What you label an "attack" on Catholicism is (in many cases) a call for reform. As RockChalk mentions above, this is not a new development in church/theological evolution. You also might consider that ALL religions are man made and, hence, subject to interpretation and various forms of scrutiny. We simply cannot know the unknowable in this life so we do the best we can within the belief system(s) which our forefathers have constructed. If you can accept this you might even see value in certain Protestant beliefs, as well as other non-Christian faith traditions. I'm certainly no expert but there is ample evidence showing that Catholicism is moving in this direction, much to the chagrin to the traditionalist mindset. The lesson here, I think, moor yourself to the infinite/spiritual realm of Christ as opposed to the finite/literal/temporal.

I post here as an open-minded, eternal seeker of God--not an academic either.