Am I Too Soft on Modernists & Too Hard on Reactionaries?

Last updated on: November 6, 2019 at 5:32 pm By Dave Armstrong

A guy “Matt” appeared underneath my article, Taylor Marshall Conspiracy Theories: Why I Ignore Them, and offered a highly imaginary and fictional opinion whereby he thinks I am almost entirely silent about theologically liberal / modernists / heterodox / dissidents in the Catholic Church. Nothing could be further from the truth. He must have been living on another planet these last twenty years. This is my reply. His words will be in blue. ***** Dave, as one the Traditionalists you continually... Read more

Does Time & Place Apply to Purgatory? (vs. James White)

Last updated on: November 6, 2019 at 5:32 pm By Dave Armstrong

The Right Reverend Bishop “Dr.” [???] James White wrote a post dated 26 August 2009, entitled, “Purgatory and Indulgences, Alive and Still Heretical.” This is my reply. The good bishop’s words will be in blue. ***** You wonder, at times, how it is that those who listen regularly to Roman Catholic apologists do not notice the wide range of differences between them on important matters of theology and practice. . . . [I]n modern Romanism in America it is common... Read more

Am I a “Pope Francis Defender”? (Statement of Intent & Purpose)

Last updated on: November 6, 2019 at 1:21 pm By Dave Armstrong

[book and purchase information] ***** Please note once again that — technically — I am not defending whatever happened in this ceremony [regarding the statues and indigenous Amazonian spirituality at the Synod] as perfectly orthodox and hunky dory. What I’m doing is vigorously denying that the critics dead set against it have adequately proven and documented their case that it is definitely blasphemous idolatry. It’s two different things. The prudent person reserves judgment until all the relevant and necessary facts and proofs are in. What I definitely do believe is that... Read more

“Pachamama” [?] Statues: Marian Veneration or Blasphemous Idolatry?

Last updated on: November 8, 2019 at 2:24 pm By Dave Armstrong

This is a combination of two Facebook threads, with starting dates of 10-24-19 and 11-4-19. There was also a third discussion thread (10-28-19), where I barely participated at all: and so it is excluded here. I have not included everything in the two long threads in this exchange, which is meant to get at the highlights, and especially my own take (this being my blog); so if readers want the full exchanges, the Facebook threads are for that. Words of Kevin... Read more

Taylor Marshall Conspiracy Theories: Why I Ignore Them

Last updated on: November 4, 2019 at 4:21 pm By Dave Armstrong

This exchange and further statement (via past comments of mine) occurred in a Facebook discussion of my article, Taylor Marshall Groupie Makes a Typical Personal Attack (11-2-19). Rob Cui’s words will be in blue. ***** I have made it clear several times that my critiques of his [Taylor Marshall’s] stuff are not personal. For example, in a paper shortly after I began my critiques: I’m responding publicly to public materials. . . . I have no personal issues at all, as... Read more

Dialogue: Are Jesus, the Bible, & the Church “Sexist”?

Last updated on: November 4, 2019 at 8:11 pm By Dave Armstrong

Karin S. Tate is a Catholic and a PhD Candidate in History and Classics. She stopped by my blog to offer a critique of my paper, Is Male-Only Priesthood Sexist? (2007). Her words will be in blue. I will add further rounds of dialogue if / as they occur. ***** This idea of “roles” in the Church is not without merit, I think, but not in the way you represent it. Rather, look at scripture – which admonishes that we each... Read more

Taylor Marshall Groupie Makes a Typical Personal Attack

Last updated on: November 2, 2019 at 7:37 pm By Dave Armstrong

I just ran across this today in a search. It’s very illustrative insofar as it is ultra-typical of 1) the reactionary mindset, and 2) the clone-groupthink / conspiratorial fan club for Taylor Marshall mentality. This guy calls himself “Tradical” and runs the reactionary Tradicat blog. He was “responding” [cough] to my article, Reactionary Infiltration of Taylor Marshall’s Book, Infiltration (5-30-19). He calls his hit piece, “Reactionary Reaction to a Book by Dr. Taylor Marshall” (6-10-19). His words will be in blue below. *****... Read more

C. S. Lewis: Aversion to Crass “Christmas” Commercialism

Last updated on: November 1, 2019 at 2:27 pm By Dave Armstrong

From: The Collected Letters of C. S. Lewis, Vol. II: Books, Broadcasts, and the War, 1931-1949, edited by Walter Hooper, HarperSanFrancisco, 2004: I couldn’t agree with you more about the commercial rush of ‘Xmas’ as distinct both from the Christian festival of Christmas and the old Germanic feast of Yule. The idiotic exchange of cards which have nothing to do with the Nativity by people who care nothing about Our Lord — this maddening interchange of presents which no one wants to... Read more

C. S. Lewis: Views on Procreation & Contraception

Last updated on: November 1, 2019 at 12:27 pm By Dave Armstrong

From: The Collected Letters of C. S. Lewis, Vol. II: Books, Broadcasts, and the War, 1931-1949, edited by Walter Hooper, HarperSanFrancisco, 2004: The three ‘reasons’ for marrying, in modern English are (a) To have children. (b) Because you are very unlikely to succeed in leading a life of total sexual abstinence, and marriage is the only innocent outlet, (c) To be in a partnership. What is there to object to in the order in which they are put? . . .... Read more

Halloween Joys & the “Baptizing” of Pagan Customs

Last updated on: October 31, 2019 at 1:24 pm By Dave Armstrong

Guest Post by Rod Bennett and Mark Shea Mark Shea made a great statement on this: I have to say that my feelings toward Halloween have mellowed with the years. As an Evangelical, I used to dislike it intensely as a night given over to the devil. But as time has gone on, I find I enjoy the rare opportunity for the whole neighborhood to turn out and all visit each other. I love the brisk night air. I love... Read more