The evolution of the Catholic Church began in the fourth century with Constantine. Before that time it was unknown. Constantine married "Christianity" to the state, and this "state-religion" became the Roman Catholic Church. It was Constantitne that paganized Christianity, and in the same breath Christianized the pagans. Why not? He wasn't a Christian himself. His goals were purely political in nature, as were almost all of the popes. "By their fruit ye shall know them."
What fruit?
Revelation 17:5-6 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
The Catholic Church, down through the ages, has persecuted and martyred more Bible-believing Christians than any other religious group, or government in history. Their blood will forever be on its hands.
The Catholic Church did not evolve from Peter, not from the Apostles, not from the early Christians, but rather from a pagan secular leader called Constantine who introduced idolatry into it. It has been a pagan religion ever since, with little resemblence to Christianity. It does not preach the gospel of grace by faith in Christ at all, but rather a religion of works, which has more in common with Hinduism than it does with Christianity.
DHK