom, the Church. Christ is the Head of the Church, and the Pope is His earthly representative.

"Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ." - St. Jerome