I fully agree. The universal church is neither “Protestantism” or “Catholicism.” It’s the body/bride of Christ, made up of all true believers called out from each successive generation since Pentecost to this present day.What’s the “faulty criteria?” If it’s true it should be quite simple for you to prove. But you seem to be having a terrible time of it. What does that say?
If I may continue with the topic of Apostolic Succession, we must keep in mind that the scriptures tell us that our Lord wants us to give our sacred assent in faith to the teachings of the Apostolic authority of the Church: the faithful acknowledged the apostles’ special authority and did not dare take it upon themselves to question the teachings of the apostles ( Acts 5:13); the teaching authority is granted to the apostles and their successors. This teaching authority must be traced to the original apostles, or the authority is not sanctioned by Christ ( Acts 15:6,24; 16:4); Paul says that he is a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the Gospel of our Lord, so that the offerings of the Gentiles may be acceptable. He is referring to the ministerial priesthood of the ordained which is distinguishable from the universal priesthood of the laity. Notice the Gentiles are the “sacrifice” and Paul does the “offering” (Rom 15:16); these verses show the authority of the elders to excommunicate or anathemize heretics ( 1Cor 5:3-5; 16:22; 1Tim 1:20; Gal 1:8; Mt 18:17); Paul acknowledges his authority over God’s people which the Lord gave to build up the Church ( 2 Cor 10:8); Peter warns the faithful about despising authority. He is referring to the apostolic authority granted to them by Christ ( 2 Pet 2:10);
According to Sacred Tradition and the Church Fathers who succeeded the apostles, the Catholic Church has Apostolic Succession: “And thus preaching through countries and cities, they appointed the first fruits of their labours, having first proved them by the Spirit to be bishops and deacons of those who should afterward believe…Our apostles also knew, through our Lord Jesus Christ, there would be strife on account of the episcopate. For this reason…they appointed those ministers already mentioned, and afterwards gave instructions, that when these should fall asleep, other approved men should succeed them” {Pope Clement, A.D. 98); “For what is the bishop but one who is beyond all others possesses all power and authority, so far as it is possible for a man to possess it, who according to his ability, has been made an imitator of Christ” {Ignatius,A.D. 110}; “And when I had come to Rome, I remained there Anicetus…Anicetus was succeeded by Soter, and he by Eleutherus. In every succession and in every city that is held which is preached by the law and the prophets of the Lord”, A.D. 180}; “But if there be any heresies which are bold enough to plant themselves in the midst of the apostolic age, that they may thereby seem to have been handed down from the apostles…we can say: Let them produce the original records of their churches; let them unfold the rolls of their bishops, running down in due succession from the beginning in such a manner that their bishop shall be able to show for his ordainer and predecessor some one of the apostles or apostolic men, a man moreover who continued steadfast with the apostles…”{ Tertullian, A.D. 200}; “We are not to credit these men, nor go out from the first and the ecclesiastical tradition; nor to believe otherwise than as the churches of God have by succession transmitted to us”
{Origen, A.D. 244}; “It is my purpose to write an account of the successions of the holy apostles, as well as of the times which have elapsed from the days of our Saviour to our own…” {Eusebius, A.D. 325}; “Believe as we believe, we, who are by succession of the blessed apostles, bishops: confess as we and they have confessed, the only Son of God (re: Arianism), and thus shalt thou obtain forgiveness…” {Lucifer of Calaris ‘On Athanasius’, A.D. 361}; “If the lineal succession of bishops is to be taken into account, with how much more certainty and benefit to the Church do we reckon back till we reach Peter himself…”
{Augustine, A.D. 400}; “We must strive in common to keep the faith which has come down to us today through the Apostolic Succession” {Pope Celestine, the Council of Ephesus, A.D. 431}.
There are many more such documents and fragments dating up to the seventh century. The Church speaks for Christ and his apostles in the promulgation of all her Marian dogmas. I’ll continue by presenting scripture which supports the charism of infallibilty of the Pope and Sacred Magisterium.
“To be deep in history is to cease being a Protestant.”
Cardinal John H. Newman
Pax vobiscum
Good Fella
I e-mailed a Catholic theologian I know for information concerning this textual matter. His expertise lies in this area as well as in others. If he replies, I’ll relay the information.
Wasn’t Adam a mason" 
