"The Catholics were never a serious threat to Elizabethan Church and State." How far do you agree with this statement?

Haigh argues that the 'strategic and logical errors' of the Seminary Priests not only prevented Catholicism from posing a serious threat during the reign of Elizabeth but were responsible for its decline. However, other historians - and historical evidence - suggest that when Elizabeth came to the throne, the Catholics were a serious threat. The involvement of the Catholics at the beginning of Elizabeth's reign - in formulating the Religious Settlement and in passing the …

…immediately may have cost them their status as religious majority. In the time they wasted waiting for an official Papal decree, Elizabeth set to work encouraging Protestantism in the people - and by the time the Seminary and Jesuit Priests arrived in the country, it was no longer strongly receptive to them. Strong governmental legislation later in the reign meant that isolated strong Catholics were dealt with, and prevented from reinciting Catholicism amongst the masses.