When James Swan writes about Martin Luther, he does a great job:
http://beggarsallreformation.blogspot.com/2007/07/resources-martin-luther.html
However, here he seems to get upset about being called anti-Catholic without first looking at who is doing the calling.
There is catholic and Catholic. The former is generally accepted as meaning universal. The latter is how many Catholics prefer to be called. Frankly, I’d call Catholics “Heffalumps”, if that was their preferred term and if it would allow me to discuss issues without getting emotion in the way of the discussion.
Now, first, there is anti-Catholic in the sense of being in opposition to the Catholic Church & its teachings. I am, in that sense, Anti-Catholic concerning Priests, and Pro-Catholic on the Deity of Christ. It isn’t a useful term when used thus, because one person can then be both Anti-Catholic & Pro-Catholic.
Second, there is Anti-Catholic in the sense of being personally opposed to Catholics. I don’t think that is particularly common, but it once was.
I think there is a third sense, in which people define there beliefs about God as being in opposition to Catholic beliefs. I think some ‘reformation’ churches fall in this trap. As a Baptist, I probably disagree with more Catholic theology than many ‘reformers’ - for example, I don’t believe in infant baptism, the perpetual virginity of Mary or that a consecrated wafer is anything other than a wafer, except perhaps to the person taking it (http://www.grbc.net/about_us/1689.php?chapter=30). Some ‘reformers’ agree with Catholics on all three.
However, Baptists generally don’t define ourselves as opposition to something, but for something. I am FOR believer’s baptism as the best and truest way to follow the example in the New Testament. I am FOR the Eucharist (thanksgiving) being “in remembrance” as the truest way to follow what Jesus said to do.
When someone uses “RC” after being told it is offensive, or tells someone else they are worshiping images when the other person says they intend no such thing, then I think they have fallen into the trap of number 3, and view themselves as being opponents of Catholics rather than proponents of something different.
Outstanding post!
I do think "Anti-Catholic" in this sense is, as you say, useless. We disagree. I very much admire your piety, thoughtfulness, and geniality and I know we agree that they are gifts from a loving and redeeming God. I disagree with you on some things and think you'd be happier 'n stuff if you were Catholic. So it's good to discuss these things. Disagreement is "anti" in a sense so "formal" that it is almost meaningless.