You are almost correct - it is completely acceptable to heap abuse on Catholics, just as long is it isn't against an individual/group of FReepers (Catholic or no).
Conversely, it is not acceptable to heap abuse on Catholics, personal or no, within any "Caucus"- or "Devotional"labeled thread, regardless of which group posts the thread. You would be completely within your rights to call out such abuse on a "Caucus"- or "Devotional"labeled thread, and I believe you would find the Mods sympathetic to your pleas if you did.
That said, you need to understand that those same rules apply for all groups/individuals within the Religion Forum. Catholics can (and some do) heap abuse deep and wide upon Protestantism, Judaism, Mormonism, Orthodoxy, etc etc etc all they want. Anyone going after an individual FReeper is a no-no, regardless of the religious persuasion of the attacking or receiving parties.
...each Catholic is a part of the Body of Christ, and an attack on the Body is an attack on each of us...
While I understand the argument, you won't find the Mods in agreement. The rules are against "making it personal", but there is no protection if you are "taking it personal". Just because your particular religious persuasion is called out, does not equate the comments to an attack upon you personally, nor should you take it as such.
FWIW, I don't find the epithet "ignorant" offensive myself. Others do (including the Religion Moderator), and you should therefore avoid attaching the label to individual FReepers.
You are almost correct - you should therefore avoid attaching the label to an individual/group of FReepers (Catholic or no).
While I understand the argument, you won't find the Mods in agreement. The rules are against "making it personal", but there is no protection if you are "taking it personal". Just because your particular religious persuasion is called out, does not equate the comments to an attack upon you personally
I added the "Body of Christ" comment as a personal aside to help illuminate why Catholics are offended when the Communion of Saints is attacked and/or denigrated. Yes, the rules are the rules, even though they may be slanted not to not account for the Body of Christ.
nor should you take it as such.
Well, that is not for you to say. If the Body of Christ is insulted, I will take it personally, as will most Catholics because of our understanding of the Communion of Saints.