Lutheranism: Catholic Critique (Index Page)

Justification: Reply to Jordan Cooper (Highlighting Love as the Fulfilling of the Law & Commandments, in Relation to Justification & Salvation) [4-23-24]
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Biblical Canon & Sola Scriptura (vs. Jordan Cooper) [7-24-24]
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Lutheran Dr. Jordan Cooper on the “Many” Conversions to Catholicism [Facebook, 8-6-24]

Papal Infallibility: Reply To Lutheran Jordan Cooper (Including Documentation of Popes’ Massive Consultation with Bishops and Others Before Declaring Dogmas, and Particulars of the Voting at Vatican I) [8-7-24]

Newman & Early Church Papal Infallibility & Supremacy (Reply to Jordan Cooper’s Miscomprehensions of St. Cardinal Newman’s Views on the Development of the Papacy & the 1870 Dogma) [1-2-25]
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Reply to Jordan Cooper on Newman & Development [1-2-25]
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II. REPLIES TO PHILIP MELANCHTHON’S LOCI COMMUNES

My Latest Project: Replies to Melanchthon’s Work, Loci Communes [Facebook, 8-28-24]

Reply to Melanchthon: Justification #1 (Moral Assurance of Salvation / Examination of Conscience / Bible On Apostasy / Initial Justification & Faith Alone) [8-29-24]
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Reply to Melanchthon: Justification #2: Good Works 1 (“Working Together” with God / Human Striving & Merit / Tridentine Soteriology / David’s & Paul’s Godly “Boasting” / Regenerate Sinners / Romans 7 & 8 & Sin / God is Pleased by Our Meritorious Acts / Colossians 1:28: Imputed Justification?) [8-31-24]
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Reply to Melanchthon: Justification #3: Good Works 2 (Trent on “Faith” / Meritorious Works / “Trust” in God / How the Error of “Faith Alone” Originated / Mortal Sin / “Faith” in James) [9-3-24]
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Philip Melanchthon in Effect Fights with Jesus Over Faith Alone (Rich Young Ruler Passage) [Facebook, 9-4-24]
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Reply to Melanchthon: Justification #4: Good Works 3 (James Refutes Faith Alone / Faith Without Love is Dead, Too / Love & Justification / Jesus Denies Faith Alone: Rich Young Ruler) [9-5-24]
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Reply to Melanchthon: Justification #5: Good Works 4 (Isaiah vs. Protestant Soteriology / Absolution, Love, & Remission of Sins / Was Mary Who Wiped Jesus’ Feet with Her Hair, a Believer When She Did So? / Good Works of the Regenerate Rewarded with Heaven) [9-6-24]
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Reply to Melanchthon on the Invocation of Saints [9-10-24]
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III. PHILIP MELANCHTHON (1497-1560)

“Absurd” Protestant Divisions: Calvin’s Revealing Lament to Melanchthon [2-6-06]
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Philip Melanchthon’s Agony Over Protestant Sectarianism [2-8-06]

Astrology: Philip Melanchthon’s Enthusiastic Espousal [5-21-06]

Why Write “Bad” Stuff About Protestant “Reformers”? [5-22-06]

Philip Melanchthon: Death for Denying the Real Presence (He Later Denied the Real Presence Himself) [5-23-06]

Lord Acton: Philip Melanchthon Persecuted Eucharistic Heretics [5-29-06]

Luther & Melanchthon: Bigamy of Philip of Hesse is Biblical (Hartmann Grisar) [2-14-07; abridged on 11-2-17]
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Melanchthon in 1530 Longed for Return of Catholic Bishops [11-30-07]

Melanchthon Flaws Verified By Biographer Manschreck [4-6-08]

Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Philip Melanchthon Wax Astronomical and Geocentric, Oppose Copernicus [2-5-09]

John Calvin Did Not Pray to Philip Melanchthon [9-19-09; revised, with retraction, on 5-3-16]

Melanchthon’s Agonized Tears Over Early Protestant Divisions [6-15-11; additions on 10-11-17]

James Swan Silliness, Melanchthon, Bishops, & Princes [2-4-15]

IV. THE AUGSBURG CONFESSION (1530) & CATHOLIC REPLIES (THEN AND NOW)

Introduction to the Series [5-1-24]

Augsburg Confession Dialogues: God / Original Sin (Agreement Regarding God’s Nature, But Differences Concerning the Rule of Faith & Concupiscence) [5-2-24]

Augsburg Confession Dialogues: Justification [5-3-24]
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Augsburg Confession Dialogues: The Church (Ecclesiology) [5-3-24]

Augsburg Confession Dialogues: Penance & Satisfaction [5-5-24]

Augsburg Confession Dialogues: Communion In One Kind [5-6-24]

V. REPLIES TO JOHANN HULSEMANN (1602-1661)

Vs. Lutheran Johann Hülsemann: Sola Scriptura [1-10-25]

Vs. Lutheran Johann Hülsemann: Sanctification [1-13-25]

VI. LUTHERANISM AND THE FATHERS

Early Protestants & St. Augustine: Ambiguity [1-28-04]

Transubstantiation & Church History: Dialogue w Lutheran [2-12-05; abridged on 10-23-18]

Dialogue: Lutherans, Sola Scriptura, & the Church Fathers [5-29-05]

Dialogue: Is Lutheranism or Catholicism Closer to the Fathers? (vs. Kristo Miettinen) [6-3-05]

Development of Sacrifice of the Mass: Dialogue w Lutheran [9-22-05]

Lutheran Chemnitz Wrong Re Fathers & Sola Scriptura (mostly dealing with St. Irenaeus and Tertullian) [8-29-07]

Lutheran Chemnitz: Errors Re Fathers & Sola Scriptura (including analysis of Jerome, Augustine, Origen, Epiphanius, Ambrose, Lactantius, Athanasius, and Cyprian) [8-31-07]

Church Fathers & Justification: Martin Chemnitz vs. Catholicism [9-9-07]

Luther’s Views of Augustine & the Church Fathers [July 2009]

Dialogue with a Lutheran: Church Fathers & Sola Scriptura (vs. Nathan Rinne) [10-13-11]

Dialogue with a Lutheran: Rule of Faith / Fathers / Ecclesiology (vs. Nathan Rinne) [10-17-11]

Dialogue w Lutheran Pastor on the Protestant Revolt (. . . with special emphasis on the beliefs of the Church Fathers: were they were more “Catholic” or “Protestant”?) [3-27-12; edited with links added on 1-8-20]

Dialogue w Lutheran Pastor on Bible & Sola Scriptura (including St. Irenaeus’ View on the Rule of Faith) [10-19-18]

Ecumenical Councils: Catholic vs. Lutheran Perspective (vs. Pastor Ken Howes [LCMS]) [6-16-20]

VII. SOTERIOLOGY (SALVATION, JUSTIFICATION, & SANCTIFICATION) / “FAITH ALONE”

Baptismal Regeneration: Central Doctrine, According to Luther & Lutheranism [1996]

Faith Alone & Original Sin: Reply to Smalcald Articles [1-30-01]

Dialogue w Three Lutherans on Justification & Salvation [2-1-07]

Church Fathers & Justification: Martin Chemnitz vs. Catholicism [9-9-07]

Dialogue with a Lutheran: Salvation & Miscellany (vs. Nathan Rinne) [10-14-11]

“Leaven” of the Pharisees: Hypocrisy or False Doctrine? (vs. Nathan Rinne) [11-3-11]

Is God Alone Holy, According to Scripture? Or Can We Be Too? (vs. Rev. Ken Howes) [5-3-17]

Debate with a Lutheran Pastor on Faith and Works [5-4-17]

Martin Luther and Lutherans on Mortal & Venial Sins [10-30-17]

“Faith Alone” & Salvation: Dialogue w Lutheran Pastor (vs. Rev. Ken Howes) [2-18-19]

Reply to a “Reformation Day” Lutheran Sermon [Vs. Nathan Rinne] (Including St. Augustine’s View on the Rule of Faith & the Perspicuity of Scripture; Luther & Lutherans’ Belief in Falling Away) [10-31-23]

Sola Fide (Faith Alone) Nonexistent Before the Protestant Revolt in 1517 (Geisler & McGrath) [Catholic365, 10-31-23]

VIII. LUTHERANISM AND MARY

Perpetual Virginity of Mary: Held by All Protestant Reformers [1-27-02]

Luther’s Mariology: Have Catholic Apologists Exaggerated It? (And Has Present-Day Protestantism Maintained the Classical “Reformation” Protestant Mariology?) [4-26-03; rev. 7-15-20]

Mary’s Assumption & Historic Protestantism [6-30-08]

Mary Mother of God: Protestant Founders Agree (Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, and Bullinger, and Lutheranism) [10-10-08]
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“Why Are Catholics So Dogmatic About the Perpetual Virginity of Mary?” / Confessional Lutheran Agreement [11-1-08]

Debate with Lutherans Regarding Luther’s Mariology; Including my Citation Mistake from 1994 (Clarification and Retraction) [10-2-11]

Dialogues with Lutherans Regarding Three Luther Mary Quotes [10-6-11]

Reply to Lutheran Gene Edward Veith on Mariology [10-7-11]

The Annunciation: Was Mary was Already in a Sublime State of Grace? (Dialogue with a Lutheran) [10-8-11]

Dialogue with a Lutheran: Immaculate Conception (vs. Chuck Wiese) [2-18-13]

“Who Cares About Early Protestant Mariology?” [10-16-14]

Reply to an Anti-Catholic Lutheran Personal Attack (Regarding My Alleged Lack of Knowledge About What Lutherans Are Theologically Bound to Accept) [Facebook, 5-25-19]

James Swan, the Immaculate Conception, Luther, & Lutherans: He Still Refuses to Admit that Many Eminent Lutheran Scholars Contend that Luther Believed in Mary’s Immaculate Conception for His Entire Life [6-22-23]

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IX. THE DEATH PENALTY FOR HERETICS / THEFT OF CATHOLIC CHURCH PROPERTY

Dialogue w Lutheran Historian on 16th-Century Intolerance [2-15-06]

16th Century Theft of Church Properties (vs. Lutheran Historian) [2-22-06]

Philip Melanchthon: Death for Denying the Real Presence (He Later Denied the Real Presence Himself) [5-23-06]

16th c. Calvinists vs. Lutherans: Who Suppressed Catholics [3-21-07]

“Reformation” Theft of Thousands of Catholic Churches [4-12-08]

Luther & Anabaptist Executions in the 1530s [8-7-14]

Reply to Reformed Luther Apologist James Swan’s Request for Documentation of Executions of Anabaptists Sanctioned by Luther, in the 1530s [8-17-14]

Luther Favored Execution of Heretics (vs. Jordan Cooper) + Good & Bad Protestant & Catholic Apologetics & Historical Revisionism & “Twisting” [3-21-24]

Luther, Melanchthon, & Lutherans: Death to Anabaptists! [6-11-25]

X. ECCLESIOLOGY / THE “REFORMATION” / RULE OF FAITH / SECTARIANISM

Protestant Revolt Was Largely Politically Motivated [6-11-91]
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Protestantism Was Not a Revolt? [6-2-03]

The Real Diet of Augsburg (1530) vs. the Protestant Myth [3-3-04]

Regensburg (1541) & Poissy (1561): Protestant “Ecumenism”? [4-27-04]

Is Lutheranism Officially Anti-Catholic? [4-26-05]

Dialogue: Lutherans, Sola Scriptura, & the Church Fathers [5-29-05]
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“Absurd” Protestant Divisions: Calvin’s Revealing Lament to Melanchthon [2-6-06]

Philip Melanchthon’s Agony Over Protestant Sectarianism [2-8-06]
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James White Deacons-Elders-Bishops Controversy (Original title: “Dumbbells and Deacons: Does No Protestant Denomination Whatsoever Regard Deacons as the Equivalent of Pastors and Elders — or Even Bishops?) [6-16-07]

Lutheran Chemnitz Wrong Re Fathers & Sola Scriptura (mostly dealing with St. Irenaeus and Tertullian) [8-29-07]
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Lutheran Chemnitz: Errors Re Fathers & Sola Scriptura (including analysis of Jerome, Augustine, Origen, Epiphanius, Ambrose, Lactantius, Athanasius, and Cyprian) [8-31-07]

Nature of Tradition & Church: (vs. Two Lutheran Pastors) [10-9-07]

The Nature of the Church: Lutheran-Catholic Dialogue [11-19-07]

Causes of the Protestant “Reformation” (vs. a Lutheran Pastor) [11-20-07; abridged somewhat on 10-23-17]

Melanchthon in 1530 Longed for Return of Catholic Bishops [11-30-07]

Zwingli, Bucer, Oecolampadius: Luther & Lutherans Not Christians [1-10-08]

Erasmus vs. Luther Disputes Documented [Feb. 2009]

Dialogue with a Lutheran Inquirer [WELS], on Lutheran-Catholic Differences [4-6-09]

Unbridled Sectarianism, Sola Scriptura, Luther, & Calvin [6-24-09]

John Calvin Rebukes Lutheran “Beasts” and “Evil”, Calls Luther an Idolater [3-23-10; Facebook]

Melanchthon’s Agonized Tears Over Early Protestant Divisions [6-15-11; additions on 10-11-17]

Bible on Submission to Church & Apostolic Tradition + Biblical Condemnation of the Rebellious & Schismatic Aspects of the Protestant Revolt [8-27-11]

Dialogue with a Lutheran: Church Fathers & Sola Scriptura (vs. Nathan Rinne) [10-13-11]

Dialogue with a Lutheran: Rule of Faith / Fathers / Ecclesiology (vs. Nathan Rinne) [10-17-11]

Early Protestant “Unity”: Calvin vs. Westphal vs. Luther / Calvin Denies Baptismal Regeneration [11-6-11]

Luther: Monks & Priests More “Earnest” Than Lutherans [11-10-11]

Dialogue with a Lutheran on Ecclesiology & OT Indefectibility Analogies (vs. Nathan Rinne) [11-22-11]

Dialogue on the Term, “Protestant Reformation” and Alternatives (“Era of Reformations” and “Protestant Revolt”) (vs. Dr. Edwin W. Tait) [1-7-14]

Dialogue with a Lutheran on Christian Authority [5-6-16]

Socratic Dialogue / Debate vs. Anti-Lutheran Catholic [3-20-07 and 10-24-17]

Critique of Ten Exaggerated Claims of the “Reformation” [10-31-17; its 500th anniversary date]

Dialogue w Lutheran Pastor on Bible & Sola Scriptura (including St. Irenaeus’ View on the Rule of Faith) [10-19-18]

Debate w Lutheran: Church Infallibility & Death Penalty [11-10-18]

Ecumenical Councils: Catholic vs. Lutheran Perspective (vs. Pastor Ken Howes [LCMS]) [6-16-20]

Has Lutheranism Avoided Denominationalism? (Widespread Lutheran Compromise & Caving on Abortion & Same-Sex “Marriage”) [8-10-22]

XI. THE EUCHARIST, SACRIFICE OF THE MASS, AND THE SACRAMENTS

Baptismal Regeneration: Central Doctrine, According to Luther & Lutheranism [1996]

Sacramentarian Controversies (Calvin vs. Luther vs. Zwingli) [3-29-04]

Transubstantiation & Church History: Dialogue w Lutheran [2-12-05; abridged on 10-23-18]

Development of Sacrifice of the Mass: Dialogue w Lutheran [9-22-05]

Philip Melanchthon: Death for Denying the Real Presence (He Later Denied the Real Presence Himself) [5-23-06]

Lutherans, Corpus Christi, & Eucharistic Adoration [6-18-07]

Lutheran View of the Mass / Catholics & Lutheran Worship [11-19-07]

Quiz on Early Protestant / “Reformation” Eucharistic Harmony [8-23-09]

Eucharist: Ubiquity, Signs, Lutheranism, Etc. (vs. Calvin #43) [11-27-09]

John Calvin Rebukes Lutheran “Beasts” and “Evil”, Calls Luther an Idolater [3-23-10; Facebook]

Quibble About Lutheran Dislike of the Term “Consubstantiation” [4-20-11]

Early Protestant “Unity”: Calvin vs. Westphal vs. Luther / Calvin Denies Baptismal Regeneration [11-6-11]

Martin Luther and Lutherans on the Duration of the Real Presence in the Eucharist, the Elevation, and Adoration (Bishop Bossuet) [1-27-12]
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Mass: Re-Sacrifice? (vs. Lutheran Pastor Ken Howes) [4-2-12]

“Re-Presentation” vs. “Re-Sacrifice” in the Mass: Doctrinal History [4-4-18]

Catholic Transubstantiation vs. Lutheran Consubstantiation [4-2-20]

Response to a Lutheran Apologetic (Pr. Will Weedon) (Featuring Liturgy and the Sacrifice of the Mass in the Church Fathers) [11-11-24]

XII. COMMUNION OF SAINTS / INVOCATION AND INTERCESSION OF THE SAINTS

Early Protestant Antipathy Towards Art (+ Iconoclasm) [1991]

“The Prayer of a Righteous Man Availeth Much” (Jas 5:16: KJV) (Dialogue with a Lutheran) [6-8-05]

Reply to Lutheran on Invocation of Saints (vs. Jordan Cooper) [12-1-15]

Dialogue: Rich Man’s Prayer to Abraham (Luke 16) and the Invocation of Saints (vs. Ken Howes) [5-3-17]

Replies to Seth Kasten on Invocation of the Saints

Lutherans & Invocation #1 (Intro) [1-11-24]

Lutherans & Invocation #2 (Definitions of Prayer & Intercession; God Sharing His Glory; Views of St. Augustine & Many Other Church Fathers) [1-11-24]

Lutherans & Invocation #3 (Necromancy; Can Saints Hear Us?) [1-12-24]

Lutherans & Invocation #4 (Revelation; Luke 16) [1-17-24]

XIII. GENERAL / MISCELLANEOUS

Dialogue with a Lutheran: Introductory Matters [10-12-11]

Dialogue with a Lutheran: Salvation & Miscellany [10-14-11]

Reply to an Anti-Catholic Lutheran Personal Attack (Regarding My Alleged Lack of Knowledge About What Lutherans Are Theologically Bound to Accept) [Facebook, 5-25-19]

Reply to Lutheran Johann Gerhard (1582-1637) #1: Ecclesial Infallibility; Trent: Protestants Are Regenerated Christians By Virtue of Baptism; Total Clearness of Scripture?; St. Bernard & the Catholic Church on Meritorious Works [1-8-25]

Reply to Lutheran Johann Gerhard (1582-1637) #2 (De Fide Dogma on Communion in One Species Only; Theological Discord; Sola Scriptura) [1-9-25]

XIV. EARLY LUTHERAN “ECUMENISM” AND TOLERANCE (?)

Protestant Inquisitions: “Reformation” Intolerance & Persecution [June 1991; rev. 10-31-03, 3-7-07. Greatly abridged and re-typeset on 9-14-17]

Early Protestant Antipathy Towards Art (+ Iconoclasm) [1991]

Astonishing Hostility to Higher Education in Early Protestantism [1991]

The Real Diet of Augsburg (1530) vs. the Protestant Myth [3-3-04]

Regensburg (1541) & Poissy (1561): Protestant “Ecumenism”? [4-27-04]

“Absurd” Protestant Divisions: Calvin’s Revealing Lament to Melanchthon [2-6-06]

Word “Protestant” Stemmed from Intolerance of Catholic Worship [2-8-06]

Dialogue w Lutheran Historian on 16th-Century Intolerance [2-15-06]

Melanchthon in 1530 Longed for Return of Catholic Bishops [11-30-07]

Zwingli, Bucer, Oecolampadius: Luther & Lutherans Not Christians [1-10-08]

John Calvin Rebukes Lutheran “Beasts” and “Evil”, Calls Luther an Idolater [3-23-10; Facebook]

XV. PRAYER AND PENANCE FOR THE DEAD / PURGATORY / HADES

Prayer for the Dead & Retroactive Prayer (Luther & Protestants) [3-22-05]

Dialogue with Four Lutherans on Jesus’ Descent Into Hell [2-1-07]

John Wesley Believed in Prayer for the Dead (also, approval of Luther and Lutherans) [7-13-09]

Dialogue w Lutherans: “Proxy Baptism”? (1 Cor 15:29) [12-28-18]

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Last updated: 11 June 2025