Anti-Protestant Discrimination Bothers Me

Last updated on: May 6, 2019 at 12:25 pm By René Albert

As a Catholic blogger, much of my writing content centers around explaining Catholic beliefs in a way that can be relatable for non-Catholic Christians. Given this niche topic, harsh criticism is always to be expected. Most Protestants generally disagree with much of Catholic doctrine, though I think it’s important to understand that not all of them expressively hate Catholics. While most of these allegations come from those who seemingly have an ax to grind against the Church, others are genuinely... Read more

American Evangelical Preaching In Ukraine Gets An Earful From Eastern Orthodox Lady

Last updated on: April 7, 2019 at 9:18 pm By René Albert

As the description in the YouTube link says, “Torch of Christ Ministries took to the streets of Kyiv, Ukraine to evangelize to the lost and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. On a day where the whole city was celebrating the orthodox easter holiday, it was only fitting that we were confronted by an orthodox religious woman.” This video is painful to watch. The impression I get from this video is this man knows very little about the culture and beliefs... Read more

Is Prayer Equal To Worship?

Last updated on: July 2, 2019 at 9:36 am By René Albert

Image credit: pixabay.com As a cradle-Catholic who had converted to Evangelical Protestantism in my late teens, one of the factors that led me to consider abandoning the faith of my heritage was the seemingly unbiblical practice of praying to Mary and the saints. After attending a youth Bible camp for a couple summers, I learned from my Christian peers about the implications of prayer. Because the first of the Ten Commandments says, “You shall have no other gods before me,”... Read more

A Response to John Piper on Catholicism

Last updated on: June 17, 2019 at 1:14 pm By René Albert

When dealing with Protestant criticisms, us Catholics are often met with a high level of smug cynicism. While they are often well-meaning in their pursuit for truth and sharing the Gospel, it can often be challenging to respond to fundamentally dishonest allegations in a charitable fashion. Meet John Piper John Piper is a Calvinist and prominent figure in America’s network of pastor-celebrities. He is probably one of the most outspoken opponents to Catholic theology in modern times. He often takes... Read more

My Thoughts on Immigration Control

Last updated on: December 22, 2018 at 4:45 am By René Albert

For missionaries, preaching the Gospel in all the nations ironically involves a level of humility to become a 'migrant' ourselves. Read more

Is Cannabis Usage Morally Acceptable?

Last updated on: October 18, 2018 at 5:06 am By René Albert

Photo credit: Freeimages.com To start off, I’m going to say that I have never smoked pot, but I’ve had several opportunities throughout my life where I could have easily taken it up. My first second-hand experience was in grade 8 during a track and field event at a neighboring school. When my friends and I wandered into the bushes nearby the event, one of them pulled out a pipe along with what appeared to be three small vials of green... Read more

My Thoughts on Cultural Appropriation

Last updated on: June 16, 2020 at 4:25 pm By René Albert

In any given multicultural society, there is always an exchange of ideas, traditions, customs, clothing, food and even philosophy and beliefs – especially here in North America. Although I’m not an expert in Canadian or American history, I do understand a lot has happened in our country in the last few hundred years that has led to much tension between cultural groups – most notably between First Nations people and those of European descent. And much of it may stem... Read more

My Response to Clerical Sexual Abuse

Last updated on: September 11, 2019 at 3:47 pm By René Albert

Although I have had my share of bad experiences with people within religious communities, I have been fortunate enough to never have suffered any kind of sexual abuse from anybody. But knowing that people are capable of committing such heinous acts, especially those who hold a trusted position of authority, brings an overwhelmingly sick feeling to my stomach as I can’t help but think of my own children. Hearing the recent news of ex-priest Daniel McCormack as well as the over... Read more

A Perspective On Abortion Regarding Bodily Autonomy

Last updated on: September 11, 2019 at 4:22 pm By René Albert

The topic of abortion has become one of the most heated issues of our time. As a male, I have felt hesitant to be openly vocal about an issue that seemingly affects women far more than men. In addition to that, I’m also not very well-read when it comes to issues of health or biology. But the more I’ve listened to both sides of the issue, the more I’ve been finding that it is virtually impossible to safety-net everything without... Read more

What Is The Meaning of Penance?

Last updated on: June 22, 2018 at 4:30 pm By René Albert

Photo credit: pixabay.com When I was in Grade 8, a few friends and I were sitting in computer class at school while our instructor left the room to check something at the office for a while. As adolescent boredom got the better of us, we began to throw pens at the ceiling fan to watch them get launched across the room while the teacher was absent. As I grabbed one of the last pens in our possession and tossed it... Read more