No. The Catholic Church does not fit the definition of a "cult" and relgious indoctrination is quite different from thought reform or cult "brainwashing."
See [
www.culteducation.com]
Note the definition of a cult as outlined by psychiatrist Dr. Robert Jay Lifton. The Catholic Church and the overwhelming majority of Christian churches would not fit this definition.
Cults are typically personality-driven and authoritarian. They are controlled by a living leader that defines the group through his claims and beliefs.
The Pope doesn't fit that description and he is after all elected.
Cult leaders like Jim Jones, David Koresh, Charles Manson fit that description and certainly were not elected and had no meaningful accountabiltiy.
To better understand the differences between thought reform and religious indoctrination see the following chart organized by psychologist Dr. Margaret Singer.
See [
www.culteducation.com]
Note the gradations of influence ranging from education, advertising, propaganda, indoctrination to thought reform.
Are you associated in some way with a group, leader, organization or movement somehow mentioned on this database?