After weeks of waffling on what to do on the delicate issue of providing low-income health care to Boston residents, Cardinal O’Malley finally made what appears to be the best possible decision. The problem, in short, is this: the state has a low-income health-care program, but to be a provider, you have to provide abortions… Continue reading Hear, Hear, for Sean Cardinal O’Malley!
Author: Joe Heschmeyer
The Jews, the Papacy, and the Antichrist: Like a Bad Joke Waiting to Happen
More from Reese (use the Reese Currie tag to catch up if you need to). He’s in red, I’m the rest. Little bit of back story needed for #8 here. Reese had argued (as others, like Keith Mathison have, as well) that the Church doesn’t have the authority to set the Old Testament Canon, because… Continue reading The Jews, the Papacy, and the Antichrist: Like a Bad Joke Waiting to Happen
Did the Catholic Church Set the Canon?
The latest in the ongoing dialogue with Reese. He’s in red, I’m the rest. Today, we’re looking at whether the Catholic Church gave us the Bible. 7) The canon was not “set” by a Catholic authority, but rather the existing de facto standard was ratified. If one’s faith was “shaky” in the absence of the… Continue reading Did the Catholic Church Set the Canon?
Gov. Sanford and God’s Law
I’m not going to join the jackals who are gleefully ripping South Carolina Gov. Sanford apart over his confessing to having an extramarital affair. Unlike basically any other politician I’ve ever seen in that position, I think he really feels pretty awful about this, I think he genuinely loves the other woman but knows it’s… Continue reading Gov. Sanford and God’s Law
A Much Better Argument Against Sola Scriptura
Francis Beckwith had an interesting comment over on Stand to Reason’s blog. It’s on the setting of Scripture, and whether it can be said to trace its authority to the Catholic Church or not. (I assume here that everyone agrees that by the Council of Carthage, etc., that the Church can safely be called the… Continue reading A Much Better Argument Against Sola Scriptura
Is Church Infallibility Logically Required?
Having written this post, I’m not sure I agree with my own argument. I’m going to go ahead and post it, but I think the issue of logical necessity of Church infallibility is a much closer call than I had initially assumed it to be. Initially, I thought it unneccesary but helpful; upon re-examination, it… Continue reading Is Church Infallibility Logically Required?
Deuterocanonical Miscellany
Here’s the next installment in the ongoing dialogue with Reese Currie (click the tag below for the backstory). Since the next three points are short, I figured I’d do them all as one point. Lucky you! As always, he’s in red, I’m the rest:4) Minor point, but it’s a bit unfair to say the apocryphal… Continue reading Deuterocanonical Miscellany
John the Baptist, Christmas, and the Liturgical Year
Today, we celebrate the feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. Lots of cool facts are connected to this feast. Only three figures in history were born without original sin (unless you count Adam and Eve… were they “born”?): Jesus, Mary, and John the Baptist. As a result, we celebrate the Nativity of… Continue reading John the Baptist, Christmas, and the Liturgical Year
The Deuterocanon: the Curious Case of Jerome
If you’re just dropping in, feel free to catch up by clicking the Reese Currie tag at the bottom of this post. This is part 3 of his arguments and my rejoinders on the issues of priestly celibacy and (mostly) the Deuterocanon. He’s in red, I’m the rest. Enjoy! 3) I agree that the majority… Continue reading The Deuterocanon: the Curious Case of Jerome
Charitable Giving by Religiousness and Political Leaning
My friend Lew Jan Olowoski (he usually goes by Jan, pronounced “yawn,” in case you’re curious) highlights a fascinating investigation by 20/20 on which groups of Americans give. Here are two highlights I found interesting: Arthur Brooks, the author of “Who Really Cares,” says that “when you look at the data, it turns out the… Continue reading Charitable Giving by Religiousness and Political Leaning