Natural Law wrote:
“It’s the militantly anti-Catholic prejudice I see on these threads that provokes my responses.”
I will not deny the existence of militant anti-Catholicism here or anywhere else. However, three things about that:
First, there is also militant anti-Protestantism (which doesn’t so much trouble me, because being Lutheran (real Lutheran as opposed to ELCA pseudo-Lutheran) I don’t consider myself “Protestant.” That term is, historically speaking, a pejorative (of Roman origin) that emphasizes “anti-Catholic” at the expense of “pro-Apostolic.”. Unfortunately, there exists a real tit-for-tat attitude on the part of many, both Catholic and Protestant, that more often contributes smoke and no light.
Second, it is one thing to be provoked and another to provoke. I will readily admit that I lose patience with provocateurs from time to time, and fail to exercise proper self-control (no wonder it is identified as a fruit of the Spirit - it is not natural to fallen man!!!). The bitter truth is that provocation on anyone’s part is less than helpful, no matter what the circumstances.
Third, you must realize - as you yourself admitted - that “Protestants of sincere faith” exist, just as Catholics of sincere faith exist (and by sincere I mean those who really do believe in the God who has revealed Himself in the Holy Scriptures of OT and NT). Some of them even inhabit these cyber spaces. They are as sincere as you are. They love their Lord and Savior, no matter what you may or may not think about that. They know He is God and Lord who became man to save us. Sometimes they too fall victim to the same passions that you and I do, and say too much, say to little, say poorly, say in anger, say in frustration ... whatever. If you are a mature Christian who recognizes sincere faith in the one Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, then recognize that this is true.
In the end, it all seems to break down to whether Man is saved by Christ Thru Faith in His sacrifice on the Cross, by putting on Christ’s perfect Righteousness(imputation) OR by trying to make attain(cooperation) your own righteousness with the help of Christ’s Grace, mediated only thru the Church.