There are priests and lay people who devote their whole lives to biblical exegesis or hermeneutics.  You can criticize The Pope and The Church on this matter when you have a degree in either and have spent your whole life studying this issue.  Roman Catholic theologians, in good standing, don't agree on this issue, even to this very day.  It is NOT set in stone. What you want is for nothing to change.  You want ONE thing in this world to be unchangeable. It's a matter of security.  Life can be very scary and frightening and painful.  And The Church has offered, to the lay person particularly, security.  However, nothing is permanent. The 10 Commandments are a great way for society to live in (somewhat relative) harmony.  We simply can't have people stealing, cheating, lying, committing murder, and we can't have the breakdown of the family unit. Kids need intact homes, WITH A MOTHER AND FATHER WHO LOVE EACH OTHER.  But The RCC can and will change with the times, or it will not survive.