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To be frank, the anti-Catholicism that has been permeating this site recently has been very disturbing to me.

Forgive me for being contrary, but I don't quite understand why we must characterize a classical Protestant position as "anti-Catholic". Of course its anti-Catholic, in the sense that the posters/writers are theologically opposed to the Catholic Church--that is the very essence of the protest in "Protestant". On the other hand, if it's being used as an ad hominem label...as if to suggest that the posters/authors are particularly prejudiced against us rather than merely in disagreement, I think it is bandied about far too often. The Protestant apologists on this forum don't--by and large--seem to be motivated by prejudice but by honest disagreement.

Moreover, I can't see how it helps in any way, at all. The people who are firmly convicted against Holy Church will proudly wear the term like a badge of honor, as much as I wear the term "anti-abortion" like a badge of honor. The people who are just in disagreement will be frustrated and get put in the uncomfortable (and nearly impossible) position of having to defend themselves against an accusation of blind hatred and prejudice. "Anti-Catholic" has become our own version of "homophobic". I have yet to see anyone called it react positively.

IMHO, I think we would be well-served by a total moratorium on the term. Perhaps I'm wrong--and please tell me if I am-- but I really see it as more harmful than helpful in this context.

Here's a series of links from the last week alone with inflammatory headlines or content to Catholics. This goes far beyond the genuine disagreements with theology or beliefs. These are flame bait threads and nothing more. These are just titled threads from the last week, go into threads about Mary, or the thread from just yesterday with the Statue of Jesus at John's Hopkins and you will see a lot more of these swipes.

The Certainty of the Written Word of Truth The Lord Christ or the Pope of Rome?

Catholic Legends And How They Get Started: An Example

Hitler's Pope? (Book review of The Myth of Hitler's Pope)

The real problem is that these threads are condoned. If they were reworded, let's say against Baptists, Evangelicals, or Calvinists, and posted here, it would be pulled almost immediately. Since it is against Catholics, it's just a "legitimate objection to Catholic doctrine", and is freely able to be "discussed". There is certainly an anti-Catholic bias here. There always has been, but things are starting to go out of control. The Catholics that raise objection to this are warned, and threatened with suspension, while the Protestants who do the same get nothing. A good, long time member was banned just yesterday for daring to challenge this.