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...because HarleyD and many of the others, are doing what looks to them like defending God's honor against li'l ol' us.

Oops...just a point of clarification.

HarleyD, or any one else for that matter, cannot defend God's honor. I cannot convince people or change their minds. God is perfectly capable of defending that Himself and He is in the change management business. All God asks of us is to simply be true to His word. If we "feel" we have been, then I would suggest something a tad more concrete.

I guess what you and I share is a suspicion of "feelings", at least when used as a basis for a proposition instead of merely information of an ambiguous nature.

So if we put up a thread about a charge that Padre Pio was faking it, what is the purpose (if I may ask) of calling into question many aspects of Catholic piety having to do with saints and their intercession if it is not to defend the truth, somehow? (I was speaking loosely about "honor") Why not let chattering dogs chatter?

I only get into these threads in a contentious way when what looks like a fallacious argument or a falsehood is used to attack Catholic dogma. I remember once particpating in a Protestant thread about whether the notions of predestination and election made one lazy. It seemed to me to be an open question, and I didn't attack or pick at the ideas. I did say that I did NOT think they would make one lazy. I think they'd be energizing, usually.

But let us say in an open thread something positive about the BVM and her intercession and it seems that half the time we'll end up being told that it's all so Rome can make money and control us and because we hate sex.

What do you think that's about?

God is perfectly capable of defending that Himself and He is in the change management business. All God asks of us is to simply be true to His word.

Amen. I'm sending these verses to my children...

"My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding...
My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken." -- Proverbs 3:1-5;21-26