Secular Psychology vs. Scriptural Bodily Mortification

Last updated on: March 23, 2020 at 10:44 am By Dave Armstrong

This was a comment (+ my reply) underneath my article for the National Catholic Register: “Bodily Mortification is Quite Scriptural” (2-28-19). His words will be in blue. ***** Penance and repentance are, of course, part of Christian endeavor. But I would be interested in what psychologists at, say the University of Michigan, have to say about the concept of “mortification.” Is there a “slippery slope” danger of unhealthy physical and psychological mortification (frequent when I was in Catholic school and we... Read more

Redemptive Suffering Offers Spiritual Benefit to Others

Last updated on: March 23, 2020 at 9:59 am By Dave Armstrong

In the Christian life, it is understood by all that intercessory prayer helps others. We pray for people in order for them to receive some sort of blessing or guidance from God. It’s equally understood that God (not the one who prays) is the ultimate cause of all answered prayer. Yet (knowing that) this is one of many ways that God chooses to involve us in His providence and workings among mankind. What is not so well-known, however, is the notion of suffering or... Read more

Steve Skojec Sez Patheos Catholic Writers Ain’t Catholic

Last updated on: March 22, 2020 at 3:05 pm By Dave Armstrong

The New Testament Condemnation of Divisiveness, Sectarianism, and Factionalism Someone in one of his comboxes cited my collection of pro-Pope Francis links: “Pope Francis Defended.” Radical Catholic reactionary Skojec (head honcho at One Vader Five) replied: “That you would link to Patheos only shows you are not someone to be taken seriously.” And again: “Patheos Catholic is anything but. And that’s what you linked to. Dave Armstrong is no exception.” He has also referred to “the Patheos ‘Catholic’ crowd” (9-18-19). Now someone... Read more

St. Newman vs. Inconsistent Protestant Iconoclasts

Last updated on: March 21, 2020 at 3:19 pm By Dave Armstrong

The following was taken from St. John Henry Cardinal Newman’s book, Lectures on the Present Position of Catholics in England (1851; Lecture V [1. (2.)], pp. 180-181 in the 1918 edition: London: Longmans, Green and Co.). ***** (2.) Take again a very different subject. A Protestant blames Catholics for showing honour to images; yet he does it himself. And first, he sees no difficulty in a mode of treating them, quite as repugnant to his own ideas of what is rational, as... Read more

Mockery in the Bible (One Peter [Vader] Five & Steve Skojec)

Last updated on: March 21, 2020 at 11:33 am By Dave Armstrong

Once again it is time to defend the use of fully warranted biblical humor. This time, it’s over against James Russell, who takes objection to one line in my recent post, Priestly Celibacy as a Discipline: Steve Skojec’s Ignorance: “Reactionary Steve Skojec of One Vader Five infamy . . .” His words will be in blue. ***** Armstrong’s petulant use of “One Vader Five” is childish and off-putting. He can do better than that. Harmless sarcasm. Isn’t it interesting that anything goes when... Read more

Verrecchio Trashes Pope Benedict as Wicked Lying Hypocrite

Last updated on: March 20, 2020 at 2:15 pm By Dave Armstrong

How utterly numb most of us have become to the sheer lunacy of the present situation! There is absolutely nothing about the current situation that is even remotely compatible with Catholic thought. As I wrote shortly after Benedict pulled his “resignation” stunt – it simply doesn’t pass the Catholic smell test. And yet, it is treated as a non-issue by most Catholic commentators; even those who posture as traditionalists. I can well imagine future generations looking back on us collectively... Read more

Priestly Celibacy as a Discipline: Steve Skojec’s Ignorance

Last updated on: March 20, 2020 at 5:30 pm By Dave Armstrong

Reactionary Steve Skojec of One Vader Five infamy wrote in a combox of his site on 3-6-20: Celibacy is fundamental to the priesthood. It’s not just a discipline, and never has been, no matter what our Eastern brothers tell us. It’s a concession. And yes, changing celibacy in the Latin Rite — which has 98.5% of the Catholics in the world — absolutely fundamentally changes the priesthood, and breaks down barriers that advances the cause of changing the institution. St.... Read more

Alexander Tschugguel, Taylor Marshall, & God’s Wrath

Last updated on: April 7, 2020 at 11:40 pm By Dave Armstrong

This is an exchange on my Facebook page with Timothy Flanders, who appeared in the videos with Taylor Marshall, that I critiqued in my paper, Taylor Marshall: Pachamama “Idolatry” Judged by Coronavirus (Yet “Antichrist” Pope Francis Walks the Streets of Pandemic-Ravaged Rome Free of the Virus . . .) [3-17-20]. His words will be in blue. Any further replies from him will be added to this paper. ***** If I understand you correctly here, you have selectively quoted the OT, making your... Read more

Orthodoxy & Divorce: Biblical & Apostolic Teaching?

Last updated on: March 18, 2020 at 1:33 pm By Dave Armstrong

Chapter 8 of my book, Orthodoxy and Catholicism: A Comparison (July 2004 / 3rd revised edition July 2015, 335p), co-authored with Fr. Deacon Daniel Dozier (Byzantine Catholic), pp. 191-224. *** Orthodoxy allows up to three marriages. The Catholic Church, on the other hand, believes that “remarriage” is sinful (a perpetual state of adultery) if one or both parties has already been married, since a validly consummated, sacramental marriage between two baptized persons is indissoluble. The Bible and the fathers are fairly... Read more

Theosis / Deification / Divinization in Western Spirituality

Last updated on: March 18, 2020 at 12:17 pm By Dave Armstrong

Chapter 11 of my book, Orthodoxy and Catholicism: A Comparison (July 2004 / 3rd revised edition July 2015, 335p), co-authored with Fr. Deacon Daniel Dozier (Byzantine Catholic), pp. 275-302. *** In Chapter Five, I briefly alluded to the fact that theosis (profound union with God) is just as much a part of Western tradition as it is in the Eastern tradition (yet it is often oddly claimed that this is not the case at all). I cited just one of St.... Read more