Currently on the Catholic board and really, anytime I read a Catholic position, they claim that the RCC was established by Christ, Himself. Is this true? I know Martin Luther started out as a Catholic priest but disagreed with the RCC on several things, particularly indulgences. So was the RCC established by Jesus?
Well, the disagreements between Luther and the RCC are really more in depth. Theology, history, politics, etc. are all behind the schism. Many theological views that Luther held in opposition to the RCC have been smoothed over by time and dialogue. Thinking about either position on purely a theological level will never allow one to see the full picture.
Was the RCC "established by Jesus"? Yes, as were all the "Apostolic" Churches, and the Protestant brothers too on a different level. Who has the most "correct" understanding of the Christian path? Well, that is up to us to investigate in light of theology, history, politics, etc.. The path has been riddled by missteps, intrigue, and political meddling. The Lutheran church would not have survived without the interference of the German princes (who's reasons were not generally altruistic or theological), for right or wrong. But the RCC was in desperate need of reform at that time, regardless of German politics.
I have come back to believing the RCC holds the keys, but the history and truth are not as clear cut as the Catechism or many RCC apologists would make it seem. However, that statement goes both ways - Protestant apologists are also guilty of not looking at the full picture. We all tend to focus on what arguments strengthen our position, and tend to ignore the ones that compromise it. But isn't that human nature?