Author: Joe Heschmeyer

Does the Eucharist Re-Sacrifice Christ?

Tonight is Passover, so it seems like an appropriate time to address a common misunderstanding about the Eucharist. In one of CARM’s arguments against Catholicism, they ask: Roman Catholics are quick to say that the Eucharist is not a re-sacrifice of Christ. They want to make it clear that Christ was offered once for all… Continue reading Does the Eucharist Re-Sacrifice Christ?

What You Need to Know About De Delictis Gravioribus

In response to my last post, my dad asked: Thanks for bringing this subject up in your blog. I have been reading news accounts from many sources and concur with your assessment of the situation. The only part of the “scandal” that I don’t have enough information on is the directive that Cardinal Ratzinger wrote… Continue reading What You Need to Know About De Delictis Gravioribus

Is This a Joke? Media Attacks Benedict for … Something?

I’m not usually a fan of the way Catholics stories get reported on the media, but this one has been shocking. I’m going to go more in-depth on the sex abuse scandal as a whole soon, but I just have to say this: the press has been desperately manufacturing a story to suggest that Pope… Continue reading Is This a Joke? Media Attacks Benedict for … Something?

Two Types of Traditions

An online thread recently reminded me of the mass confusion which exists on the issue of tradition. A commenter was upset that Catholics had Tradition, finding it anti-Biblical. When asked about where the Bible came from, and why that wasn’t a Tradition, (s)he declared that the Bible “is the word of God, and came from… Continue reading Two Types of Traditions

Good Friday Pre-Game

Yesterday (March 25th) was the Annunciation. The Annunciation is when the angel Gabriel came to Mary and told Her that She was going to bear Christ Jesus. Because we don’t know the actual date it occurred on, it’s long been celebrated on March 25th because it coincides with Jesus’ Passion, roughly. The Jews had a… Continue reading Good Friday Pre-Game

The Double Standard

I was reading another review of John Armstrong’s book, from a different perspective. The reviewer is an Evangelically-inclined “ordained” Anglican named David, who says of the book, “I have to be honest with you, I really wanted to like this book. Really wanted to. Honestly.” Remember, this book is about mission-ecumenism, which the reviewer presumably… Continue reading The Double Standard

Protestantism’s Eastern Blindspot

That’s the title of an excellent post by Orthocath, an ex-Eastern Catholic (now Eastern Orthodox) blogger. His point is that Protestants frequently claim things like Catholic Eucharistic theology are Medieval inventions … completely ignoring that the Eastern Orthodox hold virtually identical views, despite the Great Schism of 1054. And to those Protestants who would suggest… Continue reading Protestantism’s Eastern Blindspot

Book Review: Your Church is Too Small, by John Armstrong

I’m a delinquent part of the Zondervan Blog Tour for John Armstrong’s new book Your Church is Too Small: Why Unity in Christ’s Mission is Vital to the Future of the Church. I signed up for an advanced copy in exchange for which I was supposed to review the book last week. Unfortunately, I hadn’t… Continue reading Book Review: Your Church is Too Small, by John Armstrong

Health Care: Monday Morning Quarterbacking

I.American Papist has a good reaction to yesterday’s news that the healthcare bill passed. The bill passed 219-212, which was intentional: the Democrats wanted to make sure that every Democrat could claim that their vote wasn’t the one responsible for this albatross. The fact that they were able to engineer the precise vote like that… Continue reading Health Care: Monday Morning Quarterbacking