"It wasn’t until I decided to read the Word of God myself I saw the beauty and realise the Holy Bible had the power to change our lives."

I can get behind that 👌

As to the rituals, you get to understand them more as you live them... But they have much more to do with the Word of God than may appear. The lives of practicing Catholics are steeped in Scripture, as is our most precious prayer, the Mass. I highly recommend Scott Hahn's "The Lamb's Supper" if you want to learn more about this!

As to the art, I find it sickening just as you do. It is the work of churchmen who have lost the taste for beauty and mystery and have become fascinated with themselves instead. Much of the 20th century was a time in which leaders lost common sense and betrayed God and those they were called to lead. The marks of shame are too many to count.

We are left holding the bag. We ask God for mercy on their behalf, and ours.