Did Pope Gelasius (r. 492-496) Deny Transubstantiation?

Last updated on: March 24, 2021 at 2:28 pm By Dave Armstrong

Reformed Protestant apologist Matt Hedges wrote an article entitled, “Documentation for Pope Gelasius’ Denial of Transubstantiation” (3-23-21). In it, he claimed: Here is an interesting quote from Pope Gelasius concerning the nature of the elements of the bread and wine in the Eucharist: “The sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, which we receive, is a divine thing, because by it we are made partakers of the divine-nature. Yet the substance or nature of the bread and wine does not... Read more

Catholic Obsession with James White or Vice Versa?

Last updated on: March 23, 2021 at 7:45 pm By Dave Armstrong

Reformed Protestant Anti-Catholic Apologists James White’s and James Swan’s Own Obsessions James Swan, a Reformed Protestant anti-Catholic polemicist, recently wrote a piece on his blog, Boors All, entitled, “James White Obsession Syndrome” (3-19-21). I got a particular kick out of this one, since I have a good deal of knowledge about the shenanigans of both James White (since 1995 when we debated by mail) and James Swan (whom I met online around 2002 or 2003). Swan writes: Now that the... Read more

“Gay Unions”: Leftist & Reactionary Catholics vs. Pope & CDF

Last updated on: March 23, 2021 at 1:13 pm By Dave Armstrong

On 15 March 2021, AP News published the article, “Vatican bars gay union blessing, says God ‘can’t bless sin’”. It stated: ROME (AP) — The Vatican declared Monday that the Catholic Church won’t bless same-sex unions since God “cannot bless sin.” The Vatican’s orthodoxy office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, issued a formal response to a question about whether Catholic clergy have the authority to bless gay unions. The answer, contained in a two-page explanation published in... Read more

St. John Henry Newman on Catholic Mariology

Last updated on: March 22, 2021 at 7:29 pm By Dave Armstrong

[drawn from the above book. See book and purchase information] Does Mary Intercede for us in a Special Way? [I]f the Intercessions of the Saints have influence with Christ, surely it is not any extreme position to suppose that the greater Saints have greater influence – or that St Mary, as being our Lord’s Mother, is a greater Saint. (v. 10; To an Unknown Correspondent, 12 Jan. 1844) As to my Lectures, they have cost me, no one knows how... Read more

Debate w Atheists on the Allegedly “Unfair” & “Hidden” God

Last updated on: March 21, 2021 at 1:51 pm By Dave Armstrong

This is the continuation of a series of exchanges on this general topic: Pearce’s Potshots #17: Doubting Thomas & an “Unfair” God [3-17-21] Debate w Atheists: Doubting Thomas & an “Unfair” God [3-17-21] Pearce’s Potshots #18: Doubting Thomas & Evidence [3-18-21] Pearce’s Potshots #19: Doubting Thomas & a “Mean God” [3-19-21] It started out with an analysis of the Doubting Thomas story, by atheist Jonathan MS Pearce. The he tried to pivot from the Bible to straight philosophy, which is fine, but not... Read more

Pearce’s Potshots #19: Doubting Thomas & a “Mean God”

Last updated on: March 19, 2021 at 12:52 am By Dave Armstrong

Atheist anti-theist Jonathan M. S. Pearce is the main writer on the blog, A Tippling Philosopher. His “About” page states: “Pearce is a philosopher, author, blogger, public speaker and teacher from Hampshire in the UK. He specialises in philosophy of religion, but likes to turn his hand to science, psychology, politics and anything involved in investigating reality.” His words will be in blue. This is my fourth piece on Doubting Thomas and third in response to Jonathan. See the previous installments: Pearce’s Potshots #17: Doubting Thomas &... Read more

How Anti-Theist Atheists “Argue” Online (I.e., Insult)

Last updated on: March 18, 2021 at 9:35 pm By Dave Armstrong

I got these examples from Jonathan MS Pearce’s A Tippling Philosopher blog, from four different comboxes with many hundreds of comments each: made between 3-11-21 and 3-18-21. Links will be provided. I am only documenting what they say about me; not every Christian or otherwise non-atheist who dares to enter their sublime hallowed, oh-so-academic and intelligent environs. I’ve allowed a measure of the “PG-13” language. It almost had to be let through in order to illustrate the utter idiocy and... Read more

Biblical Evidence for Infused Justification / Sanctification

Last updated on: March 18, 2021 at 4:01 pm By Dave Armstrong

From my book above (2013). See book and purchase information. Passages are from KJV in the book unless indicated otherwise (RSV). ***** 45-1. Is faith ever associated directly with increased righteousness, in conjunction with salvation? Romans 1:17 (RSV) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “He who through faith is righteous shall live.” 45-2. Is the absence of sin tied to salvation? Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the... Read more

Pearce’s Potshots #18: Doubting Thomas & Evidence

Last updated on: March 18, 2021 at 2:00 pm By Dave Armstrong

Atheist anti-theist Jonathan M. S. Pearce is the main writer on the blog, A Tippling Philosopher. His “About” page states: “Pearce is a philosopher, author, blogger, public speaker and teacher from Hampshire in the UK. He specialises in philosophy of religion, but likes to turn his hand to science, psychology, politics and anything involved in investigating reality.” Jonathan wrote a paper entitled, “The Double Standards Involved with Doubting Thomas” (3-16-21). I replied with Pearce’s Potshots #17: Doubting Thomas & an “Unfair” God (3-16-21). I also responded at length... Read more

Bible on Infant Baptism & Infants as Covenant Members

Last updated on: March 17, 2021 at 1:33 pm By Dave Armstrong

This is from my book, Bible Proofs for Catholic Truths (2009): except that this is the original RSV version. ***** INFANT BAPTISM Acts 16:15 . . . she was baptized, with her household, . . . Acts 16:33 . . . he was baptized at once, with all his family. Acts 18:8 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with all his household; and many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. 1 Corinthians... Read more