The Marian piety of St. Maximilian Kolbe (1894-1941) has also been criticized as supposedly placing Mary above Jesus. One shocked Protestant correspondent asked me why Fr. Kolbe desired to “praise and glorify Mary and die for her alone.” Catholic devotional language involving Mary is often misunderstood, because it is usually read out of context, and in isolation from what the same person elsewhere expressed about God. One must understand that it is not to be — should never be —... Read more
It seems to be fashionable now for reactionaries (with the utmost irony, for those familiar with their talking-points) to be “ambiguous” about their position as to the authority of Vatican II. Of course, it used to be taken for granted by all orthodox, tradition-accepting, observant, pious, devout Catholics, that an ecumenical council (in union with / ratified by a pope) carried sublime and binding authority. Not any more . . . This ambiguity is seen in reactionary Taylor Marshall, author... Read more
Timothy Flanders, writing in the reactionary venue One Peter Five (“Conspiracy and Catholic Doctrine: A Defense of Taylor Marshall”: 7-8-19), offers a rare substantive reply to any serious criticism of Taylor Marshall’s book, Infiltration. He deals with my first lengthy treatment of the book (technically not a book review): Reactionary Infiltration of Taylor Marshall’s Book, Infiltration (5-30-19). He also counter-replies to Dr. Jeff Mirus (towards whom he is the most critical and disparaging), and Fr. Dwight Longenecker and Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse (both... Read more
From discussions in a forum devoted to the question of God’s existence: originally uploaded on 19 July 2001, with the full permission of Sue Strandberg (self-identified as a secular humanist): whose words will be in blue. ***** My point was that if a mistaken conclusion is formed from scientific methods it can be and probably will be corrected using the same methods. Nothing shows the critical, crucial importance of science more than bad science. A continuing discussion and dispute on evidence — and a strict... Read more
The apologist necessarily has to sometimes (reluctantly, unhappily, in a small number of instances) enter into what many call “negative” or “polemical” territory because we say (just as Jesus and Paul did) that some things or ideas are wrong, and people don’t like that in our nicey-nicey, relativistic, supposedly so “tolerant” (but in reality quite the opposite) age. We condemn errors and show why they are errors out of a motivation of love, because falsehood and sin never helped anyone... Read more
So many times, I am told (when opposing some falsehood being spewed about me or my work or alleged opinion) that we (and I) must “turn the other cheek” and not respond: as if this were an unwavering biblical command. But I have reflected recently about how even Jesus didn’t totally turn the other cheek at His trial. He responded to Caiaphas the high priest: Matthew 26:62-64 (RSV) And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer... Read more
[From The Catholic Answer Bible (2002). I wrote the 44 apologetics inserts, which can be purchased by themselves for $2.99.] The Assumption can easily be reconciled with Scripture because it is not contrary to it in any way. The premise that all Christian doctrines must appear in Scripture in order to be accepted cannot itself be found anywhere in Scripture. Catholics agree that no Christian teaching can contradict anything in the Bible. The Assumption of Mary is a belief of this sort. We believe in it... Read more
[From The Catholic Answer Bible (2002). I wrote the 44 apologetics inserts, which can be purchased by themselves for $2.99.] In Holy Scripture, we have a record of the apostles preaching the gospel (literally, “Good News”) immediately after Pentecost. St. Peter preached the gospel in the Upper Room (Acts 2:22-40), and 3000 people became Christians upon hearing it (2:41). In this speech, “faith alone” (a notion which is often claimed to be the substance of the gospel) does not appear at all. Rather, he... Read more
Perhaps Father Longenecker can tell us all how much money he makes from blogging at Patheos. Perhaps he can advise us how much money he puts into their bank by writing for them – a webpage that puts the one, true, faith of Catholicism on an even par with Protestantism, Hinduism, Paganism, witchcraft and atheism! Is that something that a faithful Catholic priest or layman such as Armstrong or Shea should be supporting? What does Father Longenecker do all day?... Read more
Documented Conversions or Reversions in Part Due to My Work (Completely Caused by God’s Grace) All glory to God always, for everything. We are just vessels, if He uses us to spread the message to someone else: one sinning beggar sharing spiritual food with other beggars. It all goes back to God and His grace in the end. No one can do the slightest good thing without it. Praise Him! If someone asks me why I do apologetics, this is... Read more
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