There are people who will attest to lots of things. There are people who will attest to their belief that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, but that doesn't make him one.
Objective evidence, my friend. The objective evidence that verifies Rivera's story doesn't exist, and plenty of evidence exists that shows him to be a phony. To ignore that evidence with a "catholics made it up" line is to leap into the arms of a non-falsifiable exercise in illogic.
Again, just because I disagree with his principles and religion doesn't mean I can't ask folks to honor him for what he said, can I??
You can, and I think it's fine that you do, but I'd prefer that you didn't combine it with a no-holds-barred attack on everything else he's said.
Having said that, I find it odd, but oddly encouraging, that otherwise vociferously anti-Catholic believers of various stripes are endorsing, sight unseen, a movie starring a Catholic man and a Jewish woman, directed by a traditionalist schismatic Catholic man (whose position re Protestantism is infinitely less irenic than the Pope's, BTW) ... a movie whose script is heavily based, not only on the Bible, but on the mystical insights of an 18th Century Catholic nun. Maybe y'all don't know what you're getting yourselves into ... that roman catholic institution [sic] and her worldwide conspiracy's out to get'cha. BOO! [just kidding :-)].
You said before it was a LACK OF EVIDENCE that supported the claim that he wasn't a priest, so which is it??
Having said that, I find it odd, but oddly encouraging, that otherwise vociferously anti-Catholic believers of various stripes are endorsing, sight unseen, a movie starring a Catholic man and a Jewish woman, directed by a traditionalist schismatic Catholic man (whose position re Protestantism is infinitely less irenic than the Pope's, BTW)
Hard to say, but after viewing the show, if I find it has a definite catholic flavor to it, I will let folks know. But on the other hand if I find that it is right on the money, I will let folks know that too.
And your argument can be piggy-backed on by saying this: The one person who brought us a Bible that has lasted for over 300 years is the same person who tortured and killed hundreds. Guess we can find a rose in a bryer patch if we just look hard enough huh?