The law of the Catholic Church is not binding outside the Catholic Church therefore, it is not “settled.”
First of all, you've drawn yourself into this argument. Like it or not.
Secondly, so let me get this straight:
I could post an article that stated "Presbyterians have secret ceremonies where they sacrifice virgins and make young boys drink their blood."
A Presbyterian says "no we don't"
I say "You're lying...yes you do!"
Narses chimes in and says "I'm a former Presbyterian and I confess to having been forced to drink the blood of virgins."
Yet another Presbyterian says "You are LYING narses. That never happens in Presbyterian churches."
A third Presbyterian cites some obscure portion of the Westminster Confession that EXPLICITLY PROHIBITS the sacrifice of virgins. It EXPLICITLY prohibits the further drinking of the blood of virgins. He says: "there. case closed."
I come back and say "I don't really care what your stupid Westminster Confession says. I KNOW that it happens. The case isn't closed." And the thread continues for 1,000+ posts
Now, you are SERIOUSLY going to say that it is not settled that Presbyterians sacrifice virgins on their altars? Do you think that Federal Law would be written at some point ordering Presbyterians not to participate in human sacrifice?
Well, I got some news for you, my moderating friend, it is SETTLED that Presbyterians do not sacrifice virgins. It doesn't take a law to deal with that. No matter what old dusty articles I can pull out saying otherwise.
Likewise, it is SETTLED that The Catholic Church doesn't worship Mary. There is defined Church teaching that says what the Catholic Church believes and doesn't believe.
To say the Catholic Church worships Mary is about as ludicrous as to say the Catholic Church supports abortion on demand. They are both settled. The Church doesn't do either.
Your statement that it's not settled draws yourself into the argument...it takes a position rather than moderating whether the argument crosses the line or not (you are casting doubt one way or the other). Therefore, as a debate moderator (I do not envy you), you are failing when you take that line.
My suggestion to you is that you simply say "it doesn't matter. As long as racism, advocacy of violence, or doesn't involve a personal attack against another FReeper, it is allowed on a designated [OPEN] thread." And STAY OUT OF THE ARGUMENT.
And if a Catholic FReeper complains about the existence of the [OPEN] thread, delete the post as "he/she is the disruptor." And eventually he/she will learn not to respond to flamebait (which is all this thread is in the first place).