A Catholic on my blog first brought this issue up in a combox thread. To his credit he later retracted the line of inquiry and accusation after I presented the material presented below (“let me say you did great job of getting to the truth of this matter. You’ve convinced me that there is nothing to this old and unfounded slander against Calvin. . . . congratulations on a job well done.”). But first he had cited a judgment: “both... Read more
Catholics believe that sexuality has a deep, fundamental purpose, designed by God. That purpose is procreation / reproduction. That much is obvious and need not really be defended. Everyone knows that every baby (apart from artificial insemination, etc.) comes about by a process that was initiated by sexual acts. The differences of opinion arise due to various views as to the relationship of sexuality to the mutual (and/or exclusive) commitment of human beings, to reproduction, and to natural law. “Everyone”... Read more
Explanation of a Widely Misunderstood Aspect of Analogical Arguments Someone responded underneath my paper, Dialogue: Pope Francis vs. Gospel Preaching & Converts? No! (vs. Eric Giunta). His words will be in blue. ***** First, the following words in my paper were cited (I added, however, two more paragraphs of my original words here, for clarification): He’s making one of his extreme contrasts. It’s just how he [Pope Francis] talks. But so did Jesus. He said, for example: Luke 14:26 If any... Read more
For what is not against the Scriptures is for the Scriptures and the Scriptures are for it. (Letter to Philip Melanchthon, 13 January 1522) I like this. It’s not the too-often expressed silly Protestant understanding that everything must be explicitly laid out in Scripture, or cannot be believed. This is much more Catholic and nuanced: whatever is not contrary to, and is harmonious with Scripture is biblical and scriptural. I’ve been saying this for 29 years as a Catholic. I’m... Read more
The fashionable zeitgeist now present in Protestantism (especially, but not exclusively, of the liberal variety), is to increasingly sanction divorce, cohabitation, homosexual acts, abortion, contraception, and masturbation. The latter was surprisingly condoned even by the usually traditional moralist and family advocate Dr. James Dobson, and, with extraordinarily ridiculous and scandalous argumentation, by anti-Catholic Reformed apologist Steve Hays, who wrote (almost as if he were a thoroughly secularized regular columnist for Planned Parenthood): I don’t think that Christians should go around guilt-ridden if they... Read more
Catholic League President Bill Donohue included my name with regard to some very strange claims, in his piece, Playing Favorites with Two Popes (1-3-20). He wrote, concerning the slapping incident that I posted about yesterday: (that he cited with no link). Several commentators blamed the woman. Dave Armstrong at Patheos said her reaching out to him with both arms was “shocking and staggering.” [then cites International Business Times, The Guardian, and John Allen at Crux] Why is it okay for those on the... Read more
vs. Eric Giunta This came about with Eric’s lengthy response in the combox of my recent post, Pope Francis Condemns Evangelism? Absolutely Not! He wanted a vigorous (and cordial) discussion? He got one. His words will be in blue. Pope Francis’ words will be in green. ***** The problem, Dave, is that Pope Francis’s obsession with condemning “proselytism” makes no sense unless he is, in fact, condemning historic evangelization, and instead considers “real evangelization” to be mere do-gooderism: performing good works... Read more
First posted on Karl Keating’s Facebook page. His words will be in blue. ***** Mine was not a chapter-by-chapter examination, but rather, critiques of five separate portions that I took particular exception to. The series is now done. Most of the book was taken up with “palace intrigue” and internal affairs of Cardinals, and what Karl calls “administrative or leadership style and actions”, etc. I’ve never had an interest in that, so I didn’t interact with it. I was specifically... Read more
Pope Francis was greeting the crowds during his New Year’s message at the Vatican, when a woman forcibly grabbed his hand and pulled him toward herself. The pope could be seen (in the video) immediately — seemingly involuntarily — grimacing in pain (my strong impression, anyway). Then he slapped the woman’s hand as she was shaking his, scolded her, and walked away with a scowl. These are the bare facts. I will examine them more closely in a minute. CNN (the... Read more
In one address (7-26-14), Pope Francis distinguishes apologetics and evangelization from proselytization: Dialogue is so important, but to dialogue two things are necessary: one’s identity as a starting point and empathy toward others. If I am not sure of my identity and I go to speak, I end up bartering my faith. You cannot dialogue without starting from your own identity, and empathy, which is a priori not condemning. Every man, every woman has something of their own to give... Read more
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