'you must view the Catholic Church as a loose affiliation of independent individuals and independent organizations, who operate almost completely without control from outside forces or from the Vatican'

I must wonder when this state of being came about Joe. It must be recently. I can imagine the Vatican maintaining a lassez faire attitude as long as the various parts of the church are towing the line but I think anyone looking into the matter will quickly find who's holding the reins.

While I am not up on church history I do remember the trend towards a more 'progressive' church during the seventies and eighties, in South America, in Europe. I also seem to remember the Vatican clamping down on that movement by parachuting in conservative bishops to quench the perceived move to the left in various countries. I can give you the Dutch RC church as an example where people like Gijsen in Roermond and Simonis in Rotterdam were clear representatives of the Vatican taking control much against the general opinion and wishes of the local organisations.