Breaking through social barriers is always a challenge, especially when attempting to join new groups. With every community there are always the regular cliques, and sometimes it can feel like there is no way to be fully part of the group unless you look, act, dress, think or believe a certain way. Or sometimes groups can be seemingly too exclusive to come within ten feet of them. In my experiences, sometimes I’ve felt like just an afterthought, whether it was with… Read more
August 5, 2019
Do Catholics Worship Idols?
August 5, 2019 By René Albert
3 Comments
I love music. I’ve collected CD’s since I was 13. I am well into my 30’s and before I sold them I probably had over 600 albums in my own library, including all my favourite artists ranging from Alice In Chains to ZZ Top. Like most people I know, hearing an old favorite song takes me on a trip down memory lane. Every album I’ve owned reflects a memory or an era of my life, so my personal soundtrack is… Read more
July 31, 2019
A Catholic Response To Fundamentalist Allegations Of ‘Vain Repetition’
July 31, 2019 By René Albert
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After so many years of being in a relationship, the words ‘I love you’ can eventually lose its effect. What used to make a heart quiver in the early stages of a romantic relationship eventually fades into mere words that routinely drop upon passing through the front door. When it comes to Christianity, a typical talking point of fundamentalist Protestantism is the use of ‘vain repetition’ regarding ritualistic prayer or worship. This is taken from the biblical passage, “But when… Read more
July 24, 2019
Dear Catholics: For The Love Of God, Read Your Bible!
July 24, 2019 By René Albert
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In a recent survey published on Crux.com, about 50 percent of American Catholics correctly answered that during the Mass the consecrated bread and wine become the literal Body, Blood and Spirit of Jesus – a teaching termed as ‘transubstantiation.’ The other half erroneously believe the Catholic Church teaches that the bread and wine are merely symbols of the Body and Blood of Christ — a view strongly held by the majority of Protestant Christians throughout the world. The survey also revealed… Read more
July 18, 2019
In Defense Of Mary’s Assumption
July 18, 2019 By René Albert
5 Comments
When it comes to teachings about the Virgin Mary, non-Catholic Christians are usually quite apprehensive of these seemingly wild claims that are not explicitly mentioned in the Bible. This is largely because they adhere to an authoritative system called Sola Scriptura, which is Latin for ‘Bible Alone.’ Given the tumultuous history of the Church leading up to the Protestant Reformation and to the modern era, it is completely understandable why those who follow Christ would want to maintain a high standard… Read more
July 13, 2019
Why I Don’t Call Myself A ‘Roman’ Catholic
July 13, 2019 By René Albert
Since reverting to Catholicism after spending over a decade as an Evangelical Protestant, I’ve spent much time reevaluating my Christian worldview. One of the things I recall noticing in the Evangelical community is how the words or ‘Catholic’ ‘Roman’ seems to rouse people to raise their guards up. Aside from major theological disagreements, I’ve found myself bothered by the flippant use of the terms Romanist, papist or even the abbreviation ‘RCC.’ Similarly, I find myself especially bothered when my fellow Catholics… Read more
July 7, 2019
How To Pray The Rosary In Latin
July 7, 2019 By René Albert
In my experiences, it took me a number of years before I learned to appreciate the meditative qualities of the rosary, which I have written about in a separate article. But after returning to Catholicism, I’ve realized I have much to catch up on, even though it was something I grew up with. One of the things I noticed is there is an increasing push for returning to traditional roots and practices — and one of these involves the use… Read more
July 5, 2019
Catholic Fellowship Sucks
July 5, 2019 By René Albert
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I remember hearing my grandparents recall a time when the local church was the epicenter of community events and social gatherings. They used to reminisce about the days when they used to attend movie nights and dances that were hosted in the parish hall while they were dating. It seems as though their generation lived in a golden age when much of their neighborhood was united by the fellowship of Catholic culture. But as the years passed by, the local… Read more
June 30, 2019
What Is So Intriguing About ‘Stranger Things?’
June 30, 2019 By René Albert
0 Comments
I don’t really watch much television. The internet allows so much freedom to watch whatever I feel like, yet I find myself to be extremely bored with cable TV and online streaming. It often feels like the more choices there are, the less there is to watch. I know, it’s a strange paradox! However, after hearing about the reception over the Netflix original series Stranger Things, I decided I had to give this show a chance. And sure enough, I… Read more
June 26, 2019
Why Isn’t Catholic Communion More Inclusive?
June 26, 2019 By René Albert
10 Comments
As a cradle-Catholic in my youth, I’ve noticed the times when church attendance was the highest was during Christmas, Easter, weddings and funerals. These were usually the days when close friends and relatives of parishoners would visit and attend Mass with them. Often during these particular services, the priest would make an announcement to the congregation that non-Catholics ought to refrain from partaking in communion. Regardless of whether or not the priest announces it tactfully, being barred from communion seems… Read more
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