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Let's say there are only 500 contradictory Protestant denominations. How about only three? All contradicting each other except in their unified hatred/jelousy of the Church's authority, and ALL exactly RIGHT. That's unity and good sense for you.

Protestants are united in belief on the essentials of the gospel message.

Outside of these essentials, we are free to disagree. We have no ultimate dissension among ourselves.

We have anathemized no other believers.

We consider all believers to be part of the body of Christ.

And ... in light of the news of the day, ... no Protestant alive today envies anything Catholic.

Protestants are united in belief on the essentials of the gospel message.

What about homosexuality? What about gay "marriage"? What about living in carnal sin (shaking up)? What about dancing, drinking, card playing? What about abortion? You all have disagreements about these things. I have heard Various Protestant ministers bless these very things which are anathema to others. Do YOU bless any of these things? Do you think they are contrary to the essentials of the Gospel message?

We have anathematized no other believers.

I have heard so many Protestants anathematize ALL the others or pick certain groups of Protestants and say they are going to hell and that others are not Christian. Heck, there are protestants here on this forum who say that all who go and see the Passion are apostate idol-worshipers and at risk of going to hell just for seeing it.

We consider all believers to be part of the body of Christ.

Tell that to a typical Baptist (God bless them). Perhaps YOU believe that all Baptized Christians are a part of the body of Christ. But, in that, you certainly do not speak for all Protestants. You do, however, come closer to official Catholic belief on that matter.

... no Protestant alive today envies anything Catholic.

And how do you know what is in the mind and heart of EVERY Protestant, my friend? That's a pretty big and diverse group. One might safely say that there are Catholics who envy some things Protestant (I have heard them), and some Protestants who envy some things Catholic (I have heard them also).

The world is not as neat and clean as we would want. That would make it easier to understand, but it simply is not true. Protestants are extremely diverse in their views. So are Catholics, but there is an authority to tell us (Catholics) when we are wrong. You, my Protestant brother, have no such authority, because you can just interpret your authority however you want to according to your own personal wants and whims and weaknesses and strengths and moods and conveniences and momentary arguments. And if some pastor in your church says you are wrong, you can just go down the street to another pastor who says you are right. We Catholics cannot shop for our own "tolerable" version of Jesus. We are stuck with the version He gave us.

Whatever mistakes we all make, and we ALL make them, He is in charge, and He is infinitely loving, just and merciful. Together, you and I have hope in that.

God bless you, brother, and may we, by His mercy, embrace each other in heaven.