Over on his critically acclaimed blog Standing on My Head, Anglican priest turned Catholic pastor Dwight Longenecker is blowing some new wind into the sails of the sola Scriptura sucks ship. And the ship is sailin’. Although that’s not to say that Fr. Longenecker is full of hot air. Because he’s absolutely right. As an Evangelical, I came from a tradition that believes that all we need is the Bible—and a good interpretation of it—in order to understand how to be a Christian. I... Read more
I joined the Catholic Church, as an Evangelical, at what I’ve come to recognize as a tumultuous time—for both “us” and “them.” I became a Catholic, after a long journey, partly because of the Catholic Church’s solid foundation, its strong footing, its rootedness. So it’s a touch strange to see, around me, my fellow Catholic brothers and sisters lamenting the impending collapse of the Holy Catholic Church—its demise at the hands of the theologically and morally liberal. Those slippery snakes.... Read more
Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by... Read more
As a younger Evangelical I painted a clear distinction between Catholics and Christians. The two were not synonymous and, more often than not, a Catholic was not, in my estimation, a Christian. When Catholics figured into our Evangelical exegesis of the New Testament they were squarely identified with one specific people group: the Pharisees. The Pharisees with their religion. “Stupid Pharisees,” we thought, “wouldn’t even recognize the Messiah if he rubbed mud in their eyes!” Did I mention we were clever? Now, to be fair, we were slightly... Read more
The parish wishes to remain anonymous. Really, it could be any parish, anywhere in North America. Or thereabouts. I have to admit, one of the incredible gifts that comes with being a Catholic is being able to participate in the Mass anywhere in the world. It’s the same. And even if I were to attend an Eastern Rite Mass or a Mass in the Anglican Ordinariate form the basic movements and functions are the same. The same thing is taking place: Christ... Read more
A little while ago I had the opportunity to chat with Konrad Aderer, correspondent for Currents, a program on NET TV, a New York-based television network operated in concert with the Diocese of Brooklyn. Our fifteen-minute conversation was, understandably, chopped down to about four minutes but still covers a couple of interesting topics and gives you a chance to watch me perform some incredible feats of facial contortion. I need to work on my mannerisms before Marcus Grodi gives me a... Read more
When I decided to get serious about becoming a Catholic I phoned up the Catholic church closest to my house. I made the cardinal mistake of thinking they were all the same. After all, at that point in my faith journey I’d already been intellectually converted to the truth of the Catholic faith without ever having actually been to a Mass (at least, not since understanding what was actually taking place). So, I rang up my local parish, and a few days... Read more
There were, admittedly, a myriad of reasons why I decided to become a Catholic but perhaps nothing drew me in in the same sort of fascinating way as the Marian miracles of Lourdes. As an Evangelical, I struggled mightily to explain miracles associated with the Virgin Mary. In the framework of my Evangelical faith Mary was seen as a holy vessel—a vehicle for Christ’s appearance on earth—but nothing more. Mary is not held in any particular esteem in Evangelical circles so for me,... Read more
I want to make something perfectly clear from the start. I am, unfailingly, a son of the Church. As a Catholic convert, I subscribe, without reserve, to the teachings of the Catholic Church. I am, sadly, far more orthodox than some of the Catholics I’ve met along the way. I hold to the orthodox Catholic view that abortion, in no uncertain terms is, as Pope St. John Paul II said, an “unspeakable crime.” At the same time, our Christian morality demands... Read more
Money-centred and drug-addled Christians. Catholics who can't wait to get the Host and get out the door. Read more
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