Defining “Church”: “Exchange” w Anti-Catholic Zealot

Last updated on: March 9, 2020 at 11:11 am By Dave Armstrong

An anti-Catholic Protestant who goes by the delightfully charitable nickname, pearlsb4swine, roused himself out of inactivity on Disqus (over a year) to comment underneath my article, Blessed Virgin Mary Will Soon be Promoted to Godhood? (vs. Douglas Wilson). He made nine comments over the span of three days. Knowing the usual tactics of anti-Catholics (and trollers in general) — from my 24 years of online apologetics — , I made a few replies and challenged him: Your choice is this: either... Read more

John Bugay a Bitter Anti-Catholic? Who Woulda Thunk It?!

Last updated on: March 6, 2020 at 2:51 pm By Dave Armstrong

Mary May be Promoted to Godhood? / Pope Benedict XVI was a Pantheist?, Etc., Ad Nauseam John wrote yesterday on Tribalblogue (and yes, the mention of me is how I found it): Most people know me as someone who knows Roman Catholicism in a very thorough way. My Protestant friends look to me for advice when they interact with Roman Catholicism in one way or another. Some Roman Catholics know me as an apostate, and some (Dave Armstrong Google Alert) consider... Read more

Anti-Catholic “Humor”: St. Thérèse of Lisieux as Hitler

Last updated on: March 6, 2020 at 12:22 pm By Dave Armstrong

John Bugay Tries to Justify it Based on Historic Anti-Semitism [see a larger version of this image] [The following controversy with one of the most vocal online anti-Catholics occurred in November 2011. John Bugay’s words will be in blue] John Bugay posted the caricature above, of my blog, at Tribalblogue [eventually minus the original Hitler mustache and bangs], complete with additional middle school toilet humor. It’s an instant classic (in terms of documentation of anti-Catholic vitriol, contempt, and bigotry) and apparently considered... Read more

Blessed Virgin Mary Will Soon be Promoted to Godhood?

Last updated on: March 5, 2020 at 4:53 pm By Dave Armstrong

vs. Douglas Wilson Lately, with the much-ballyhooed debate between two Reformed Protestants: Douglas Wilson and Bishop “Dr.” [???] James White, concerning whether Catholics are Christians or not, renewed discussion on the legitimacy of Catholic baptism (and thus, no need for rebaptism of a convert to Protestantism) has arisen in Protestant (particularly, Reformed) circles. Wilson says Catholic baptism is valid, while White denies it (but of course, White is a Baptist, so he would deny the validity of all infant baptism, including all Reformed... Read more

Dialogue: Orthodox Compromises on Contraception

Last updated on: March 5, 2020 at 1:48 pm By Dave Armstrong

This was a public response to a public critique of a paper on my site by my friend William Klimon: Contraception: Early Church Teaching, and subsequent follow-up expressed opinions. It occurred during the first half of March 2001. My opponents’ words will be in blue, green, and purple. ***** Thanks for your critique. I much appreciate its reasonableness and amiable, inquisitive nature. On Dave Armstrong’s “Orthodoxy” page, under the “Doctrinal and moral compromises” section, there is an article decrying the “changing standards” of Orthodoxy... Read more

Schisms & Heresies in Eastern Christianity Before 1054

Last updated on: March 4, 2020 at 2:43 pm By Dave Armstrong

In my paper, Roman See as Historic Standard-Bearer of Orthodoxy (+ the Ecclesiological Absurdity of Anti-Catholic-Type Eastern Orthodox Arguments Against Roman Primacy & Apostolicity) [1997], I cited five notable instances of Eastern schism before 1054: a. The Arian schisms (343-98) b. The controversy over St. John Chrysostom (404-415) c. The Acacian schism (484-519) d. Concerning Monothelitism (640-681) e. Concerning Iconoclasm (726-87 and 815-43) This information came from historian Christopher Dawson. He was referring to the Eastern, or Byzantine Empire, which was... Read more

Reasons for Opposing Medical Marijuana (Dr. Robert Fastiggi)

Last updated on: March 4, 2020 at 11:31 am By Dave Armstrong

Introduction: the present state of legal marijuana in the USA and the world As of July, 2018 there are 31 states in the USA plus the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico that have legal marijuana (cannabis sativa) at least for medical reasons. [1] Nine of these states plus the District of Columbia also permit recreational marijuana. [2] Another fifteen states allow for limited use of products derived from cannabis or synthetic versions of these derivatives. [3] Only four... Read more

Dr. Fastiggi Defends Pope Francis Re “Pachamama Idolatry”

Last updated on: March 3, 2020 at 12:31 pm By Dave Armstrong

The following exchanges took place on a public discussion combox for The Catholic World Report, between 28 February and 2 March 2020. Words of Dr. Robert Fastiggi will be in black; those of Fr. Peter Morello, PhD in blue, of Leslie, in green, and of Brian Killian in brown. ***** Yes, we must be concerned about violations of the first and sixth commandments, but we must also be concerned about violations of the eighth commandment. It has never been proven... Read more

Dialogue on Mary Mediatrix & Spouse of the Holy Spirit

Last updated on: March 3, 2020 at 5:34 pm By Dave Armstrong

I was challenged on this point by an Orthodox Christian in my discussion group. His words will be in blue. ***** Sources Used St. Alphonsus de Liguori, The Glories of Mary, Brooklyn: Redemptorist Fathers, 1931 edition. Louis Bouyer, The Seat of Wisdom, translated by A. V. Littledale, Chicago: Henry Regnery Co., 1960. Hilda Graef, Mary: A History of Doctrine and Devotion, vol. 1, New York: Sheed & Ward, 1963. William Most, Mary in Our Life, Garden City, New York: Doubleday Image, 1954. *** I... Read more

Mary Mediatrix: Patristic, Medieval, & Early Orthodox Evidence

Last updated on: March 3, 2020 at 11:00 am By Dave Armstrong

Sources Used St. Alphonsus de Liguori, The Glories of Mary, Brooklyn: Redemptorist Fathers, 1931 edition. C. X. J. M. Friethoff, A Complete Mariology, Westminster, Maryland: Westminster Press, 1958. Hilda Graef, Mary: A History of Doctrine and Devotion, vol. 1, New York: Sheed & Ward, 1963. W. A. Jurgens, The Faith of the Early Fathers, Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, vol. 1, 1970. W. A. Jurgens, The Faith of the Early Fathers, Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, vol. 3, 1979. Mark Miravalle, editor, Mary: Coredemptrix,... Read more

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