The Catholic apologist Trent Horn is so invested in church authority over scripture, that he finds common cause with Mormons against Protestants! 

Note that this implies that the mere form hierarchical authority is more important than having apostolic authority behind it — since even he, I hope, denies that the Mormons actually have apostolic content in the fantasies of Joseph Smith, nor that they have any claim to succession of ordination from the apostles.

I think this is telling and should be pondered. In denying Sola Scriptura in favor of church authority, it ends up that revelation itself becomes a matter of indifference. Then, the doctrines taught by Scripture are rejected. For, in mentioning that Justification by Faith Alone (JBFA) goes out the window in connection with embracing church authority, he admits that JBFA is actually taught by Scripture.

Here is the quote, from YouTube.

We do have points of commonality that are interesting, especially when we compare to Protestant denominations, the ecclesial communities that came from the Protestant Reformation. So much so, that even you yourself could borrow some material that I might use, others might use, in engaging some things, such as things we reject, for example, like rejecting the Doctrine of Sola Scripture.

Well, honestly, I think the biggest thing is that, why Mormons and Catholics find a lot of common ground, is that LDS and Catholics both believe that Christ intended to establish an authoritative, hierarchical church that has the capacity to bind and loose doctrine for believers, to be able to speak in authoritative pronouncements: that there is this one church that Christ established to be served by the successors of the apostles; and to have this apostolic succession, to maintain a ministerial priesthood.

So there’s a very similar ecclesiology there, that especially for low church Protestants — Baptists, certain Reformed Protestants — is very very far afield for them. So you have that agreement in ecclesiology which, from that, you also will get things like rejecting the doctrine of Sola Scripture, rejecting Sola Fide — justification by faith alone. So that does create a fair amount of common ground there…

Here are the takeaways just from this short speech:

• for apostolic succession, it is not necessary to have an actual continuity to the apostles via the laying on of hands
• the form hierarchical church is more important than that form having the correct content
• Justification by Faith Alone would follow from scripture alone
• but it doesn’t matter that JBFA is taught by scripture, since having church authority — any “church” — is far more important, even when used to deny truths taught by Scripture!

I don’t think this is just Trent Horn. I suspect this is a dark shadow behind all the Catholic Youtube apologists if they would speak so candidly.