The OP is referring to “apologists”, but I have just some stories from work involving the “twisting” of history and the misunderstanding of what the Church teaches…
One of my ex-coworkers is a relatively new Christian and was taking a Bible class offered by his non-denominational church. One of his comments to me was that the reformation took place so that a Bible could be placed in every hand. I had to explain to him that it was the invention of the printing press, NOT the reformation, which was responsible for this. I then asked him how the reformists would have placed a Bible in every hand if the printing press hadn’t been invented yet - he had no response.
Then while I was having one of my discussions with him regarding religion, another co-worker (who happens to be SDA) accused the Catholic Church of removing one of the commandments! I then had to explain to him that our version was taken from Deuteronomy, not Exodus. And when I asked him how “worshipping a graven image” does not violate the commandment “thou shall not have strange gods before me”, he had no answer. But then he accused Catholics of worshipping statues because to him, it looks that way! :banghead:
He also said the it was Jesus who handed Moses the tablets - don’t know where he got that from??
Also, an ex-Catholic friend of mine who is now Baptist uses the same accusatory rhetoric over and over again:
idolotry
worshipping Mary
sacrificing Christ over and over again
I’ve explained what the Catholic teaching is regarding these things and she just dismisses it. I guess it’s easier to believe the “lies” of her pastor than it is to believe a Catholic that actually knows what the Church teaches!
It’s very frustrating!