[gattilorenz]

> Local governments also request funds from the central government.

That can happen with the Church as well, local priests get their "salary" from a central (at the national level, not the Vatican) institution

> Also, people pay taxes directly to central governments.

At least in Italy you can devolve 8/1000 of your taxes to the Church, and that's not your local church but again, the national-level institution (and they redistribute it to lower levels). I think in Germany it's very similar, and probably in other countries too.

[e_i_pi_2]

My main criticism for it being a pyramid scheme is that it's basically a very old version of self-help seminars, which overlap heavily with pyramid schemes, and they want a percentage of your income (your "downline"), and are encouraged to help recruit - so it has all the indicators

[gattilorenz]

Except you are not requested any percentage of your income (most churchgoers give 1€/2€ per week, plus possibly a government-decided tax or tax discount, in no way mandatory), and you are not encouraged to help “recruit” (but to live your life as a christian.

You are, I think, confusing the Catholic Church with Joevah’s witnesses or other denominations where the things you mention are common. You said in another post “I wasn't raised Catholic so can't speak to their practices”, except you seem to do that quite liberally…