Righteousness is not a prerequisite for salvation but a component of it. This were Protestants misunderstand the Catholic position. We do not believe in salvation through works. Salvation is a pure grace but it is a grace with which we must cooperate.
God is sovereign. To think that any mere man could thwart His will by not cooperating is, I think, edging close to blasphemy.
I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the LORD, your God, heeding his voice, and holding fast to him. (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)God is indeed sovereign but in his sovereignty he gave us free will as he made us in his image and likeness. The reason for this is, as Jesus tells us, that the greatest commandment is that we love him. Love, by its very nature, must be the act of a free will. If not, it would not be love but only instinct. Additionally, how could anyone be guilty of transgressing the will of God if that very act of transgression was imposed upon him by God?Because I called and you refused, I extended my hand and no one took notice. (Proverbs 1:24)
Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made. As a result, they have no excuse; for although they knew God they did not accord him glory as God or give him thanks. Instead, they became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened. (Romans 1:20-21)
No one experiencing temptation should say, 'I am being tempted by God'; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one. Rather, each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. (James 1:13-15)
“We do not believe in salvation through works.”
Then why are you arguing for it? Saying we must cooperate means that works are involved, as cooperation itself is a work.
“God is indeed sovereign but in his sovereignty he gave us free will as he made us in his image and likeness. The reason for this is, as Jesus tells us, that the greatest commandment is that we love him. Love, by its very nature, must be the act of a free will. If not, it would not be love but only instinct.”
Yes, I agree that we have free will, but you must also consider that if we are not in a state of grace, our wills are not truly free, since they are enslaved to sin in our fallen state:
“5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”
Romans 8:5-8
So we cannot, until we are saved, or “of the Spirit”, cooperate with God’s plan of salvation. For that would be pleasing God, which we cannot do, for our sinful natures are not inclined to do so. Once we are saved, yes, we are expected to cooperate, but that can’t be a prerequisite for salvation.
“Additionally, how could anyone be guilty of transgressing the will of God if that very act of transgression was imposed upon him by God?”
It isn’t imposed by God, that is heresy. We choose to sin because it is in our natures, God did not create us in that nature, nor did He force us to sin. Even if we sin as Christians, God cannot be blamed:
“17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.” Galatians 2:17-18