"And, dearest Steve, in case you didn't get the hint,"

What hint?

"insulting my religious tradition is something that I consider to be seriously rude and offensive".

Bad luck. As you know, I consider that religion deserves all the ridicule and offence it gets, which is never enough. And you have no right not to be offended.

" Despite your protestations that in Great Britain, such insults are considered to be friendly banter, I don't think most Britons would agree."

I have never made any such protestation. Stay accurate and keep cool, Joe, is my advice.

"In the U.S. and in most countries, insulting another person's religious tradition is considered to be in bad manners and bad taste, comparable to insulting the person directly. If you don't understand that, perhaps you'd better learn."

Well too bad. Thank goodness we no longer burn people at the stake or cut off their heads for heresy, eh? Cor, that would solve a problem or two!

"I'm quite sure the same holds true in Great Britain. If you want to ask me specific and non-insulting about my religious tradition, that's one thing."

I don't need to ask you. As you may glean, I'm reasonably knowledgeable about Catholicism already.

"If you want to insult what you think to be my religious tradition, that's offensive."

I'm sure you're man enough to handle it. Eight years in a seminary should have provided you with all the answers to cope with an ignorant heathen such as myself. :-)

Keep calm and carry on proselytising!