A friend of mine, Joël, asked me an number of good questions about Catholicism. Unfortunately, I can’t remember all of the things he brought up (Joël, if I forget anything, please remind me!), but here is the first of the questions I remember him raising. How can we expect young people today to follow Catholic… Continue reading Are Catholic Views on Birth Control Realistic?
Tag: apologetics
The Assumption of Mary and Revelation 12
I was reading a homily given by one of my priests in his homily for the Assumption of Mary a few Saturdays ago, and he talked about how men look for wives like their mothers. And he used this to explain the connection between Mary (the Mother of God) and the Church (the Bride of… Continue reading The Assumption of Mary and Revelation 12
Assurance of Salvation and the Sin of Presumption
One of the most misunderstood parts of Catholicism is the notion of the sin of presumption. Protestants who are big on “assurance of salvation” often claim that Catholics can’t know that they’re saved, because to do so would be the “sin of presumption,” as understood by the Church. Then, they trot out Bible verses like… Continue reading Assurance of Salvation and the Sin of Presumption
Why Are So Many Catholics Leaving the Church?
That’s the question that InsideCatholic posed last year to a long list of luminaries: the bishops of Orlando and Baker, Oregon; the Archbishop of San Antonio, the auxiliary bishop of San Diego, the late Bob Novak, Senator Sam Brownback, Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life, Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J. (founder of Ignatius Press, the… Continue reading Why Are So Many Catholics Leaving the Church?
Twelve Important Differences Between Catholics and Orthodox
…from an Eastern Orthodox revert to Catholicism (that is, raised Catholic, became EO for four years, and reverted to Catholicism). This list is excellent, and the comments are worth reading. The blog’s author is very fond of the Eastern Orthodox still, and presents their arguments with their full weight (to the point that Patrick Madrid… Continue reading Twelve Important Differences Between Catholics and Orthodox
Some Comments on Total Depravity
I’ve gotten a number of insightful and thought-provoking comments here on the blog since I started it in April. And honestly, it’s the biggest thing keeping me going on this at times. If I felt like this was just an echo chamber for people who already felt the same way that I do, I’d have… Continue reading Some Comments on Total Depravity
Claptrap!
Often, Catholic practices are analyzed with the “where does it say to do THAT in the Bible” lens. Sometimes, this is on legitimate practices: knowing where sacramental confession or the ministerial priesthood comes from in the Bible is fundamental to understanding their import. But other times, it’s to things which are almost irrelevant. For example,… Continue reading Claptrap!
Does Tobit 12:9 Contradict the Rest of the Bible?
Protestants often raise Tobit 12:9 to argue against the authenticity of the Deuterocanon. The argument goes something like this. Tobit 12:9 says that, “For almsgiving delivers from death, and it will purge away every sin. Those who perform deeds of charity and of righteousness will have fullness of life.” This, they argue, is works-righteousness. This… Continue reading Does Tobit 12:9 Contradict the Rest of the Bible?
The Evangelical Lutheran Church and Sola Scriptura
From the New York Times: The denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is considering lifting a ban on noncelibate gay and lesbian pastors, permitting the ordination of people in committed same-sex relationships. At issue is how the Bible should inform policy, how the denomination can best serve its mission, and how a vote to… Continue reading The Evangelical Lutheran Church and Sola Scriptura
ELCA Moves to Allow Homosexual Clergy…
… and a freak tornado destroys their church. (Apparently, the tornado passed through downtown Minneapolis, right as they were beginning their conference). To which the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America’s Rev. Steven Loy, who was helping oversee the convention, remarked, I kid you not, “We trust that the weather is not a commentary on our… Continue reading ELCA Moves to Allow Homosexual Clergy…