struck me as the most Christ-like thing that has come out of the Catholic church, so I was a bit befuddled as to why so many Catholics have nothing but vitriol for it

just answered your own question. Although I maintain that's an organised religion issue not a Catholic one. Jesus was after all literally killed by the religious authorities (or at least they had him killed if you want to be technical the Romans killed him). Just as it was cops who made jesus wear a crown of thorns