If it’s not a contest, why do you always trying to make it one. You’re equating defending our faith from attack as if we are insisting you must “follow Rome”. We have beliefs that we express that are constantly questioned, mocked, sneered at and when we dare to defend it by explaining our reasoning suddenly we’re insisting that you must accept it or else. I repeat, you are free to believe as you choose. The whole concept of faith is a personal decision on how you approach your relationship with God. That you feel someone is compelling you to “follow Rome” is in your own mind. The only way someone can have that kind of power over you is if you allow it.
“There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate The Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be.” - Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
7
I don’t recall seeing your screen name on these threads before. I think you probably need to make yourself a bit more familiar with what really DOES go on here. OPEN Religion Forum threads can get heated and your beliefs can be challenged. If you don’t have the temperament to deal with that without getting defensive, then you might want to stick to Catholic Caucus (there are a pile of them every day).
Have a nice evening.