I actually have a lot more respect for the Catholics as an Orthodox Christian than I ever did as an Evangelical. That said, I do believe they are in error with regards to the Papacy (universal jurisdiction & infallibility) and with their recent Marian dogmas (immaculate conception & mediatrix of all graces), none of which are truly evident in the early church. I also feel very sad for Latin rite Catholics in the West as the fasting discipline has pretty much been completely done away with, and it is one of the disciplines I have found most beneficial since becoming Orthodox. In Orthodoxy we don't just learn the theory on becoming holy, we are given practical means to actually attain to holiness, and a large part of that has been done away with in Catholicism.
I will echo everything Prodromos said. And I do respect Catholics a great deal more as an Orthodox, so as to the OP, no, I wouldn't say there is hate.
But to all of what is quoted, I think another very important distinction is the way in which Catholics view man, God, sin, and salvation. I wish I had a neat, clean way to wrap all that into one label, because they are related. But Orthodox see man as less inherently evil and retaining the image of God (though marred), sin as certainly involving natural consequences but not REQUIRING temporal punishment outside of God's forgiveness (however we DO believe man must be changed - but don't see punishment as the necessary avenue), and these affect our view of salvation and consequently, a slight difference in our view of God.
A Catholic person may say they agree with much of what I've said, but after a great deal of careful study, there are subtle differences in what we are taught.
As a Baptist, you may be more comfortable with Catholicism for these reasons. Essentially SOME of these ideas permeate Protestantism.
But I find the Orthodox faith to be very beautiful, and a wonderful way of seeing the love of God and His infinite ways of caring for us and changing us. It's a bit like walking on a tightrope without even being able to see the rope, when I compare it to all the "spelled out and measured" teachings of Catholicism regarding sin and grace, but those feel legalistic to me (which legalism is actually a comfort to the human understanding - we like to know exactly where we stand!). But the fuller picture of God's grace, love, and mercy make me willing to trust God to do His part in changing me.
I hope that makes sense. I fear it may be very confusing without the understanding it took me hundreds of questions and months of close examination to finally reach.
I consider Catholics my brothers and sisters - it is God who judges and not I - and I get the sense that He is more concerned with the heart of a person. But I dearly love my own Church, and appreciate the very real tools she provides to help us grow in Christ, as well as the vision of God she has finally given me.
Oh, and welcome to CF, and to TT!
