Okay, first, as I’m sure many people are aware, there aren’t tens of thousands of Protestant denominations. This article from the National Catholic Register confirms as such. The source for that claim is faulty, also listing hundreds of Catholic denominations:
Second, this Catholic priest misstates what Protestants understand and believe about faith.
We hold to works, everything God directs Christians to do in His Word, but in the end, those works are just forms of faith.
God’s Word says whatever is not of faith is sin.
“And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Romans 14:23
God’s Word also contrasts faith with pride (which makes perfect sense given what we know of Satan and human sinfulness):
“Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4
So, works done within faith are simply faith, while works done outside of faith are of the flesh, of the world, and not of God.
Boring, isn't it? Anytime some Catholic "apologist" uses that insipid, disproven argument, I know that whatever else they are trying to prove with it is suspect and probably bogus. Mr. Pope has lost credibility with this article of his. He's singing to the choir only - the choir that wants their ears tickled and is uninterested in the truth.