@Subteigh, Does your Luther research include the Grzegorz Braun documentary? It's an eye-opener. Probably not the rosy picture you have.
Did you learn about indulgences from a Catholic source, or from an anti-Catholic source? A Catechism is easy to get ahold of. Yes, there were abuses. Jesus had a Judas, and we have many. The Church continually needs reforms. Do you know what a Doctor of the Church is?
You wrote:
I see." I also do not want to give the Catholic God the illusion of respectability".