I set all the analog capable pins to digital using ADCON1 as you suggested and it all works great now. I thought that disabling the A/D in ADCON0 would do it but apparently that enables or disables the analog to digital "conversion".

Is there anything I can do about the RMW effect or do I just need to be aware of it? If I pause after every pin state write my program will be too slow.

I appreciate your help. We are getting some of your Swedish weather here in NE Missouri today. No thanks for that.