If the doctrines were in conflict with the Bible, then too bad for the Bible, because the pope, cardinals, bishops, etc. had already declared that THEY were the authority of what the Bible is.

Well, they WERE the organization who decided what it would and wouldn't be included in it. There was no Bible prior to them. Just writings of men believed to be holy scattered about and valued differently by all who had access to them. The Catholic Church got to decide which writings did and didn't make the cut in the first place, and I have no doubt altered what they kept to some degree for their own purposes. Not to mention, as is the case with all tyrannical governments looking to control the message, burned as many copies of as many of the other manuscripts that didn't fit their agenda.

But don't tell that to most Christians here. They've come up with their own story about the book basically popping into existence ex nihilo and that it's completely absurd to believe anyone ever could have altered anything for nefarious purposes. Where they got this idea is beyond me but they defend it tooth and nail for some reason nonetheless.

The ultimate authority has and will always be the Holy Spirit of God itself. Learn to communicate with God directly or even the Bible can and will lead you astray.