"this kind of control over people can happen in other groups, too, not just the Catholic church."
This is true to an extent Alice, with one important rider - in most countries the church gives its allegience to the State - in Ireland, in practical terms, up to now, it has been the opposite with the State owing its allegience to the Church. Hence the collusion between Church and State over the abuse scandals.
When I was growing up (in Liverpool - therefore not directly under the influence of the church) there used to be a joke about particularly fierce priests "I'll bet Father ***** gave Jesus water-walking lessons").
Jim Carroll