J (Protestant Evangelical): Opening Statement

One of the characteristics of the modern defenders of Catholicism is that they don't defend Catholicism. Who would want to defend claims such as these (emphasis added):

Indeed, "from the incarnate Word's descent to us, all Christian churches everywhere have held and hold the great Church that is here [Rome] to be their only basis and foundation since, according to the Savior's promise, the gates of hell have never prevailed against her." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 834)

If any one denieth, either that sacramental confession was instituted, or is necessary to salvation, of divine right; or saith, that the manner of confessing secretly to a priest alone, which the Church hath ever observed from the beginning, and doth observe, is alien from the institution and command of Christ, and is a human invention; let him be anathema. (Council of Trent, session 14, "Canons Concerning the Most Holy Sacrament of Penance", canon 6)

And indeed, illustrious documents of venerable antiquity, of both the Eastern and the Western Church, very forcibly testify that this doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the most Blessed Virgin, which was daily more and more splendidly explained, stated and confirmed by the highest authority, teaching, zeal, knowledge, and wisdom of the Church, and which was disseminated among all peoples and nations of the Catholic world in a marvelous manner--this doctrine always existed in the Church as a doctrine that has been received from our ancestors, and that has been stamped with the character of revealed doctrine. For the Church of Christ, watchful guardian that she is, and defender of the dogmas deposited with her, never changes anything, never diminishes anything, never adds anything to them; but with all diligence she treats the ancient documents faithfully and wisely. (Pope Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus)

The Roman Catholic Church has made similar claims about transubstantiation, indulgences, and other doctrines. While the hierarchy makes inaccurate claims about church history, Catholic scholars, who are more accountable to their non-Catholic colleagues, have to be more careful. Catholic historian Klaus Schatz gives us an example:

There appears at the present time to be increasing consensus among Catholic and non-Catholic exegetes regarding the Petrine office in the New Testament