I’m throwing my hat in the ring here. I think we ARE better off now that the Reformation occurred. Otherwise, we’d probably still be buying indulgences from the Church so the Church could buy more “stuff.” FWIW, the Catholic church still does this to some degree by allowing people to “PAY” for masses. If the Catholic church really believes that masses are integral for the souls of the departed, they should do it for FREE. Jesus didn’t charge his disciples.
As for Osteen, Swaggert, et al, they are no worse (and I’d like to be very clear here that I despise these people; Osteen is probably the least offensive - he doesn’t preach a wrong Gospel, he just preaches the “happy” parts, unlike Hinn who is just a moonbat) than many of the Popes that you and I both know have done insidious things.
As for Protestants defining themselves by the Catholic church, the name has apparently stuck. Why are you still called Catholic since you aren’t really universal at all? I don’t refer to MYSELF as a Protestant but as a Christian and most of my Christian brothers and sisters say the same, even many of the Catholics I know.
Finally, it is a sad fact that the West is declining in the number of faithful. This can be blamed on many things (post modernism for example) but, of course, we know who is behind all of this. Nothing has changed from the beginning in the Garden, nor will it until our Lord returns. The good news, however, is that Christianity is growing in leaps and bounds in places like Africa and China.
Let’s try to spend our time on stopping the spread of Islam and preaching the Gospel to those who are truly lost.
No, they don't. If you understood what indulgences are, you would know that a Mass is not an indulgence.
And for that matter, a customary and token offering is made when a Mass is dedicated to a loved one. It's not like there is a fee schedule and it is understood that you are literally underwriting the temporal aspects of the Mass (e.g. paying the light bill) and not buying some specific spiritual bag of goodies.
Good response. There is much that we could continue to debate in good faith. But your response is both reasonable and charitable, and points to where we need to focus.