Paul says it very clearly in 2 Thes 2:15
Therefore, brethren, stand fast; and hold the traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or by our epistle.
He is basically saying the He is of the Apostles, and hold to the traditions taught to them. He does not say, now people go home and read your bibles to interpret for yourselves. There is no where in the Bible in which it says an individual will be kept free from error if they do not submit to the Church. It says the opposite in fact, as Romans 1 states
[22] For professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.
[23] And they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of the image of a corruptible man, and of birds, and of fourfooted beasts, and of creeping things.
[24] Wherefore God gave them up to the desires of their heart, unto uncleanness, to dishonour their own bodies among themselves.
[25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie; and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
We are not of the generation that rebelled against the Church and went off on our own, we are their fruits. God only calls us to account for what we are able to understand. Back then, everyone thought they knew better, even though they were instructed in the faith, they chose to rebel. If they had been correct, and it was appropriate to leave the Church, we would have had an era of peace and people would have followed the reformers. Instead they all broke off on their own, and the secular world which used to be subject to the Church also rebelled and we wound up with bloody wars, the French Revolution, World War I and World War II, crushing oppression form communist dictators that resulted in widespread famine and millions of deaths. The Reformation is not working. Sin is worse today than it ever was.
You can say that it was not the reformer's fault, it was unbelievers, but you can't tell me that the secular authorities and intellectuals were not emboldened by that spirit of rebellion against the Church.
Human nature has concupiscence, we want to rule, not be ruled. Pride is the greatest sin and humility the greatest virtue. God says He desires obedience rather than sacrifice. Psalm 51
[18] For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given it: with burnt offerings thou wilt not be delighted.
[19] A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
1 Samuel 15
[22] And Samuel said: Doth the Lord desire holocausts and victims, and not rather that the voice of the Lord should be obeyed? For obedience is better than sacrifices: and to hearken rather than to offer the fat of rams.
The Authority was given to the Church when our Lord spoke to Peter in Matthew 16
[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.
Hmmmm, building a church, keys to the kingdom of heaven, authority of binding and loosing. Wow that is some pretty big authority that has nothing to do with individuals studying the word of God on their own and rebelling against the Church.
Jesus gives us the authority structure in Matthew 18
[15] But if thy brother shall offend against thee, go, and rebuke him between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy brother.
[16] And if he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more: that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand.
[17] And if he will not hear them: tell the church. And if he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican.
We see that the Church has greater authority than two Christians arguing about scripture, and if they won't listen to the Church, they are as heathens and publicans
Everyone wants to be a king. We know better than our peers and our so called superiors. We can read the Bible, we don't need anyone else, but what does Jesus say? Does He want kings? Does He want everyone to be on their own? Not according to Matthew 18.
[3] And said: Amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
[4] Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven.
[5] And he that shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me.
[6] But he that
shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea.
Little children are obedient to authority, because they know that they do not know everything. Peter was given authority in the Church, and he shared it with the Apostles under his care. We have no right to rebel against the Apostolic faith and go out on our own.
Even when Paul talks about withstanding Peter to his face, did not rebel against Peter and start a new church and call Peter's Church the harlot of Babylon and those that follow her carry the mark of the beast. That is not what happened, and Paul did not use scripture to withstand Peter, but simple logic, How can you, being a Jew, yet live like a gentile, then compel gentiles to live like Jews? Peter changed his mind, as it is the mark of any great leader to admit when he is wrong. He corrected his behavior, but did not abdicate his position as head of the Church.
I submit in obedience to approximately 2000 years of Church history. Not one teaching of the Catholic Church can be shown to be unbiblical. Read the catechism and tell me which one. We cannot lean to our own understanding, nor our own conscience. Understanding is incomplete, and conscience is not always correct, as the Bible says there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death (prov 14:12)
You will disagree with everything I wrote, but what you cannot do is say the Catholic Church is unbiblical. You may point to people that call themselves Catholic, even priests and bishops and point out that their behavior in unbiblical, but you cannot show me from the Catechism, one teaching that is against the word of God